Reaching the horizon and looking beyond: neurosurgery education in Kazakhstan

Neurosurgery education in Kazakhstan has 55 years of history. The first neurosurgery department was established in 1964 in the city of Almaty, South Kazakhstan (the former capital of Kazakhstan). The department was headed by the pioneer of Kazakhstani neurosurgeons, Prof. Yevgeniya Azarova. A new neurosurgery education system was adopted after a while. To date, 4 medical universities and 1 neurosurgical center in Kazakhstan have a neurosurgery department that prepares around 10 neurosurgeons annually. The country’s populations are currently served by more than 300 neurosurgeons. However, isolated regions lack neurosurgical services and a specialized medical workforce. Urbanization results in inequality of receiving medical care among rural and regional inhabitants. To develop and strengthen the neurosurgery services, the National Center for Neurosurgery was opened in the heart of the country. The center has placed great importance on the development of neurosurgery and neurosurgical education in Kazakhstan. The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies, European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, Asian Congress of Neurosurgeons, and International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery have held many international meaningful events on neurosurgery at the center. Opened in 2008, the neurosurgery center has prepared 41 neurosurgeons in the residency program. This article seeks to provide readers with an understanding of the state of neurosurgery education in Kazakhstan and its development history.