By Steven L. Lewis, MD, Editor, and Walter Struhal, MD, Co-Editor
Steven L. Lewis, MD, Walter Struhal, MD
We’d like to welcome all readers to the February 2023 issue of World Neurology.
This issue begins with the President’s Column, where World Federation of Neurology (WFN) President Dr. Wolfgang Grisold describes the many international activities being planned by the WFN this year, including the work done with WHO and the UN, World Brain Day 2023, and the exciting plans for the World Congress of Neurology in Montreal in October.
Dr. Orly Avitzur, current president of the American Academy of Neurology, provides a heartfelt memorial piece dedicated to the late AAN President Ralph Sacco, who passed away last month and who touched the lives of so many neurologists and patients and whose dedication to international relationships will be one of many long-lasting legacies of his countless accomplishments.
This issue also features an important notice by the WFN Nominating Committee with a call for nominations for the positions of WFN Treasurer and WFN Elected Trustee. In another announcement, Dr. Struhal describes the first pan-European university course on clinical autonomic neuroscience at Danube University, supported by the European Federation of Autonomic Societies. Dr. Carlos N. Ketzoian then reports on the highly successful Ninth International Course of Neuroepidemiology that took place in Erice, Italy, this past November.
In this issue’s History article, Dr. Peter J. Koehler provides an informative and remarkably thorough overview of the historical dignitaries memorialized by the many named lectures at the World Congress of Neurology (WCN). Dr. Augustina Charway-Felli and Dr. Amadou Gallo Diop report on the outcome of the biennial Francophone contest held at the headquarters of the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education, and the significance of this event with regard to growing the African neurological and scientific workforce with these successful candidates.
Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, a past president of the WFN, provides an overview of the importance of dementia prevention in global efforts to reduce the impact of this highly prevalent entity, which is increasing in overall incidence worldwide.
Four articles represent thoughtful and well-illustrated reminiscences by four young neurologists from sub-Saharan Africa who participated in the WFN Department Visit Programs in Austria (Graz, Innsbruck, and Salzburg) and Germany (Leipzig). We would like to add our deep thank you to the neurologic societies in Austria and Germany for their wonderful support, hard work, and attentiveness in making these observerships a success, increasing the exposure of high-level neurologic infrastructure to these young neurologists to inform and enhance their clinical practices.
Dr. Tissa Wijeratne and Dr. David Dodick (Co-Chairs of World Brain Day) and Dr. Lewis and Wolfgang Grisold next report on the plans for this year’s World Brain Day 2023, which will be dedicated to “Brain Health and Disability. It will include collaborations between the WFN, our global regions, national neurologic societies, and the World Federation of Neurorehabilitation.
Finally, Dr. Richard Stark, WFN Treasurer and past chair of the WCN Tournament Committee, provides historical background about the Tournament of Minds at the World Congresses of Neurology (WCNs), with an announcement about this year’s Tournament of Minds. The tournament will be held at this year’s WCN in Montreal in October, welcoming and pitting department teams from around the world to compete in this exciting and well-loved component of the WCN.
In closing, we want to thank all readers for their interest in and attention to World Neurology. Please don’t forget to sign up for your free subscriptions online at worldneurologyonline.com. We sincerely hope everyone is marking their calendars, making plans to attend, and submitting their abstracts for the WCN in Montreal in October 2023. We look forward to seeing so many neurologists from around the world participate in this remarkable event. •
