Search Results for: NIRVE

Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE) Connects Neurology Residents Around the World

By Meah Mingyang Gao, MD; Russell Rasquinha, MD, MASc; Manav V. Vyas, MBBS, MSc; Mary Jane Lim Fat, MD; Yuri Kiryanov, MD; Clecio Godeiro, MD, PhD; Fernando Morgadinho Coelho, MD, PhD; Dalia Rotstein, MD, MPH, FRCPC; Tim Patterson; and Morris Freedman, MD, FRCP

A screenshot of NIRVE rounds in September 2015 — First round for the new cycle (2015-16) where all sites introduce themselves. Top left: Slides being presented at the NIRVE rounds from Toronto. Top right: Trainees and staff at Ufa, Russia; and below, trainees and staff at St Petersburg, Russia. Bottom left: Natal, Brazil, and Sà£o Paulo, Brazil.

A screenshot of NIRVE rounds in September 2015 — First round for the new cycle (2015-16) where all sites introduce themselves. Top left: Slides being presented at the NIRVE rounds from Toronto. Top right: Trainees and staff at Ufa, Russia; and below, trainees and staff at St Petersburg, Russia. Bottom left: Natal, Brazil, and Sà£o Paulo, Brazil.

The 2013 WFN neurology training survey highlighted great variability in neurology training programs across the world.1 Neurology trainees are interested in international clinical experiences, but are often constrained by limited flexible time as well as financial, educational or logistical support.2 With the advent of modern technology, 95 percent of current international neurology trainees have reliable Internet access.1 Video-conferenced medical rounds are a new and proven way to supplement medical education across distances and may represent a sustainable solution to global peer learning.3,4

The Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE) is a resident initiative sponsored by the Peter A. Silverman Global e-Health Program, the Canada International Scientific Exchange Program (CISEPO) and the Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care in Toronto. In 2009, Dr. Dalia Rotstein, a former neurology resident and now faculty member at the University of Toronto, established NIRVE with the vision to connect neurology residents across various geographical sites. NIRVE was modeled on the International Behavioral Neurology Videoconference Rounds.5

Figure 1. 61 distinct round topics (main case and image challenge) at 45 NIRVE rounds

Figure 1. 61 distinct round topics (main case and image challenge) at 45 NIRVE rounds

NIRVE was designed to develop leadership skills and create opportunities for residents at all levels to participate in medical education and peer learning, raise awareness of global health concepts in neurology, increase resident advocacy of global health issues, enhance international and national collaboration among neurology residents and act as a gateway for organizing on-site exchanges.

The participating international sites on a rotating basis host the rounds every first Thursday morning of the month. Residents from the host site present a neurology case through videoconferencing technologies, and neurology resident moderators encourage the audience to actively engage in discussions and exchange opinions in real time.

Since its inception, NIRVE has continued to grow and expand. Neurology residents, fellows and faculty from Toronto with international contacts or affiliations initially recruited partner sites. For example, Olga Finlayson, a former University of Toronto neurology resident, helped establish a lasting collaboration and later clinical exchange with the First State Pavlov University in St. Petersburg, Russia. Our current partner sites include Natal, Brazil; Sà£o Paulo, Brazil; Grenoble, France; Jos, Nigeria; and Ufa, Russia. Participation is free and any site in the world with videoconference technology is welcome to join NIRVE as an equal partner.

Methods

Table 1. Results for educational value of NIRVE rounds in 2015 (N = 25)

Table 1. Results for educational value of NIRVE rounds in 2015 (N = 25)

The rounds start at 8 a.m. Eastern time, with a 30-minute case presentation and a 15-minute “image challenge” focused on a radiological or pathological diagnosis, with accompanying neuro-images. The rounds include sufficient time to engage residents in discussions involving diagnostic steps and therapeutic management across the different international sites. The current video-conferencing equipment (H.323/SIP connection protocol) is free within Ontario. International sites connect through a video conference MCU or bridge (Resolve Collaboration) at an hourly rate of slightly more than $35 per site (sponsored by the Peter A. Silverman Global e-Health Program, CISEPO and Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care).5 As of 2015, webcasting with password protection has been implemented using the Ontario Telemedicine Network, allowing any resident with Internet to connect to our rounds.6

As a resident-led initiative, NIRVE values all input from its participants and actively seeks feedback to further improve the program and curriculum to cater to participant needs. In 2015, a formal survey was distributed to all NIRVE participants and site directors from 2014-2015. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: demographic information, questions on the main case presentation, questions on the image challenge and exchange participation. The survey assessed both qualitative and quantitative responses from the participants and was administered using Survey Monkey®.

Results

More than 100 trainees from 10 different sites have attended NIRVE rounds since its inception. Figure 1 shows the categories and number of presentations in each category that have been covered at the NIRVE rounds, with neurovascular and neuroinfectious diseases being the two most common.

Twenty-seven, or 60 percent, of the 45 trainees across four different sites participated in the survey. The average age of these trainees between the ages of 24 to 53 was 29.4 years, and 16, or 60 percent of trainees, were females. While most were neurology residents at different levels of training, two  sub-specialty fellows, one postdoctoral fellow and two PhD students also participated in the survey. Slightly more than 66 percent of trainees identified languages other than English as the language of instruction in their medical training. Of the 25 residents surveyed, 91.6 percent thought that the rounds were relevant to their level of training, 95.8 percent identified that the rounds contributed to their existing knowledge and 87.5 percent agreed that the topics align with their academic interests (Table 1). Seventy-two percent of trainees were interested in presenting at the rounds in the future, and 80 percent indicated an interest in participating in a future clinical exchange program. Most trainees identified the case discussions as the most beneficial aspect of the rounds and suggestions were made to increase emphasis on global health topics and comparing and contrasting practices across the world.

Discussion

There are considerable variations in the occurrence and management of neurological conditions across the world. As neurology trainees prepare for their future careers in an increasingly globalized world, providing early exposure to a variety of cases and management strategies can be challenging. NIRVE provides an opportunity to fill this gap while fostering a platform for potential collaborations.

