Conference highlights included an abstract presentation and the latest information on clinical trials and new treatment approaches.
By Dr. Madalitso Nthere
Dr. Madalitso Nthere at the 2026 European Stroke Organization Conference in Maastricht, Netherlands.
I would like to sincerely thank the World Federation of Neurology for this wonderful initiative and for giving me the opportunity to be one of its beneficiaries. Its support made it possible for me to attend and present at the 2026 European Stroke Organization Conference (ESOC) May 6-8, in Maastricht, Netherlands.
I come from Zambia, a country in the southern part of Africa, where I am currently a junior resident medical doctor in the department of neurology at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, the largest hospital in the country. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of being involved in several research projects.
This year, our team’s abstract was accepted at the ESOC. Our abstract was titled “Evaluating the Utility of Echocardiography in the Diagnostic Workup of Stroke Patients in Resource Limited Settings.” Being accepted to present at such a prestigious conference was a huge milestone for my team and me.
Beyond presenting our research, I met and interacted with professors, researchers, and health care professionals from different parts of the world. Listening to the work being done globally in stroke medicine was inspiring and motivating, especially coming from a setting where resources are often limited.
One interaction that stood out to me was meeting Prof. Jorge Pagola from Barcelona, Spain. He was interested in our research and in the realities of stroke care in our setting. After our discussions, he generously offered to train some of our doctors, including me, in transthoracic echocardiography over a two-week period, free of charge. He explained how important this skill would be in our setting because of the types of strokes we commonly encounter. This opportunity alone will have a lasting impact on our department and on the care we provide to patients back home.
The conference also gave me the opportunity to learn about the latest clinical trials, new treatment approaches, technological innovations, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in stroke medicine. It was inspiring to see how rapidly the field is advancing and encouraging to think about how some of these ideas can eventually be applied in our own health care system.
Thank you once again for believing in young professionals like me and for creating opportunities that truly make a difference. Your support did not just help one individual attend a conference; it opened doors for learning, collaboration, and future growth that will positively impact many patients and health care workers in our setting. •
Dr. Madalitso Nthere is a junior resident in the department of neurology at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.
