Strengthening Global Health Partnerships: Nuvance Global Health Team Visits Botswana
- Nuvance Health Global Health Program
- Oct 30
- 3 min read
Written by Dilyara Nurkhametova
Director of Operations in Global Health, Nuvance Health Global Health Program
March 2025 was marked by a remarkable visit from the Nuvance Global Health team to Botswana, reinforcing our commitment to global health collaboration and capacity building.
During the third week of March, Drs. Bulat Ziganshin and Dilyara Nurkhametova, alongside Dr. Paul Wright, Director of the Neuroscience Institute, and Dr. Aimin Wen, Manager of the Neurology Residency Program, conducted a site visit to the University of Botswana. The visit aimed to strengthen existing partnerships and explore new collaborative opportunities, particularly in the fields of neurology and neuroscience.
Strengthening Institutional Ties
A key objective of the visit was to reconnect with institutional leaders and revitalize our longstanding partnership. The team engaged in productive discussions with the leadership of the International Office, focusing on expanding the Global Health Electives Program and the Global Health Scholars Program. Meetings with leadership and management at Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, Princess Marina Hospital, Scottish Livingstone Hospital, and Maruapula Clinic provided opportunities to align goals and explore collaboration, complemented by hospital tours to better understand facility needs. Additionally, a visit to opened further avenues for engagement. Productive meetings and discussions with the Dean of the University of Botswana’s Faculty of Medicine, along with a meeting with the University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, reinforced shared commitments to global health education and training.
These meetings played a crucial role in strengthening institutional ties, aligning perspectives, and laying the groundwork for future collaboration between Nuvance Health and Botswana’s medical institutions.
Advancing Neurology and Neuroscience Collaboration
A key focus of the visit was to establish a collaborative initiative in neurology and neuroscience, addressing the shortage of specialists in Botswana. This effort was spearheaded by Dr. Paul Wright, whose enthusiasm and leadership have been instrumental in shaping this initiative. The ultimate goal is to establish a neurology training program in Botswana to train local physicians and invest in capacity building.
Academic Contributions
In addition to strategic meetings, the visit featured academic engagements: Dr. Bulat Ziganshin delivered a lecture on aortic diseases at Princess Marina Hospital’s Department of Internal Medicine, engaging a wide audience of interested physicians. Dr. Paul Wright presented a lecture on stroke as part of the Dean’s Lecture Series, sparking significant interest and meaningful discussions among attendees.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Professor Vincent Selthare, our site director in Botswana, whose tireless efforts made this visit a success. His dedication to fostering this partnership and coordinating the necessary arrangements was invaluable.
We are honored to have Botswana as a key global health partner site and look forward to further strengthening our collaboration to enhance medical education, clinical training, and healthcare capacity in the region.