Over the past years, NIRVE has encountered considerable challenges limiting its expansion. The difference in time zones across countries, various costs associated with room rental and equipment purchase for some international sites, and English as the main language for the rounds have limited the number of trainees we have been able to engage. Looking to the future, creating a bigger role for webcasting, and password-protected archived webcasts could be a more cost-effective strategy to expand our reach. However, increased connectivity may come at the price of reduced real-time interaction. Finally, an on-site clinical exchange is planned for May 2016 in Toronto, including participants from Brazil, Canada and Russia.

Conclusion

Despite challenges including technological, logistical and language-related constraints, NIRVE rounds continue to supplement resident learning across different geographical, political and cultural backgrounds. We welcome residents and fellows from other programs to contact us at nirve.utoronto@gmail.com for more information about NIRVE or to participate in NIRVE. We are happy to provide further information on some technical requirements and further details.

References

  1. Steck A, Struhal W, Sergay SM, Grisold W and the Education Committee World Federation of Neurology. The global perspective on neurology training: the World Federation of Neurology survey. J Neurol Sci. 2013; 334(1-2):30-47
  2. Lyons JL, Coleman ME, Engstrom JW, Mateen FJ. International electives in neurology training: a survey of US and Canadian program directors. Neurology. 2014; 82(2): 119-25
  3. Ali J, Sorvari A, Camera S, Kinach M, Mohammed S, Pandya A. Telemedicine as a potential medium for teaching the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course. Journal of Surgical Education. 2013; 70(2): 258-264
  4. Ricci MA, Caputo MP, Callas PW, and Gagne M. The use of Telemedicine for delivering continuing medical education in rural communities. Telemedicine and e-Health. 2005; 11(2): 124-129
  5. Patterson T, Gouider R and Freedman M. Canada, Tunisia Link up for Long Distance Education. World Neurology. 2012; 27(1): 8
  6. Brown EM. The Ontario Telemedicine Network: a case report. Telemed J E Health. 2013; 19(5):373-6
Meah Mingyang Gao, Russell Rasquina, Manav V. Vyas, Mary Jane Lim Fat and Dalia Rotstein are with the division of neurology, department of medicine, University of Toronto. Yuri Kiryanov is with the department of neurology, First Saint-Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University, St Petersburg, Russia. Clecio Godeiro is with the department of neurology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil. Fernando Morgadinho Coelho is with the department of neurology, Universidade Federal De Sà£o Paulo, Sà£o Paulo, Brazil. Tim Patterson is with the department of telehealth, Baycrest, Toronto, Canada. Morris Freedman is with the department of medicine, division of neurology, Baycrest Health Sciences, Mt. Sinai Hospital, and University of Toronto; Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic, Baycrest; Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, Canada.

 

 

NIRVE: A Tale of Five Continents

In June 2012, five Toronto residents visited St. Petersburg, Russia, here seen accompanied by Russian residents and Natalya Shuleshova, coordinator of the NIRVE program at the State Pavlov Medical University in St. Petersburg.

In June 2012, five Toronto residents visited St. Petersburg, Russia, here seen accompanied by Russian residents and Natalya Shuleshova, coordinator of the NIRVE program at the State Pavlov Medical University in St. Petersburg.

During exchange visits, residents from both hosting and visiting sites participate in various lectures and discussions.

During exchange visits, residents from both hosting and visiting sites participate in various lectures and discussions.

The Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE) is a resident initiative funded by the Peter A. Silverman Global e-Health Program, Canada International Scientific Exchange Program (CISEPO) and Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto. NIRVE promotes international collaboration beyond political or geographical borders and health care infrastructures. Hosted by the Division of Neurology, University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, NIRVE unites residents around the world through videoconference, forging strong professional relationships and friendships. [Read more…]

Candidate Statements for Elected Trustee

Six candidates present their experience and vision for what they would bring to the role of elected WFN trustee. They are listed in alphabetical order.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee: Prof. Kailash Bhatia

Prof. Kailash Bhatia

I am honored to be nominated for the position of the WFN trustee. The Association of British Neurology (ABN) nominated me as an elected World Federation of Neurology (WFN) trustee, and I am privileged to be considered as one of the candidates for this post. I hope to be able to contribute to the accomplishment of the WFN mission — to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide — based on the background of my clinical, academic, and administrative expertise and the experience gained while being involved in clinical practice, research, and teaching in movement disorders and general neurology.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has made us again aware that disease knows no boundaries, and the world is a connected place, and that strategies for health care and education have to be worldwide. Given that my initial training in medicine and neurology was in India, and I subsequently trained further and specialised in my field of movement disorders in the U.K., I thus have the experience on both sides with regard to needs and requirements as well as expertise and assets in different parts of the world in neurology. I also have the desire to foster communications and collaborations for education and make equitable services possible everywhere. Neurology has been a passion all my life, and I had the privilege of having great mentors both in India and in the U.K.. In turn, I have been able to teach and train over 40 fellows from all over the world. They have in turn appraised me of the situation in their respective countries in neurology and will be contacts for development of new initiatives for education and the WFN projects worldwide.

My main area of research has been in movement disorders in a translational way, merging clinical, genetic, and electrophysiology to understand pathophysiology. I have been honored to be the associate editor of Movement Disorders Journal and the current founding editor of Movement Disorders Clinical Practise Journal and have authored more than 600 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and several book chapters and books, including the BMA-award-winning Marsden’s Book of Movement Disorders, a large reference tome. I have led or participated in various international task forces for setting up new diagnostic guidelines for tremor, dystonia, and others.

It’s the endeavor of the WFN to develop cooperative strategies, and I can help promote these through my associations at senior levels with the European Academy of Neurology, ABN, and the International Movement Disorders Society.

I have been involved in spreading neurological education throughout the world, teaching in local symposia not just in Europe but also in India and the rest of Asia and also Africa on several occasions recognizing and tailoring to the available resources, which can vary — and these experiences will help me address specific needs and implement the charter of WFN.

