Barrow expands global neurological care with South African partners

Joining “Arizona Horizon” to discuss a new partnership was the program manager at Barrow Global Neurology, Dr. Huiam Mubarak.

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. This program is intended to allow neurology residents to gain clinical experience and a deeper understanding of global neurological care through a unique exchange opportunity.

“It’s a bi-directional, educational program that we are supporting our clinical residents that we have at Barrow,” Dr. Mubarak said. “The University of Witwatersrand residents are also coming and learning from us. But our residents also get an opportunity to go there and learn from their faculty.”

The Barrow Global Neurology program builds on more than 15 years of collaboration between Dr. Brad 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.

“Our residents going over, traveling with me, and some of the other faculty getting involved as well,” Dr. Mubarak said. “This is built on a 15-year long relationship that Dr. Racette has built with Witwatersrand University. Now our residents get to go there and immerse themselves in these amazing clinical and research opportunities that we have.”

Barrow is also home to the Franke Global Neuroscience Education Center, which helps address neurological needs in developing countries. This is done by educating and training healthcare professionals.