Global Perspectives: Franke-Funded Neurology Observers Share Experience at Barrow
This spring/summer, the Franke Global Neuroscience Education Center funded two neurology observers at Barrow Neurological Institute. Sandane Chauke-Korae, MD, and Irtiza Chaudhry, MD, visited Barrow in Phoenix, Arizona, from Johannesburg, South Africa, and returned home with new skills and ideas for improving subspecialized neurology care.
Sandane Chauke-Korae, MD
Dr. Chauke-Korae spent a month at Barrow learning from attending neurologists across multiple subspecialties. She was interested in Barrow because of the opportunity to observe world-class subspecialty neurology care, noting that general neurology is the norm in South Africa. She feels particularly drawn to vascular neurology but is also fascinated by movement disorders and epilepsy.
Dr. Chauke-Korae first learned about the Franke International Visiting Scholars and Clinical Observership Program when the Barrow Global Neurology team, led by Huiam Mubarak, MD, visited Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, where Dr. Chauke-Korae was undergoing residency training at the time. Chris Hani Baragwanath serves as the primary teaching hospital of The University of the Witwatersrand, which has a formal partnership with Barrow and is where Dr. Chauke-Korae earned her medical degree.
“My time at Barrow has been incredibly enriching and enlightening,” she said. “It’s broadened my perspective to what’s possible. The physicians here are quite committed to providing excellence and to creating solutions for their patients on a daily basis. It’s quite inspiring. I feel quite privileged to have had this opportunity.”
Irtiza Chaudhry, MD
Dr. Chaudhry, a neurosurgery resident at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, spent six weeks learning from our neurologists and neurosurgeons at Barrow. He primarily observed neurocritical care, vascular neurology and neurosurgery, and functional neurosurgery.
Dr. Chaudhry also learned about the funded observership through the Barrow Global Neurology team during a visit to Chris Hani Baragwanath.
Dr. Chaudhry chose to pursue a career in medicine because he felt called to dedicate his life to serving others. He sees his profession not as a job but as a purpose, and he described it as an honor and privilege to learn from the world-renowned experts at Barrow.
“The care here is second to none, and the skills and technical ability in this Institute are unmatched,” he said. “Thank you so much for this opportunity. I hope to implement and uplift services to my patients back home.”