It would be a tremendous privilege to be elected as trustee by the delegates of the WFN to implement the WFN strategy. My goals would be communication, education, and partnership and fostering new developments and collaboration with member societies and neurologists all around the world.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee: Prof. Mustapha El Alaoui-Faris

Prof. Mustapha El Alaoui-Faris

I am Mustapha El Alaoui-Faris, professor of neurology at the University of Mohamed-V and director of the Alzheimer’s Centre of Rabat. I graduated with an MD from Mohamed-V University and trained in neurology and psychiatry in Rabat and in neuropsychology in France. I have taught neurology and neuropsychology and taken care of patients since 1981. My main interests in neurology are dementia, neuropsychology, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuro-epidemiology. I pioneered the translation of “Neuropsychological Tests in Arabic” and established the first master’s degree on clinical neuropsychology in Morocco.

In 2008, I developed deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease at Rabat’s University, and in 2009, I led a national study on “Stroke Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Genetics in Morocco.” I am past president of the Moroccan Society of Neurology and of the Maghreb Federation of Neurology and current president of the Moroccan Foundation Against Neurological Diseases.

I am a founding member of the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN), for which I actively participate in the drafting the bylaws, and I also draft the bylaws of the Pan Arab Union of the Neurological Societies (PAUNS). I was a member of the WHO board for the “Revision of the International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD 10) of the Nervous System” and the WHO Zika Committee.

My commitment for the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) started with the organization of the 20th World Congress of Neurology (WCN) held in Marrakech in November 2011, of which I was the president. This congress was a great success with more than 3,500 participants worldwide; several African neurologists were able to participate in the congress thanks to the scholarships of the Moroccan Society of Neurology.

Since 2011, I have been the WFN Moroccan delegate, and I was involved in different activities of the WFN. Among others, I was a member of the Educational and Grant Committees. In 2013, I established the first WFN Training Center in Rabat, where several African neurologists have been trained in clinical neurophysiology. In 2014, I initiated the WFN Applied Research Group (ARG) on “Neurology in Migrants,” whose scientific work will be published by Springer this year. In order to perfect the continuing education of Moroccan neurologists, I coordinate, since 2016, three annual sessions to work on the AAN Continuum books.

In the last years, I was actively involved in the organization of the 24th WCN held in October 2019 in Dubai, as a co-chair of the Teaching Course Committee and also by preparing the Tournament of Minds material. I am currently a member of the WFN Finance Committee.

In the Dubai Congress, I was honored to receive the prestigious WFN Medal for Service to International Neurology.

I will be honored, if I am elected as a WFN trustee, to participate in the development of neurology worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. I will also campaign for the needs in neurological care of migrants and ethnic minorities to be recognized as a priority by international health authorities.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee: Prof. Morris Freedman

Prof. Morris Freedman

I am honored to have served as WFN chair of the Membership Committee, Canadian delegate, Education Committee member, co-chair of the eLearning Task Force of the Education Committee together with Prof. Riadh Gouider, and trustee. I have also served as president of the Canadian Neurological Society, Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences, and Federation of National Specialty Societies of Canada. My clinical, research, and education foci are on dementia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been actively involved in providing virtual care to patients in long-term care facilities and acute care hospitals who are suffering from severe agitation and aggression associated with dementia. In many cases, this has prevented transfers to acute care hospitals. Thus, COVID-19 has taught us the power of virtual care for patients in need, including those who cannot attend an in-person visit. As a result, I have become a strong advocate for physician education and training in virtual assessment and management, especially as applied to dementia.

I am pleased that the Canadian Neurological Society has nominated me for election as a WFN trustee. I am proud that Canada developed a WFN Department Visit program for young neurologists from Central and South America through the efforts of Prof. Guy Rouleau, director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Canadian delegate to the WFN, and that the Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform, which has its base at the Montreal Neurological Institute, is well positioned to serve as an integrator and facilitator of education worldwide.

Achievements

I have taken an active international leadership role in neurological education. I have advanced international e-learning with a focus on dementia through weekly videoconferencing of behavioral neurology rounds that bring together health care professionals from across the globe within a virtual classroom. The goal is to develop greater international communication and knowledge transfer in dementia. I was awarded the prestigious Colin Wolf Award from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, for this initiative. The international rounds are now recorded and can be accessed through a link on the WFN website. More recently, I have facilitated expansion of international rounds to include general neurology.

An important development modeled on the international behavioral neurology videoconference rounds was the Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE) that promotes international collaboration among neurology trainees.

Goals

My major goal in education through e-learning is directly related to the mission of the WFN to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide. I will work hard to achieve this goal through innovative virtual programs. This will involve both developing and developed countries with a view to transferring knowledge in both directions with all participants as equal partners.

I have a vision, a clear sense of direction, and the focus to facilitate knowledge transfer for enhancing brain health globally. This will require extensive collaboration involving many people with diverse needs, and across many countries. Those who know me say that I am an excellent team player and organizer, qualities that are essential for success in promoting education in neurology worldwide.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee: Prof. Beomseok Jeon

Prof. Beomseok Jeon

It is an honor and privilege to be considered for the position of elected trustee by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). I am a professor of neurology at Seoul National University Hospital in Korea. My participation in WFN dates back to 2008, when I became the Korean delegate to WFN, and I now serve as the president of the Asian Oceanian Association of Neurology (AOAN).

A WFN trustee bears responsibilities requiring serious time, effort, and thorough understanding of the Federation’s workings. More fundamentally, a trustee must be committed to the WFN mission “to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide.” Having served WFN in various capacities, I am fully prepared to carry out the duties of the position and overcome challenges in a pragmatic manner based on my experiences in various scientific, financial, organizing, and steering committees. I currently serve as the international executive committee member of the Movement Disorder Society and am an active contributor to other numerous international societies and journals. Moreover, my years with WFN have strengthened my belief in its core values. If elected as the trustee, I would like to help WFN realize its mission by pursuing the following objectives.

