Introduction: In 2010, the Society of Neurological Surgery organized the first U.S. boot camp for PGY1 residents. The rational for this standardization was to promote improved patient safety and teach fundamental skills/knowledge early in training. Despite Bolivia being the poorest South-American country, neurosurgeons perform high-level procedures with limited resources. Yet, residency training remains highly variable. With the same goals in mind, leaders in the U.S. sought to share knowledge and improve residency education in South-America.
Methods: In a collective effort, the Bolivian Society for Neurosurgery, FIENS, the Institute for the Development of Neurosurgery, Solidarity Bridge, and the University of Massachusetts, organized and executed the first South-American neurosurgical boot camp in Bolivia, 2015. Both U.S.-trained boot camp faculty and Bolivian faculty lead didactic lectures and case scenarios followed by a full practicum day that included hands-on stations utilizing mannequins and simulators. South-American residents and faculty were surveyed at the conclusion of the course to determine perceived improvement in fund of knowledge and course effectiveness.
Results: Twenty-one neurosurgery residents from five South-American countries participated. All residents completed the post-course survey. Average scores were between 4.2 and 4.9 on a five-point scale (five being excellent). Five Bolivian neurosurgeons completed the survey with average scores from 4.5-5. The most common feedback was to make this an annual course and expand it to include other cities/countries in South-America. Notably, Bolivian leaders in the field unified around education, resulting in the formation of an institute to continue similar initiatives in the future.
Conclusions: The first South-American neurosurgical boot camp had significant value and was well received in Bolivia. Residents from multiple countries attended and results suggested high satisfaction. This humanitarian model provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution to education needs in non-industrialized countries and should be expanded to other regions as a means for standardizing the core competencies in neurosurgery.
Patient Care: Standardizing curriculum could greatly increase patient safety in regions where such a curriculum is introduced. This is evidenced by the success of the US-based boot camp for all PGY1 residents.
Learning Objectives: Possibility for international adoption of US-based education models. International acceptance of US-based curriculum.