The ASBN Global Neurosurgery Committee Newsletter
The American Society of Black Neurosurgeons Global Neurosurgery
Committee Presents:
Our monthly newsletter delivers updates on events, research, resources, and initiatives of the global neurosurgery committee (ASBN-GNC) and in the larger global neurosurgery space, all curated specifically for our ASBN members.
The ASBN Global Neurosurgery Committee (ASBN-GNC) is a subcommittee of the Service and Communications/Outreach committee. Building on the ASBN mission, ASBN-GNC centers on three core values:
I. Global Health Equity
II. Decoloniality
III. Pan-Africanism
Research Highlight:
Stay informed with the latest updates and information on groundbreaking research, innovative projects, and cutting-edge developments within ASBN-GNC.
Dr. Barkley operating with the Neurosurgical Outreach Foundation in Manila in the Philippines (center and right) and presenting on Pediatric Neurosurgical Topics with the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons (ISPN) in Addis, Ethiopia (left)
Neurosurgeon Highlight
Ariana S. Barkley, MD
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, but raised in Ontario Canada, Dr. Ariana Barkley grew up intending to become a professional basketball player. However, before graduating high school, she had a change of heart when her sister was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis. Soon after, Dr. Barkley shifted gears towards a career in medicine, earning a medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, completing a neurological surgery residency at the University of Washington, and completing a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Children’s of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. She currently works as a pediatric neurosurgeon at the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Barkley chose to pursue pediatric neurosurgery to become a jack-of-all-trades. Furthermore, as a pediatric neurosurgeon, she can let her childlike side flourish by talking to the children about Pixar movies while treating conditions like spina bifida, hydrocephalus, epilepsy, brain tumors, and more.
As a physician, Dr. Barkley is especially interested in healthcare equity and serving diverse populations across the globe. She has been awarded the JB Resident Award for Global Neurosurgery, which acknowledges a USA-based neurosurgery resident who has participated in the Neurosurgery Outreach Foundation Educational Surgical Mission Team. Her desire to help underserved communities is directly linked to her Caribbean background. Additionally, during residency, she collaborated with the Duke Global Neurology and Neurosurgery programs to improve the capacity for neurosurgical care in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Career and research interests:
Global pediatric neurosurgery, epilepsy, neuro-oncology, craniofacial, neurosurgical outcomes clinical research, and optimizing residents' and fellows' education and training in neurosurgery.
Hobbies:
In her free time, Dr. Barkley enjoys spending time with children and her husband. She enjoys weightlifting, playing basketball, running, reading, trying new restaurants, and traveling. Her hobbies also include "training my Malinois/Shepherd mix dog and trying not to adopt more cats!"
Around the Globe: Impacts and Projects
A look at current events in global neurosurgery
Dr. Barkley:
Training, Teaching, Research, & Initiative
Global Brain Health: Dr. Barkley's Initiatives
Jamaican Partnership:
Establishment of a twinned collaboration with Bustamante Hospital for Children in Jamaica, working through the Neurosurgical Outreach Foundation and in conjunction with the Children's Hospital of Colorado.
Ethiopian Exchange:
Participation in virtual case conferences with colleagues at the Zewditu Pediatric Hospital in Addis, Ethiopia, fostering an international pediatric neurosurgery exchange program with the Children's Hospital of Colorado.
Philippines Missions & Mentorship:
Ongoing collaboration with the Educational Surgical Missions in the Philippines in partnership with the Neurosurgical Outreach Foundation, including the development of a virtual mentorship program.
New Global Program:
Development of the Global Pediatric Neurosurgery Program under the Global Surgery Program at the Children's Hospital of Colorado
Trinidad and Tobagoo, with Trinidad nicknamed the Land of the Hummingbirds-its indigenous Arawak name, is a twin-island Caribbean nation whose layered history spans ancient Indigenous cultures, European colonization, and its vibrant journey to independence in 1962. It’s a melting pot of African, Indian, and global influences, best experienced through Carnival, steelpan music, and richly spiced street food. Travelers are drawn to its stunning landscapes—from mangrove-lined bird sanctuaries to world-famous beaches and asphalt lakes. Alongside its cultural and natural treasures, the country is advancing in neurological care, with facilities like Caribbean Neurology Services and West Indian Neurosciences providing modern treatment and neurosurgery. This is a nation where healing and celebration go hand in hand.