First, prioritize the development of educational programs. Through MDS, I have extensive firsthand experience lecturing in underserved regions as well as in establishing educational programs that cater to the specific needs of such regions. I also have years of experience through WFN, having been on the scientific and organizing committees of  the World Congress of Neurology. With awareness and appreciation for the scope of WFN’s educational activities, I believe we can further develop training programs to improve the quality of brain health care worldwide.

Second, expand collaborations with compatible academic organizations. We can be even more productive and increase WFN’s impact by taking advantage of the Global Neurology Alliance to identify and partner with other brain-related research institutions around the world.

Last, reinforce our support for under-resourced parts of the world in accordance with WFN’s avowed ideals. This means focusing on training and education so that people in underserved regions can receive better treatment for neurological disorders. I would like to offer my experiences with medical infrastructures in such regions to act as a bridge between WFN and regions in need.

What unites my experience as a neurological researcher, educator, editor, and administrative executive is my belief in the importance of brain health for all. I have had the pleasure of working with like-minded colleagues from around the world through WFN and hope we can achieve more in the years ahead. I am confident that I can fulfill the responsibilities of trustee and ask for your support.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee: Prof. Chandrashekhar Meshram

Prof. Chandrashekhar Meshram

I am grateful to the Indian Academy of Neurology and the WFN for considering me worthy for the position of elected trustee.

Services to the WFN

My involvement with the WFN began in 2009 as the national delegate. The WFN balances its thinking and action very well, and I found that I have the experience, enthusiasm, and passion to work in such a milieu. I have served for three terms as a member of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and for two terms as a member of the Scientific Program Committee. The tropical neurology subsection had been dormant for many years, and I took the challenge to resurrect it by successfully organizing the first International Tropical Neurology Conference in India in 2017. I was then given the responsibility to take it further as president of the Tropical and Geographical Neurology Specialty Group (TGNSG). I was co-chair for INTROPICON II held in Brazil. TGNSG now is one of the most vibrant specialty groups of WFN. I am co-editor for a special issue of JNS on tropical neurology. I am also involved in activities of the Global Neurology Alliance and the Environmental Neurology Specialty Group.

The World Brain Day initiative of WFN is highly praiseworthy. The public education campaign is close to my heart due to its importance in prevention and timely treatment of neurological disorders. I have been actively organizing World Brain Day activities. I have published a book of paintings by children about their perception of the brain. Taking inspiration from WFN, we started National Brain Week for public education in India. I have been the national convener of it for the last five years. In addition, for the last 20 years, I have been organizing public education activities on the occasion of World Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Epilepsy, Rabies, Stroke, Autism, and Environment Days. I have published about 300 articles in various publications. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of public awareness in disease control and prevention.

The global burden of neurological diseases is massive, and there is a shortage of neurologists to deal with it. Therefore, for the last 12 years, through WFN Continuum activity and other CMEs, I have been organizing educational programs for neuroscientists and general physicians, so that they become more confident in handling neurological problems.

Goals

The core mission of the WFN, fostering quality neurology and brain health worldwide, fascinates me. There is a glaring inequality in neurology care and education worldwide. The developing and underdeveloped countries lag behind in both these aspects, and WFN is making every attempt to help them catch up. I have experienced this firsthand, and I am committed to addressing it. We need to focus on the management and long-term care of diseases in settings with poor resources where the lack of manpower and funding remain as major obstacles. This has been brought into sharp focus by the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to emphasize to all countries that health, and especially brain health, is a priority and needs higher attention and budgetary allocation. Public participation and health education is important in improving the outcome of patients with neurological diseases and, as mentioned earlier, I have participated in this enthusiastically.

The WFN Executive Committee needs representation from developing countries. This need and a passion to work for the WFN are my reason for standing for the post of an elected trustee. I would be grateful for your support.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee: Prof. Mohammad Wasay

Prof. Mohammad Wasay

I am currently a professor of neurology at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan; past president of the Pakistan Society of Neurology and Pakistan Stroke Society; president of the Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation; editor of the Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences; chief editor of Jahan e Aasab (a neurology public awareness magazine), and a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for Pakistan Health and Research Council (PMRC) and the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Science and Technology. I have also served as director of the World Stroke Organization (WSO) and currently serve as a fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and secretary of the Environmental Neurology Speciality Group (ENSG) of the WFN.

I have worked with WFN for more than a decade as an active neurology advocate and researcher from South Asia. I was trained at the Palatucci Forum and then received an Advocacy Leader of the Year Award by the American Academy of Neurology for my global advocacy contributions. I served as chair of the World Federation of Neurology Advocacy Committee for four years. This committee was instrumental in starting and organizing World Brain Day activities and promoting brain health across the globe. We organized many advocacy workshops during the Asian Oceanian Association of Neurology conferences, the Asian Pacific Stroke Conference, and the World Congress of Neurology.

I started the Afghan neurology initiative, secured funding from the American Academy of Neurology and the French Medical Institute in Kabul, Afghanistan, and trained three neurologists from Afghanistan at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. These trained neurologists have started neurology training programs, education, and research in Afghanistan and established the Afghan Neurology Association (AFNA). We are working at Aga Khan University to establish a network of neurology training and research in Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. We established an Asian stroke network with more than 20 centers in 10 Asian countries. This network has published many multicenter and multinational studies related to stroke in young and Asian women, stroke in pregnancy, and cerebral venous thrombosis in Asia.

I have trained more than 40 neurologists under my supervision. Some of my trainees are now heads of departments and program directors not only in Pakistan but in the Middle East, United States, Canada, and the U.K.. I have published more than 170 papers in peer-reviewed medical journals with impressive publications metrics (IF: 466; citations=4276, H- index 33 and I10 index 85) for a clinical neurologist in a developing third world country. I have received many awards, including the Teacher Recognition Award by the American Academy of Neurology, a gold medal from the Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences, a gold medal from the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and Research, and productivity awards by the Pakistan Council of Science and Technology. I have received 27 research and training grants (intramural and extramural) as principal investigator and co-principal investigator. I have been an invited speaker at more than 120 conferences in 70 countries.

