Discover what & how we prioritize our global efforts

We’re a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to expanding access to neurosurgical care worldwide. Through innovative training programs, research groups, and global partnerships, we aim to address the critical shortage of neurosurgeons in underserved regions.

Mission:brain on a mission trip in Mexico City
Photo taken from efforts in Guadalajara
Treat. Empower. Educate

The three pillars of our mission:
Treat. Educate. Empower

Our goal is to build a global network that connects surgeons and caregivers with hospitals and patients who lack the resources or training to treat complex neurosurgical conditions. We aim to work together to address and treat challenging neurosurgical diseases.

Doctor Q and the mission:brain team treating a patient

Treat.

We are dedicated to bridging the gap in neurosurgical care by leveraging the expertise of our volunteer team. In partnership with local providers, we treat patients free of charge and supply the necessary resources, addressing the lack of access to essential neurosurgical treatments in underserved regions.

Educate.

We focus on maximizing impact through education and training. By partnering to exchange knowledge and collaborate on research, we create sustainable, long-term progress that benefits both sides, fostering mutual learning and inspiration.

mission:brain educating and teaching a group on neuroscience
The mission:brain India chapter group

Empower.

We are a community and a movement, empowering patients to live lives full of possibilities. Together with our colleagues, partners, students, and volunteers, we aspire to improve care, inspire better practices, and shape brighter futures.

2035
10 Year Goals

Take a deep dive into our goals

Learn about the key milestones we’re aiming to reach over the next decade. Our goals focus on expanding access to essential neurosurgical care, empowering local healthcare providers, and advancing sustainable practices worldwide.

Inspiring long-term impact through local leadership.

Mission:BRAIN is redefining what it means to “go on a mission.” Our goal is not to perform more surgeries ourselves, but to empower others to do so.

Through NeuroClinics and community-based collaboration, we’re helping local neurosurgeons take ownership of their own missions — with access to resources, mentorship, and infrastructure that allows them to grow independently.
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By multiplying the Dr. Q Effect, we’re creating a distributed network of leaders who carry forward the mission of equitable care — one that continues long after our teams have left. Sustainability isn’t just a goal; it’s the foundation of everything we do.

Equipping the next generation to lead, discover, and transform care.

From classrooms to operating rooms, Mission:Brain is creating pathways for students, residents, and early-career professionals to step into the future of neuroscience and neurosurgery.

Programs like NeuroCamp, our Scholarship Initiatives (WINS, LHHINNS, Beckmann, and Uihlein), and the Research Peer Mentorship Program are opening doors for young minds who might never have imagined themselves in this field.

Through hands-on training, mentorship, and global collaboration, we’re nurturing a community of thinkers and caregivers who will continue expanding access to brain and spine care in every corner of the world.

Using data to guide decisions, measure outcomes, and shape the future.

Through our Global Neurosurgery Research Program, we’re collecting and analyzing data where it’s needed most — in underserved regions that have historically been left out of global studies. By leading research, supporting peer-reviewed publications, and empowering local teams to conduct their own investigations, we’re building evidence that drives smarter, more equitable care.

Our data doesn’t just fill research gaps — it tells the story of progress, collaboration, and measurable change. By 2030, our goal is to publish 30 high-impact studies that influence global policy, inform treatment standards, and improve lives.

Turning ideas into action through creativity and connection.

The Mission:BRAIN Hackathon has become a global platform for innovation — bringing together more than 240 participants from 42 countries to tackle real-world neurosurgical challenges.

Through mentorship, design, and creative problem-solving, participants develop solutions that address healthcare disparities and reshape the field of neurosurgery.

Looking ahead, we’re scaling this model into a global innovation engine — building intellectual property, forming partnerships, and inspiring sustainable ideas that can be implemented across borders.

Our upcoming Metaverse University will further expand this network, providing immersive education and virtual collaboration tools to train the next generation of global health leaders.

Building a world where geography never determines access to care.

At the heart of Mission:BRAIN is a simple belief: every life deserves access to quality neurosurgical care, no matter where they are born.

