Dr. Clayton Buback, UCSF Neurology Residency Class of 2023

Global health site: Lusaka, Zambia

What was the goal of your project? I performed a quality improvement project in the main hospital focused on the processing of cerebral spinal fluid, ahead of a meningitis study that is now enrolling subjects and relies on accurate cerebral spinal fluid analysis.  

Who did you work with? Dr. Michael Wilson of UCSF and Dr. Omar Siddiqi of BIDMC were my research mentors, Dr. Deanna Saylor of JHM organized the educational activities I participated in, and clinically, I worked closely with Dr. Faith Simushi, Dr. Lorraine Chishimba, Dr. Sarah Braun, and Dr. Stanley Zimba of UNZA. 

Advice to trainees interested in global neurology: Finding a mentor who is willing to invest in you and who supports your goals is key. Once you are in the field, it is important to be flexible and willing to focus your project on what your site needs even if it isn’t what you initially envisioned.  

Lesson learned from your global health experience: Social determinants of health play a huge role in neurologic care in any setting, and when you are less familiar with the culture it is important to approach patients with an acknowledgement of the blind spots you have. While the underlying neurology might be the same around the world, the way you practice usually has to adapt.