The growing burden of neurological diseases in the world has established WFN as an important stakeholder in global health. We plan to establish brain health as a top agenda for WHO and the United Nations. There is an inequity in neurology training and care across the globe. South Asia, Central Asia, and Africa should be a center point for our future interventions. As a trustee, I could play a valuable role in promoting both of these agendas. Our advocacy committee and ENSG could play an important role in establishing WFN as a key player in global health.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee: Morris Freedman, MD, FRCPC

I have had the honor to serve as a WFN Trustee since 2015. I now have the privilege of also serving as the newly appointed Chair of the Membership Committee.

Morris Freedman, MD, FRCPC

Morris Freedman, MD, FRCPC

I have served as the Canadian delegate to the WFN, a member of the WFN Education Committee, and Co-Chair of the eLearning Task Force of the Education Committee, alongside Prof. Riadh Gouider from Tunisia. I have also served as president of the Canadian Neurological Society, Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences, and Federation of National Specialty Societies of Canada. My clinical and research foci are on dementia.

I am honored that the Canadian Neurological Society has nominated me for re-election as a WFN Trustee. I am also proud that Canada has initiated a WFN Department Visit program for young neurologists from Central and South America through the efforts of Prof. Guy Rouleau, director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and Canadian Delegate to the WFN. I am also proud of the Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform, which has its base at the Montreal Neurological Institute, and which is well-positioned to serve as an integrator and facilitator of education worldwide.

Achievements

I have taken an active international leadership role in education. Since 2005, I have focused on eLearning using videoconferencing as an electronic medium to bring together health care professionals from across the globe within a virtual classroom. This has been done within the context of international videoconference rounds in behavioral neurology. The goal is to develop greater international communication and links in behavioral neurology, and to transfer knowledge at the basic science and clinical levels internationally through joint educational programs. The audiences are multidisciplinary and include neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, family physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and psychologists, as well as trainees in these disciplines. I was awarded the prestigious Colin Wolf Award from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, for this initiative.

An important development that was modeled on the international behavioral neurology videoconference rounds was the formation of international neurology resident rounds in 2008, i.e., the Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE) that promotes international collaboration among neurology trainees. Participating sites have included Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ethiopia, France, Jordan, Nigeria, and Russia. In addition to the rounds, NIRVE has led to resident exchange visits.

I have collaborated with Prof. Riadh Gouider to create a special series of international videoconference rounds in Behavioral Neurology involving Africa and Canada, and which has been supported by a WFN grant.

Goals

My major goal as WFN trustee is highly focused on education through eLearning and is directly related to the mission of the WFN to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting “global neurological education and training with the emphasis placed firmly on under-resourced parts of the world.” I will continue working hard to achieve this goal through innovative eLearning programs involving our network of international sites for videoconference rounds that target neurologists, allied health care professionals, and trainees in neurology and related disciplines. The ongoing programming series will involve both developing and developed countries with a view to transferring knowledge from one to the other in both directions with all participants as equal partners.

A new goal is to significantly expand this eLearning network and broaden the focus from our highly successful behavioral neurology series to include a broad spectrum of disciplines within neurology.

I recognize the financial challenges facing under-resourced parts of the world and the barriers that this poses for successful knowledge transfer through eLearning. However, in keeping with the mission of the WFN to promote global neurological education and training, I will apply all the resources at my disposal to help fulfill this mission with full emphasis on under-resourced regions.

In addition to my goal related to eLearning, I hope to have a major impact on increasing membership in the WFN through my new position as chair of the Membership Committee. Furthermore, I will serve the WFN in any other way that I can.

I have a vision, a clear sense of direction, and the focus to facilitate knowledge transfer for enhancing brain health across the world, especially where it is needed the most. This will require extensive collaboration and coordination involving many people with diverse needs, and across many countries. Those who know me say that I am an excellent team player and organizer, qualities that are essential for success in promoting education and training in neurology worldwide. •

Candidates for the WFN 2015 Election

One new officer post — of treasurer — and one elected trustee post are to be filled at the Council of Delegates Annual General Meeting in November during the World Congress of Neurology in Santiago, Chile. The Nominating Committee has recommended the following candidates to the membership:

Recommended candidates

Treasurer
Prof. Richard Stark
(Australia)

Prof. Andreas Steck
(Switzerland)

Elected Trustee
Prof. Morris Freedman (Canada)

Prof. Steven Lewis
(United States)

Additional Candidate for Elected Trustee
Nominated under Article 6.3 of the WFN constitution
Dr. Daniel Truong
(United States)

Candidates’ biographical details and statements of their goals and objectives for the organization are below.

Candidate Statement for WFN Treasurer

Richard Stark, MD

Richard Stark

Richard Stark

I am honored to be considered as a candidate for treasurer of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). I am familiar with the dedication of the executive and staff through my involvement in past World Congresses of Neurology (WCN) from 2005 to 2015. I have been a member of the Tournament Committee and have seen firsthand the culture of generous willingness to donate time and effort in the preparation of this aspect of the conference, as well as the teaching and scientific programs. I know from these past experiences that I can work well with current members of the executive.

My nomination made me consider the role of WFN, and note its mission statement. This states “the mission of the WFN, as a UK registered charity, is to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide, a goal we seek to achieve by promoting global neurological education and training, with the emphasis placed firmly on under-resourced parts of the world.” I strongly support these aims.

The treasurer of an organization such as WFN carries a heavy burden of responsibility. There are numerous stakeholders, including all of the member societies, each of which will have their own view as to the priorities the WFN should pursue. The funds of WFN accrue as the result of efforts of all of its members, and all expect the funds to be used appropriately and efficiently. It is self-evident that the processes for dealing with the funds must be transparent and equitable.

