There are two preferred ways of sharing medical information. One is data centered and for very good reasons has dominated our epistemology for almost a century. The other is empirical, based on a motley collection of hunch and experience. Both ways complement each other, both are important for our growth as physicians and surgeons dedicated to walk with our patients to their recovery.

For some reason that I am not able to explain the wonderful and experienced colleagues from Latin America and Africa are shy about telling their experience and opinion. Perhaps it is because in Latin America academic and professional promotions do not depend on the number of peer reviewed publications. In any case we at Surgical Neurology International feel that those voices need to be heard. Thus, we have launched this series that has been called “How I do it”.

We asked four Pediatric Neurosurgeons from Latin America and asked them to tell us about their approach to a prevalent condition neglected by the designers of public health strategies, neural tube defects.

The original text is in Spanish accompanied by an English translation that while short in nuances manages to be loyal to the intentions of the authors.

The papers are short, it could not be otherwise, and the authors have almost never published before. But the papers are dense in technical insight. In all the papers the reader will hear the undercurrent of devotion to the most forgotten of the patients, the malformed born in a low and middle-income country.

I praise James Ausman, M.D. the editor for accepting, supporting and encouraging this initiative. As I ready the papers for submission I recognize my shortcomings in polishing the message of my colleagues. And while coming contributions on “How I do it” will better the previous, this first series has the charm and innocence of a great dream.