Leading the Way: The Bolivian Champions Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Care
The MOSCH team, along with Dr. Ahmed and medical interpreters, checking on surgical patients in the ICU during the June trip.
Over the past 27 years, Solidarity Bridge’s programs have evolved to ensure that sustainability and long-term impact are central to every initiative. While Solidarity Bridge provides resources, training, and expertise, we have learned that sustainable impact only takes root when local leaders take ownership and carry the work forward. For new initiatives, we search for these key “local champions” that have vision, commitment, and perseverance—yet identifying these local champions can be challenging.
That is why we have been so energized by our partners in pediatric epilepsy surgery, the Neurology and Neurosurgery team at Mario Ortiz Suárez Children’s Hospital (MOSCH) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The MOSCH team provides nearly 6,500 neurology consultations per year, of which up to 49% are patients with epilepsy. According to statistics in Latin America, 30% of these will be drug-resistant, and of these, 15% are possible candidates for epilepsy surgery.
Out of this sobering reality, the MOSCH Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Program was created, significantly advancing the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy in Bolivia. This program responds to the urgent need to offer specialized and accessible surgical solutions for pediatric patients in the country.
The MOSCH Neurosurgery and Neurology Service was founded in 2014 by Dr. Felix Pacheco. Over several years, under Dr. Pacheco's strategic leadership, a multidisciplinary team* was formed, including personnel trained in neurology, neurosurgery, epilepsy, and electroencephalography. The commitment of the professionals involved and of local leadership has been vital to ensuring a comprehensive approach to patient diagnosis and treatment.
Drs. Ahmed, Pacheco, and Salguero perform an epilepsy surgery at the MOSCH.
“This is a vision that you have brought forward and the result is that this is the most promising partnership in all of the work that we have been doing in Bolivia over the past twenty years. I want to thank you for your leadership and your vision,” shared Dr. Moser, president of Solidarity Bridge’s Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute, to the MOSCH team in June.
A key factor in the program's success has been their partnership with Solidarity Bridge and Puente de Solidaridad, which has facilitated the ongoing participation of internationally recognized experts in pediatric epilepsy and epilepsy surgery. In 2023, through the collaboration between Solidarity Bridge and Drs. Art DiPatri and Rebecca Garcia of Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, Bolivia's first two pediatric epilepsy surgeries were successfully performed.
Building on this milestone, Solidarity Bridge missioners Drs. Raheel Ahmed and David Hsu of the University of Wisconsin–Madison have continued to provide neurological and neurosurgical mentorship, supporting additional epilepsy surgeries. Preliminary outcomes have been highly encouraging, with patients achieving seizure freedom following surgery, resulting in significant improvements in their quality of life and the well-being of their families.
These partnerships have strengthened the training of the Bolivian multidisciplinary team, expanded local expertise, and enhanced the quality and safety of surgical care. Solidarity Bridge has also supported the center in acquiring key medical equipment for diagnostics and surgery.
In June of this year, the program completed its 11th pediatric epilepsy surgery. The patients and families have been returning for their periodic check-ups with good results and with gratitude for an improved quality of life.
As the Pediatric Epilepsy Center continues to mature, the team will focus not only on strengthening clinical and surgical capacity at the MOSCH, but also on expanding the program's reach throughout Bolivia. A key priority will be increasing diagnostic capacity by equipping more Bolivian healthcare professionals to recognize epilepsy earlier and strengthening referrals from regional hospitals and primary care providers.
MOSCH, Solidarity Bridge, and Puente de Solidaridad teams joined returning patients at a June press conference alongside Santa Cruz government and health officials.
Public education and community awareness campaigns will play an important role in reducing stigma surrounding epilepsy, increasing understanding of available treatment options, and encouraging families to seek specialized care. Educational outreach to physicians, pediatricians, neurologists, and community health workers will help identify children who may benefit from evaluation or epilepsy surgery and ensure they are referred to the Center in a timely manner.
The Epilepsy Surgery Program at the Mario Ortiz Suárez Children's Hospital has the potential to become a national and regional benchmark. This care model will not only benefit more patients in the future but will also position Bolivia on the map of pediatric epilepsy neurosurgery in Latin America. Solidarity Bridge and Puente de Solidaridad are proud to walk alongside our partners in pediatric epilepsy surgery, investing in their vision to build a healthier future for the children of Bolivia.
*Key doctors of the Pediatric Epilepsy Center at MOSCH include Drs. Cuiza, Pacheco, Puch, Ferrufino, Salguero, and Orozco, as well as neuropediatricians Drs. Cuéllar, Flores, and Martínez.