Every edition of World Neurology demonstrates the wide range of the WFN’s efforts to enhance neurological knowledge and improve neurological services to patients around the world. Initiatives of this type require funding so that inevitably the choice of projects undertaken must be approached prudently.

Much of the WFN’s income derives from its scientific meetings, and the financial successes of these depend in large part on the extent of support from pharmaceutical and related industries. The enthusiasm of pharmaceutical companies depends, in turn, on the nature of their products and the stage of commercial development of each product. These factors are, of course, outside the control of the WFN.

The management of the WFN’s finances, therefore, require an astute and flexible approach aimed at maximizing income, using income as available to fund projects around the world and efficient administration. Prudence requires that projected income streams be realistic and take into account uncertainties related to pharmaceutical industry support.

As treasurer of the Sydney 2005 World Congress of Neurology (which was a huge financial success and has contributed to WFN’s capacity to fund ongoing projects) and of the Australian Association of Neurologists (1997-2003) during a period of its growth, I am well aware of the challenges facing an organization such as the WFN and of the need for careful and prudent management of its finances. These positions naturally involved efforts to maximize income from industry, as well as other sources, so I am familiar with what is required to achieve success in these areas. The experience of being treasurer of WCN 2005 also highlighted the need to be acutely aware of the potential effects of fluctuations in exchange rates and other consequences of the globalization of economies. WCN 2005 took place at a time of substantial exchange rate volatility, and the measures that had been put in place to minimize adverse impacts of this volatility contributed to the financial success of the conference.

The WFN has a strong tradition of efficient use of funds. This, of course, contrasts with the situation in some other high profile international organizations and relies on the generous donation of time from the executive, as well as the hard work of administrative staff. This efficiency must continue.

If elected, I undertake to work diligently with the executive to ensure that the financial management of the WFN allows it to pursue its aims and objectives as effectively as possible.

Candidate Statement for WFN Treasurer

Andreas Steck, MD

Andreas Steck

Andreas Steck

I am a professor emeritus of neurology and former head of the department of neurology, University of Basel, Switzerland. I have been a member of the Executive Committee of the European Neurological Society (ENS) since the foundation of the society and was also president of the ENS. I was in charge of its finances and served as treasurer. I chaired the Evaluation Committee of the ENS fellowship program and was a member of the Examination Committee of the European Board of Neurology. My research interests have centered on neuroimmunological aspects of neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory neuropathies and paraneoplastic syndromes.

I am currently the president of the Scientific Council of the International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia in Geneva and chair the Neuromuscular Research Association Basel. I am a member of several international societies, such as the Neuromuscular Research Group of the WFN and a faculty member of F-1000. I am a past editor of the Swiss Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry, a former president of the Swiss Neurological Society and a regular reviewer of scientific journals. I am a fellow of the American Neurological Association and a fellow of the European Academy of Neurology.

Large international organizations, such as the WFN, need a strong management structure to sustain the challenging demands in a rapid moving world. This has led to the decision to separate the post of secretary-treasurer general into two, one of secretary general and the other of treasurer. In high insight, this is a natural evolution toward more transparency, and most scientific societies today follow this model. The newly created function of treasurer is an important position of trust and responsibility situated between the president, secretary general, trustees and member societies.

Over the years, the WFN has experienced increased operating expenses, in particular through its worldwide initiatives, grants and spending on member activities, which help to realize its main goals as a global scientific society. In this respect, an important role of the treasurer is to keep the WFN on a sound and sustainable financial basis, while allowing the WFN to meet its growing support needs by encouraging new projects and co-sponsorships with other institutions or scientific societies. While the WFN is by essence a global player, there are an increasing number of large international neurological societies taking regional and supranational coordinating roles. An example of this is the newly created European Neurological Society (EAN). The two existing European neurological societies, the European Neurological Society (ENS) and the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS), have now joined forces to build the EAN. The newly established organization has inherited funds of the two previous ones. This puts it in an excellent position to take on new challenges, such as a recently initiated partnership program across the Mediterranean to involve associate member countries. The newly formed Pan American Federation of Neurological Societies (PAFNS) is representing neurology in Latin America a region in full development, where the 22nd World Congress of Neurology (WCN) is taking place in Santiago, Chile. The 23rd WCN will be organized by the Asian Oceanian Association of Neurologists and take place in Kyoto, Japan.

The WFN should take advantage of the unique opportunity to collaborate with these international societies to advance our field. The challenge for the WFN in the coming years will be to coordinate its global involvement by interacting not only with national, but also new international scientific organizations. In order to maintain a sustainable growth, the cooperation’s projects should be well planned to avoid overlapping programs. A better integration and coordination of the WFN applied research groups would help foster quality neurology worldwide. Efforts should be made to streamline the budgeting process and assure that management accounting allows for an ongoing monitoring of income and expenditures.

The sources of finances for the WFN include membership dues and income from congresses and publications. Moving the World Congress of Neurology from a four-year to a two-year cycle has brought in more money. Going to a one-year cycle of meetings would allow not only for continuity in organization and strengthening of corporate identity, but also would further increase income, a welcome move in a time of shrinking resources. Engaging with partners to share costs should bring additional sources of revenue.

As a long-standing member of the Executive Committee of the ENS, where I was in charge of the finances, I bring the needed managerial experience. I am convinced that I can fulfill this important function of treasurer to the satisfaction of the WFN and its members.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee

Morris Freedman, MD

Morris Freedman

Morris Freedman

I have had the privilege to serve as Canadian delegate to the World Fedeartion of Neurology (WFN) since 2007, as a member of the WFN Education Committee since 2010 and as co-chair of the eLearning Task Force of the Education Committee, alongside Prof. Riadh Gouider from Tunisia. I am also honored that the Canadian Neurological Society has nominated me for the important position of WFN trustee.

Background and Achievements

By way of background, I am chair of the International Development Committee of the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation, and I have served as president of the Canadian Neurological Society, Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences (now Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation) and Federation of National Specialty Societies of Canada.