Through partnerships with local hospitals, training programs, and government collaborations, we’re working to ensure that sustainable neurosurgical systems exist in even the most remote regions.

By 2035, our vision is for every major global region to have centers of excellence and trained neurosurgeons leading the way for their communities.We’re not just expanding access to surgery — we’re building hope, dignity, and opportunity, one bridge at a time.

Empowering

Our Journey: Making Neurosurgery Accessible Worldwide

Mission Brain is dedicated to introducing neurosurgery to underdeveloped and underserved countries. Through our chapters and a variety of activities, we aim to provide access to life-saving neurosurgical care to those in need. Our mission is to empower communities, improve healthcare infrastructure, and save lives.

2010

Our Beginnings

Mission Brain was founded with the goal of bringing neurosurgery to underserved regions. Our team of dedicated volunteers and medical professionals have since worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality.

2015

Expanding Our Reach

Over the years, Mission Brain has expanded its operations to multiple countries, establishing chapters and collaborating with local healthcare providers. Together, we strive to make neurosurgical care accessible to all. We placed the first neurosurgeon in South Sudan.

Date

Future Goals

Looking ahead, Mission Brain aims to continue expanding its reach, establishing more chapters and partnerships to provide neurosurgical care to even more underserved communities. Our long-term goal is to create sustainable healthcare systems that prioritize neurosurgery.

Date

Impact So Far

Since our inception, Mission Brain has performed over 1,000 neurosurgical procedures, transforming the lives of patients and their families. We continue to make a lasting impact in the communities we serve. We placed the first neurosurgeon in South Sudan, and we've got plenty more to tell you about. Check out our leaning center.

The faces behind the effort; meet the team

An organization only goes as far as its people choose to take it.

Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa
President
Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa
Michael Lawton
Vice President
Michael Lawton
April Sabangan
CEO
April Sabangan
William ​Aarsheim
Treasurer
William ​Aarsheim
Paola Suarez-Meade
Executive Secretary
Paola Suarez-Meade
Diana Ochoa
Executive Assistant & Director of Global Empowerment Programs
Diana Ochoa
Juan Pablo Navarro
Global Outreach Director
Juan Pablo Navarro
Adrian Safa
Global Education Director
Adrian Safa
Emiliano Sanchez
Global Communications Director
Emiliano Sanchez
Nyanzi Timothy Joseph
Africa Regional Director
Nyanzi Timothy Joseph
Fatu Conteh
Global Neurosurgery Associate
Fatu Conteh
Megan Still
Global Neurosurgery Research Advisor
Megan Still
Igdaliah Otitoola 
Assistant Director of Global Empowerment Programs
Igdaliah Otitoola 
Sruthi Ranganathan
Assistant Director of Global Empowerment
Sruthi Ranganathan
Ali Azan Ahmed
Assistant Director of Global Outreach & Regional Director of Asia
Ali Azan Ahmed
Alexa Precilla
Assistant Director of Global Outreach
Alexa Precilla
Harsh Iyer, MBBS
Assistant Director of Global Education
Harsh Iyer, MBBS
Isabel Martin del Campo Rota
Assistant Directors of Global Communications & Hackathon co-chair
Isabel Martin del Campo Rota
EstefanĂ­a Frey
Assistant Directors of Global Communications
EstefanĂ­a Frey
Agaba Richard
Regional Director of Africa
Agaba Richard
Itzel Bravo
Regional Director of LATAM
Itzel Bravo
Jacopo Antonino
Europe Regional Chair
Jacopo Antonino
Timothy West
North America Regional & Hackathon Chair
Timothy West
Garrett Thrash
GNRG Co-Chair
Garrett Thrash
Rishi Devulapalli
Neurocamp Co-Chair
Rishi Devulapalli
Hector Cure
Research Peer Mentorship Program Co-Chair
Hector Cure
Nikki Perez
Research Peer Mentorship Program Co-Chair
Nikki Perez
Anna Dashiell 
Suturing Mission Co-Chair
Anna Dashiell 
Arren Bernabe
AI Team Chair
Arren Bernabe
Alan Ho
Global Research Symposium Co-Chair
Alan Ho

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