International Issues: A guide to US academic global health programs in neurology

Abstract

Global health programs advocate for a better understanding of health disparities, often prompting medical trainees to practice medicine in an international setting. The relevance of global health electives in neurology is highlighted by the increasing burden of neurologic diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), representing 84% of the world's population.1,2 Cerebrovascular disease is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and dementia, meningitis, migraine, and epilepsy are in the top 50 factors in disability-adjusted life years. Neurologists therefore play a key role in global health, caring for patients with acute neurologic disorders and neurologic sequelae of both noncommunicable and communicable diseases. Despite this, there are only 0.03 to 1.09 neurologists per 100,000 people in LMICs, with large inequalities in access to care, compared to 4.75 per 100,000 population in high-income countries.3 Through developing collaborative relationships and a cross-cultural exchange of knowledge, US neurology trainees can play a role in addressing these disparities in neurologic care.

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