At the hospital level, I am head of neurology, executive medical director of the Centre for Memory and Neurotherapeutics, and director of the Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic at Baycrest Health Sciences. At the university level, I am a professor in the Division of Neurology, department of medicine, and director of the Behavioral Neurology Section, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto.

My clinical focus is behavioural neurology. I am also a scientist at the Rotman Research Institute of Baycrest Centre. My research is aimed at both improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment due to frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and development of cognitive test procedures. For example, my colleagues and I have contributed to the use of clock drawing as a bedside cognitive assessment tool.

I have taken an active international leadership role in education. Since 2005, I have focused on eLearning using videoconferencing as an electronic medium to bring together health care professionals from across the globe within a virtual classroom. This has been done within the context of international videoconference rounds in behavioral neurology. The goal is to develop greater international communication and links in behavioral neurology, and to transfer knowledge at the basic science and clinical levels internationally through joint educational programs. American, Canadian, Cuban, Israeli, Jordanian, Russian, Saudi Arabian, South African, Spanish and Swiss (World Health Organization) hospitals have participated. The audiences are multidisciplinary and include neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, family physicians, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and psychologists, as well as trainees in these disciplines. I was awarded the prestigious Colin Wolf Award from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, for this initiative.

An important development that was modeled on the international behavioral neurology videoconference rounds was the formation of an international neurology resident initiative in 2008, i.e., the Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE), which promotes international collaboration among neurology residents. Participating sites have included Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ethiopia, France, Jordan, Nigeria and Russia. In addition to the rounds, NIRVE has led to resident exchange visits between Russia and Canada.

More recently, I have collaborated with Prof. Riadh Gouider to create a new series of international videoconference rounds in behavioral neurology involving Africa and Canada, which was supported by a WFN grant awarded during Dr. Vladimir Hachinski’s term as WFN president.

Goals

My goal as WFN trustee is highly focused and directly related to the mission of the WFN. This is to promote “global neurological education and training with the emphasis placed firmly on under-resourced parts of the world.” I hope to achieve this goal through innovative eLearning programs, which will include a significant expansion of our network of international sites for video conference rounds that target neurologists, allied health care professionals and trainees in neurology and related disciplines. The focus will be expanded from our highly successful behavioral neurology series to include a broad spectrum of areas within neurology with the opportunity of adaptation of new technologies. The ongoing programming series will involve both developing and developed countries so that knowledge can be transferred from one to the other in both directions.

I recognize the financial challenges facing under-resourced parts of the world, and the barriers that this poses for successful knowledge transfer through eLearning. However, in keeping with the mission of the WFN to promote global neurological education and training in these regions, I will apply all the resources at my disposal to help fulfill this mission with full emphasis on under-resourced regions.

I have a vision, a clear sense of direction and the focus to facilitate knowledge transfer for enhancing brain health across the world, especially where it is needed the most. Those who know me say that I am an excellent team player and organizer, qualities that are essential for success of the outlined goals. This success will require extensive collaboration and coordination involving many people with diverse needs, across many countries, to promote the WFN’s mission in global neurological education and training.

Candidate Statement for Elected WFN Trustee

Steven L. Lewis, MD

Steven L. Lewis

Steven L. Lewis

It would be an honor and a great privilege to be elected by the delegates as a trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). In support of my candidacy, I will begin this statement by providing some biographical information about my qualifications and experiences, which have led to my current involvement with this critically important organization.

I am currently professor of neurological sciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where I also serve as associate chairman, head of the Section of General Neurology and director of the neurology residency training program. My undergraduate education was at Yale University, where I received my degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. I received my medical education at Stanford University School of Medicine, and I performed my medical internship and neurology residency at the University of Chicago.

My national activities in neurology include my current chairmanship of the Neurology Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the committee that oversees training requirements and makes accreditation decisions regarding all neurology residency training programs in the U.S. I also recently chaired the Neurology Milestones Committee that developed the training milestones for all U.S. neurology residency trainees.

I have been highly involved with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) for many years, including being current chair of the AAN Examination Subcommittee and section co-editor for continuing medical education (CME) for Neurology. I was vice-chair of the AAN Education Committee, and I chaired the AB Baker Section of Neurologic Educators. Three years ago, I had the privilege of being appointed by the AAN as editor-in-chief of Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology, the AAN’s official CME journal.

Fortuitously for me, my work as editor-in-chief of Continuum also has led to my entry into significant involvement with the WFN and its support of global neurologic education. A joint program of the AAN and the WFN provides Continuum to 45 neurological societies whose Continuum user groups include thousands of participants worldwide who would otherwise be unable to access this important educational resource. This program, supported by a generous donation from the AAN and its publisher, Wolters Kluwer of 400 print copies of each issue as well as free online access for every participant, has been extremely highly received, and Continuum has served as a critically important educational tool for neurologists in training and in practice worldwide.

Two years ago, I had the privilege of being appointed as chair of the WFN Education Committee, allowing me to expand my involvement further beyond Continuum into the many other global educational efforts of the WFN, including growth of the WFN teaching centers, the awarding of WFN traveling fellowships and other endeavors. Most recently, Dr. Wolfgang Grisold (WFN secretary treasurer-general) and I have begun the first steps in development of a global educational curriculum for neurological training, to be developed with the assistance and input of the members of the WFN Education Committee. We feel that the WFN is in a unique position to develop such a curriculum to enhance neurological training worldwide.

One year ago, I was asked to serve as a WFN co-opted trustee, a position that has given me the opportunity to be even more highly involved in this important organization. I especially feel privileged to have been able to work closely with and learn from such esteemed mentors as Dr. Raad Shakir, president; Dr. William Carroll, first vice-president; Dr. Wolfgang Grisold, secretary treasurer-general; and Dr. Riadh Gouider and Dr. Amadou Gallo Diop. Their knowledge and experience in global neurology, and their combined histories with and institutional knowledge of the WFN, have been invaluable in my personal development to become an effective member of this organization.

