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145 Spina Bifida global learning collaborative: the development of a network to educate the next generation of clinicians, researchers, and advocates

bmjpo · 2026-07-14 · canonical JSON source

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Objectives The 2023 Spina Bifida (SB) World Congress’s Global Health Symposium served as the official launch of the Spina Bifida Global Learning Collaborative (SBGLC), a transnational, multi-disciplinary group of advocates, graduate students, clinicians, and investigators dedicated to SB-related global health education from around the world.Methods The SBGLC aims to educate future researchers, clinicians/advocates on the professional standards developed by the major international organizations in SB, to enable knowledge exchange about treatments or care systems, what may or may not have worked in different contexts, and to connect people and science where needed.Results Through monthly zoom-meeting the SBGLC has inspired several activities around the globe. The SBGLC welcomes colleagues with an interest in SB care with a social justice lens and with a global health framework. Some of the activities the collaborative has led thus far are: 1) ‘Disability Day’ in Sweden 2023 (MPH event which explored the intersection of disability and health in order to promote inclusion, advocacy, and critical reflection), 2) ‘After Care Needs Assessment’ in Ethiopia 2024 (survey developed in collaboration with the Reach Another Foundation), and 3) ‘Wheelchair Provision in Theory and Practice’ in New York, US 2025 (workshop focusing on practical skills for wheelchair services in global health settings).Conclusions The challenge often lies not in technology, but in the lack of sustained transnational collaboration to uphold practice standards and facilitate open dialogue across programs. Working together can help integrate specialized care with community support for individuals with SB more effectively and equitably.