Barrow expands global footprint through new partnership in South Africa

Barrow Global Neurology advances global neurological care, education, and research

(PHOENIX – Sept. 4, 2024) - Barrow Neurological Institute is expanding its footprint in global neurological care, education, and research through a new partnership with a South African university. 

The Barrow Global Neurology program has collaborated with the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa to allow neurology residents to gain clinical experience and a deeper understanding of global neurological care through a unique exchange opportunity. 

Barrow neurology experts will provide training to international fellows from the University of the Witwatersrand so that they may return to South Africa and help meet the need of neurology specialty care, with an initial emphasis on epilepsy, stroke, and neuro-critical care. 

As part of the bilateral exchange opportunity, a select group of Barrow neurology residents will depart Phoenix and head to South Africa to embark on an immersive experience in providing essential neurologic care to patients in urban and rural settings. 

“Here at Barrow, we are very proud to partner with the University of the Witwatersrand to provide our outstanding neurology residents a global neurology experience and hope to foster a lifelong commitment to global neurology,” said Brad Racette, MD, Senior Vice President and Chair of the Department of Neurology at Barrow. “The global model we have developed will not only improve neurological care in South Africa, but also allows Barrow residents an opportunity to bring back what they’ve learned abroad and implement that experience into how they care for patients here in the United States and engage in global neuroscience research.” 

The Barrow Global Neurology program builds on more than 15 years of collaboration between Dr. Racette and colleagues at the University of the Witwatersrand. Dr. Racette spent years researching the neurological effects of occupational and environmental manganese exposure in South Africa, as well as leading other research initiatives in the region. 

In addition to the Barrow Global Neurology program, Barrow’s renowned 4-year neurology residency program is proud to welcome several international residents this year who have lived or studied in the Democratic of Congo, Mexico, and South Africa. These future neurologists share the same passion of advancing neurological care around the world. 

One of these residents, Tshibambe Nathanael Tshimbombu, is a first-year resident at Barrow and is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. After completing two-years of medical school in his home country and later seeking asylum in the United States, Nathanael attended Dartmouth College where he earned his bachelor's and medical degree, as well as a business certification. 

“It is an incredible privilege to have been accepted in the Barrow neurology residency program,” said Nathanael. “We are a diverse group from all over the world who bring not only a shared passion to further neurological care in a clinical and research setting, but also serve as a Barrow ambassador in the future whether that is in the United States or abroad.” 

Barrow is also home to the Franke Global Neuroscience Education Center, which helps address neurological needs in developing countries by educating and training health care professionals at partnering sites. 

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