Where We Work
The NNI works in collaboration with professionals advancing neurological and neurosurgical care in Bolivia and Paraguay.
Education
The NNI is focused on international partnerships that promote bidirectional learning and the global sourcing of innovations. At the direction of our partners in Bolivia and Paraguay, we have identified areas in which the NNI as a collaborative, can work to narrow gaps in subspecialty and resident training.
The primary areas include surgical response to cerebral vascular events, micro-surgical skills training, minimally invasive neurosurgical therapies, multi-disciplinary management of neurotrauma, spine surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, and neurology.
These co-learning initiatives are implemented through partner surgeries, subspecialty training, small group case discussions, fellowships, and virtual and in-person seminars conferring continuing medical education credit.
Fellowship at Home Model
The NNI “Fellowship at Home” model is a strategy for the transfer of operative skills based on our experiences in promoting specific, advanced surgical skills such as endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery in Bolivia and cerebrovascular interventions in Paraguay.
There are currently several operative skills being sought by our partners. These include, but not limited to: 1) third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus ablation for hydrocephalus; 2) microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia; 3) cerebral bypass surgery; 4) epilepsy surgery; 5) pediatric spinal deformity surgery; 6) minimally invasive spine surgery; 7) carotid endarterectomy; 8) extended endoscopic skull base exposures; 9) brachial plexus and peripheral nerve techniques and 10) pediatric neurosurgery.
NNI Partner, Dr. José Kuzli from the Hospital Nacional de Itauguá in Paraguay spoke about his collaboration with Dr. Nirav Patel from Mass General Brigham at the MGB Global Neurosurgery Symposium in April 2025.
UW Madison Neurosurgical Residency Program
In 2022, UW-Madison and the NNI launched a partnership with the overarching goal of enhancing the education of all neurosurgical trainees in the countries of Bolivia and Paraguay. This program includes bi-monthly virtual lectures, biannual hands-on workshops, and observership opportunities.
Contact Lindsay Doucette lindsay@solidaritybridge.org to learn more about observership opportunities.
Resource Mobilization
The mission of the NNI is to address disparities in access to neurological supplies and equipment through collaborative strategies for sustainable resource mobilization. Since our work began in 2006, we have delivered high speed drills, operating microscopes, spinal instrumentation, cranial stabilization, endoscopes, ultrasonic aspirators, EEGs and many other essential neurological and neurosurgical supplies.
Research
The NNI is embarking on exciting initiatives in research. In working to improve surgical quality, we are often reminded that “if you don’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” In collaboration with the Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma, the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), and Bolivian and Paraguayan Neurosurgical Societies, the NNI will work to implement neurotrauma registries to map the pre-hospital, acute in-hospital, and post-acute care of patients with traumatic brain injuries. The data collected through these registries will support long-term local and global efforts to improve care for TBI patients. These registries will also help to guide NNI programming and measure the long-term impact.
Links to Published Articles from Partners
Service
A central goal of the institute is to create “pathways to care” for neurosurgical and neurological patients with limited resources. These pathways will be made through a network of allied surgeons and institutions who will assist in performing surgeries, advising, and referring patients to other allied specialists. This network is supported through the provision of resources from and consultation with U.S. doctors and institutions. In this way, the NNI and its allied doctors will strive to serve the neglected surgical patient in the same spirit of solidarity that inspires all the work of Solidarity Bridge.
Recent Blogs
“I was hopeless” is a phrase you frequently encounter when speaking with parents of children with drug-resistant epilepsy. It serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role that Solidarity Bridge plays in sustaining hope for those whose hope has run thin. Along with committed partners, Solidarity Bridge is restoring hope for Bolivian children suffering drug resistant epileptic seizure disorders by making epilepsy surgery accessible.