Visit Trinidad and Tobago
Rich in natural resources, beautiful landscapes and people, Trinidad and Tobago offers an unforgettable experience, blending flavorful cuisine like curried crab and dumplings, lush nature reserves such as the Asa Wright Centre, and dazzling wildlife including the scarlet ibis. The nation also boasts a growing healthcare system with modern facilities offering specialized healthcare.
Committee Meeting Highlights
June 2025 Meeting
Present at this meeting were ASBN-GNC members from diverse corners of the world. This meeting served to review significant progress of our ongoing research project and paper series that delve into the profound impacts of globalization on Black neurosurgery. Discussions centered around current initiatives and valuable contributions from members, highlighting the breadth of expertise within our organization. The primary focus of the meeting was to finalize the remaining sections of the decolonialization paper series, with a target submission deadline set for the end of July 2025. This collaborative effort underscores ASBN’s commitment to advancing critical research and fostering impactful dialogue within the global neurosurgery community.
Fostering Worldwide Global Neurosurgical Care Advancements
Any ASBN member (students, residents, attendings, etc..) that is engaged in a project, particularly one focused on global neurosurgical healthcare and international or multi-organizational collaboration, we encourage you to reach out to our team. We are committed to fostering partnerships and facilitating proper collaboration to achieve our shared goals. Let's work together to make a meaningful impact.
Upcoming Conferences and Conventions
A Joint Congress: SNOSSA-CAANS. Theme: Innovation In Neuro Oncology Care in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yamoussoukro Cote D'Ivore. July 23-25, 2025.. https://snossa.org
Each issue, we recommend published research articles with a unifying theme. You can also always check out our comprehensive reading list linked below!
Teaching the Emergency Neurologic Life Support Course at Two Major Hospitals in Phnom Penh, CambodiaThis study, first-authored by our Neurosurgeon of the Month Dr. Ariana Barkley, measures the effectiveness of a modified version of the online Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) course in increasing provider knowledge and confidence in management of neurocritically ill patients in Cambodia. They note improvements in both knowledge and confidence immediately after course administration. Importantly, they also underscore the importance of future modifications to the course to make it more relevant to the resource realities of low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
Low-Cost Strategies for the Development of Neurocritical Care in Resource-Limited SettingsThis review article summarizes cost-effective neurocritical care interventions tailored to the resource constraints of LMICs. Detailing the latest in locally reproducible solutions for managing several neuropathologies including TBI, status epilepticus, and acute stroke, they present several innovative technologies and initiatives that have been shown to reduce length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality and among patients, all while minimizing cost.
Global Neurocritical CareThis textbook chapter, first-authored by our newly appointed ASBN President Dr. Ernest Barthélemy, discusses the current state of neurocritical care services globally. Framed by the Sustainable Development Goals’ push for health equity in neurosurgical care, the authors discuss in detail the current neurocritical care landscape in the Global South as well as opportunities for advocacy and future research and lessons to be taken from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Comprehensive Perspective on Intracranial Pressure Monitoring and Individualized Management in Neurocritical Care: Results of a Survey with Global ExpertsICP management of neurocritically ill patients remains challenging for high-resource and low-resource settings. In this study, the author team sought to clarify best practices for ICP monitoring by interviewing experts in management of severe TBI in low-to-middle-income (LMIC) and high-income (HIC) countries, alike. In total, 109 professionals responded to the survey, with the majority reporting use of adjuncts beyond ICP values for adjustment of treatment regimens. Importantly, LMIC respondents were more likely to support the use of noninvasive methods such as transcranial Doppler and pupillometry in bedside decision-making than their HIC counterparts.
