From fortification and foetal surgery to healthy ageing: mentoring leadership through global health partnerships in spina bifida care

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Neural tube defects (NTDs) remain a significant global public health concern, affecting an estimated 300 000 live births annually. Spina bifida (SB), one of the most common NTDs, is associated with complex lifelong comorbidities including hydrocephalus, neurogenic bowel and bladder dysfunction, orthopaedic impairments and cognitive challenges that require coordinated multidisciplinary care across the lifespan. Although advances in prevention, foetal surgery, rehabilitation and assistive technology have improved outcomes, opportunities for sustained international professional learning remain limited. This review describes the development and activities of the Spina Bifida Global Learning Collaborative. This international community of practice was established following the 2023 Spina Bifida World Congress to promote knowledge exchange, mentorship, leadership development and professional capacity building. Drawing on documented collaborative activities and reflections from regular virtual meetings between 2023 and 2026, we describe three recurring learning modalities: practice-informed dialogue, educational and professional training initiative and collaborative writing and academic exchange. Through sustained, low-cost international collaboration, participants have shared experiences across diverse healthcare systems and translated learning into locally adapted initiatives, including rehabilitation capacity building and aftercare programmes in Ethiopia, hybrid professional education initiatives in Scandinavia, assistive technology training in the Americas and collaborative research and student engagement across institutions. Rather than implementing centrally coordinated programmes, the collaborative functions as a catalyst for locally led innovation by connecting clinicians, researchers and advocates across disciplines and countries. These experiences suggest that international communities of practice can strengthen professional networks, foster mentorship, support leadership development and contribute to educating the next generation of professionals working in SB care. Sustained global partnerships may therefore represent an important strategy for improving lifelong care for individuals with SB across diverse health systems.