Expanding Neurologic Education in the
Dominican Republic
By Lauren Koffman and Starane Shepherd
Drs. Starane Shepherd and Lauren Koffman, neurointensivists,
from Rush University Medical Center, located in Chicago, Illinois,
recently spent several days in the capital of the Dominican
Republic, Santo Domingo, kicking off a series of educational
conferences being offered to local physicians and trainees. The
Global Health Department at Rush Medical College has a longestablished
relationship with a local nonprofit organization,
Community Empowerment, in providing healthcare to those in
need in the Dominican Republic, as well as Haiti. They are now
working with the philanthropic division of the Feltrex Foundation
to offer a series of educational lectures throughout the year. Due
to the demand for neurologic education, this inaugural conference
was held over two days and provided two keynote presentations,
in addition to a resident workshop.
Many were excited about the educational opportunity, and we
promoted the conference sessions on a local medical radio
show, “La Receta Medica.” This radio show aims to provide
practical information to the public about common medical
issues. Later that day, we were hosted by the National Society of
Neurology and Neurosurgery at the InterContinental Real in Santo
Domingo. The current and past society presidents were extremely
welcoming, and the crowd totaled about 150 physicians. Not only
were neurologists and neurosurgeons present but also general
practitioners. The keynote presentations were entitled “Acute
Manifestations of Demyelinating Disease” and “Neuromuscular
Respiratory Failure, Acute Myasthenia Gravis and Parkinsonism.”
There was live translation available for audience members, and the
event was streamed online for those unable to attend.
The second day started with
a workshop for residents,
primarily internal medicine
residents, as they manage the
majority of acute neurologic
diseases in the Dominican
Republic. We spent the
morning covering topics such
as evaluation of a first seizure,
status epilepticus and new onset
refractory status epilepticus. The
residents were highly engaged
in the case-based discussion and
eager to learn. Subsequently,
the keynote followed that night
hosted by the National Society
of Obstetrics and Gynecology
and a crowd of nearly 300 people to learn about “Acute Neurologic
Emergencies in Pregnancy.”
Having the opportunity to be an invited international speaker
so early in our careers was an amazing experience. The most
rewarding moments were when physicians came to thank us, as
family practice physicians and internists are often triaging patients
with neurologic conditions, and they welcomed this refresher
course in initial management and diagnostic evaluations in
patients with neurological conditions. Many were also surprised to
hear about the Emergency Neurologic Life Support (ENLS) course
and were interested in participating in the future.
This inaugural educational series was well-received by all who
attended and we look forward to returning in 2019.
Lauren Koffman and Starane
Shepherd with Alfredo
Hernandez, Director of
Community Empowerment
Lauren Koffman and Starane Shepherd with the sisters and board members of
the Feltrex Foundaton philanthropic branch.
Café in the
colonial zone of
Santo Domingo
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