In my roles and experiences with the WFN thus far, coupled with my communication with neurologists globally as Continuum editor-in-chief, I have been impressed by the remarkable similarities of the needs of neurologists worldwide, while also being keenly aware of the important differences in available resources and in access to care. The WFN should continue to play in integral role in enhancing access to quality neurologic education and training and to foster neurological health, including via continued partnerships with national neurologic organizations to access publications and educational programs (such as the partnership with the AAN for Continuum); continued involvement with the World Health Organization; an increased number of partnerships to provide regional teaching centers for neurologic training (such as is now in place in Rabat and Cairo, and currently being developed in Cape Town and Dakar) and department visits for brief subspecialty training experiences (as currently in place in Turkey, Austria and Norway); increased recognition of the availability of travel stipends and research grants to provide as many individuals as possible with access to these important (and sometimes life-changing) opportunities; and continued development of global initiatives, such as the development of a global educational curriculum. The WFN also can continue to increase its visibility to individual members of all neurologic societies, which will further our constituents’ access to our initiatives.

My background and experience as a neurological educator, editor and general clinical neurologist, I feel, provides a unique set of qualifications to help continue and even further enhance the role of the WFN and its 117 professional neurological society members to promote neurologic education and training with the goal to improve global neurological health. I would be honored and privileged to become an elected trustee of the WFN and to serve its members faithfully.

Candidate Statement for WFN Elected Trustee

Daniel Truong, MD

headshot_TruongThe national neurology societies of Bulgaria, China, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Pakistan, Rumania, Saudi Arabian, Slovenia, the United States and Vietnam have honored me by nominating me for the trustee position.

I was born in North Vietnam and moved with my family to South Vietnam in 1955 as a result of the war. I was one of the first Vietnamese to come to Germany in 1967 to study medicine at the University of Freiburg. I specialized in neurology and psychiatry. Marriage brought me to the U.S. in 1982, where I continued my training in neurology, first with a residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and later with a fellowship at Columbia University and London’s National Hospital for Nervous Disease.

My journey with the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) began in 2002, when I was given the honor to serve as a member of the Publication Committee. I was entrusted with the task of improving upon World Neurology. At the time, the newsletter was printed in India and mailed to subscribers worldwide. It arrived six months later by regular mail due to the cost of airmail. To reduce costs and expedite circulation, I proposed the transition to an Internet-based newsletter with regional interests. This proposal was later implemented as the current World Neurology.

My association with the WFN gave me the opportunity and cover to safely develop educational programs for Vietnam, as Vietnam had just begun opening its doors to the West. I implemented the format of the International Neurology Forum, consisting of a short course focused on one topic lasting one to two days. This format was the product of repeated observations that physicians from developing countries did not demonstrate high retention of new techniques learned from broad, lengthy meetings. However, when trained collectively in a large group in their own countries, there was a much higher chance that their practice patterns would change. I organized this format in subsequent forums in developing countries, such as Mongolia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Over the years, I also have served on the Fundraising Committee, Membership Committee, Education Committee and Editorial Boards of World Neurology and the Journal of Neurological Sciences. I firmly believe that the furthering of scientific medicine requires a global effort. I have joined with my other three colleagues to edit a textbook, International Neurology, with the contributions from more than 200 neurologists from 80 countries around the world.

Reasons for Candidacy

As the WFN continues its endeavor to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide, it serves as the bridge connecting different national neurology societies together. Its collective knowledge and strong moral standing lend the support to different national neurology societies to become a professional society with its own standing and as a pillar of democracy in their countries. I believe that I will be able to assist WFN to promote and sponsor initiatives that can leverage growth in neurology in regions of need, such as Africa, Central Asia, parts of Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. Toward this goal, I believe that the WFN communications processes can be further improved to push for low-cost education in developing countries.

Goals

  • To protect and grow the visibility of the WFN brand;
  • To continue to modernize WFN communication and processes;
  • To reach out and partner with other similarly aligned interests to assist the WFN in achieving its goals; and
  • To assist in developing education programs worldwide.

Personal Qualities and Experience

The role of trustee requires a balance of experience, energy and teamwork. I believe I will contribute effectively to the stable growth of the WFN, the fulfillment of its mission and the achievement of the stated goals. Listed are some of the positions that I have held, or currently occupy, supporting my candidacy:

  • Clinical professor, neurology, University of California, Riverside
  • Chair, Education Committee, International Association for Parkinsonism and Related Disorders
  • Member, Education Committee, WFN (2013- present)
  • Member, Publication and Website Committee, WFN (2002-2012)
  • Member, Fundraising Committee, WFN (2005-2009)
  • Member, Membership Committee, WFN (2005-2007 and 2012-2013)
  • Member, Research Committee on Parkinson’s Disease, WFN, (2004- 2010).
  • Member, Membership Committee, WFN (2009-2013)
  • Member, Lawrence C. McHenry Award Subcommittee, American Academy of Neurology (2007-2011)
  • Member, International Subcommittee, American Academy of Neurology (2013-2015)
  • Member, Congress Fundraising Committee, International Association for Parkinsonism and Related Disorders (2013-2015)
  • Member, Liaison/Public Relations Committee, Movement Disorder Society (2006-2010)
  • Member, Strategic Planning Committee, Movement Disorder Society (2014-2015)
  • Member, International Committee, American Academy of Neurology (1995-1997)
  • Ad Hoc reviewer, American Academy of Neurology (2007-2008)
  • Section editor, Journal of Neurological Sciences (2013-present)
  • Section editor, Journal of Neural Transmission (2008-present)
  • Editorial board, Journal of Neural Transmission (2006-2008)
  • Editorial board, Journal of Parkinsonism and Related Disorders (2005-2013)
  • Editorial board, Journal of Neurological Sciences (2006-2013)
  • Editorial board, Future Neurology (2007-present)
  • Editorial board, World Neurology (2003- 2013)
  • Section editor, Neurology International (2009-present)
  • Editorial board, Romania Journal of Neurology (2013-present)