Join our host, Luca, broadcasting live from the Mayo Clinic in Florida, as he sits down with Dr Juan Pablo Navarro Garcia de Llano, Regional Director of Latin-American mission:brain chapters and neurosurgery research fellow in Dr. Quinones’ Department.
As one of the chapter program’s pioneers, JP navigates us through its roots and unforeseen meteoric expansion, which now sees the Foundation spread throughout 80 countries across 4 continents, much like a global network of neurons.
JP and Luca recount the emergence of unlikely friendships, and the execution of international projects once deemed unattainable, such as the mission:brain Harvard Hackathon, the Suturing Mission, championed by the Humanitas chapter in Italy, and upcoming entirely student-led mission trips, demonstrating the feasibility of impactful initiatives even within the constraints of limited budgets.
Their conversation explores the implications of empowering medical students, positioning them as integral components within the healthcare ecosystem. JP candidly shares his journey from being a medical student in Guadalajara to his current position, underlining the challenges, sacrifices, and tenacious passion that characterize the path of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) towards realizing their dream of becoming a neurosurgeon in the US.
Through an exploration of the mission:brain Foundation's work and its determination to improve neurosurgical care and education worldwide, this episode serves as a testament to the limitless power of international cooperation and the surprising outcomes it yields.
A must-listen for anyone captivated by the intersection of global health, charity work and transformative innovation.