2024: Global Neurosurgery

In 2024, Duke Neurosurgery’s Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology (DGNN) celebrated 10 years.

DGNN was founded in October 2014 and is led by Michael Haglund, MD, PhD, division chief. The roots of the division go back to 2007, when Dr. Haglund established Duke’s collaboration with Mulago Hospital/Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Kampala, Uganda, to build neurosurgical capacity.

Since then, the DGNN has led annual camps and training programs with a growing network of surgical centers and neuroscience institutions in East Africa, training 16 neurosurgeons, with 21 more currently in the training program.  DGNN has delivered over 120 tons of medical equipment and supplies worth over $15 million and established three neurosurgery units.

In a special issue of Neurosurgery Clinics, co-edited by Michael Haglund, MD, PhD, the Duke neurosurgeon applied his considerable expertise to the topic of global neurosurgery.

Haglund is the chief of Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology. The report published in November 2024 covered topics such as worldwide need and disparities; medical curriculum development for a worldwide curriculum for neurosurgery; continuing medical education for graduates; key partners in global health; bioengineering in global health; and more.

The publication also features articles co-written by Duke Neurosurgery faculty member Alvan Ukachukwu, MD.