The Impact of Faculty Brain Drain on Clinical Training and Academic Progress Among Sudanese Medical Students During the Sudan War : A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background The armed conflict in Sudan since April 2023 has disrupted medical education. This study assessed students' perceptions of faculty migration and its impact on clinical training across five public universities. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 15 July to 20 August 2026 among 362 undergraduate medical students from Khartoum, Gezira, Kordofan, Red Sea, and Dalang universities. Participants were recruited via WhatsApp and Telegram using convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29. Results Of 362 participants, 55.5% were inside Sudan and 44.5% outside. Most students (71.5%) estimated that over 25% of faculty had migrated or were absent, with professors perceived as most affected (40.1%). No significant differences were found in learning adaptations by location or in training adequacy across universities (all P > 0.05). Conclusions Faculty absence was commonly perceived during the conflict, with consistent patterns across locations and universities. These perceptions require validation with official workforce data.