By Steven L. Lewis, MD, Editor, and Walter Struhal, MD, Co-Editor
We’d like to welcome all readers to the June 2023 issue of World Neurology.
The issue begins with the article and reminder by Dr. Tissa Wijeratne and Dr. David Dodick (co-chairs of World Brain Day) and Dr. Wolfgang Grisold (WFN president) and Dr. Steven Lewis (WFN secretary general) of the upcoming World Brain Day 2023, dedicated to “Brain Health and Disability,” including collaborations between the WFN, our global regions, national neurologic societies, and the World Federation of Neurorehabilitation. All WFN regions, societies, and neurologists worldwide are encouraged to take part in this year’s efforts.
In this issue’s President’s Column, WFN President Dr. Grisold updates us on the many international activities in progress with the WFN, including planning for the World Congress of Neurology in Montreal this October, World Brain Day, and many other global activities, including collaborations with the WHO and work being done in relation to the Intersectoral Action Plan (IGAP) and the UN ECOSOC among so many other ongoing collaborative WFN activities throughout the world.
In this issue’s History Column, Dr. Peter J. Koehler details the history of brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders, which he notes preceded the development of this modality for movement disorders. Dr. Massimo Leone next describes an important collaborative educational effort to improve treatment of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa, helping fulfill the promise of IGAP.
Dr. Bindu Menon and Dr. Medha Menon provide a well-illustrated report on their remarkable outreach program to improve the health of the patients in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. Dr. B. Jeanne Billoux and Dr. Avindra Nath next provide a timely update of several current and emerging topics in neuroinfectious disease. Dr. Rabwa Fadol then reports on her experience in Sudan as a recipient of a grant to participate in the EEGonline Distance Learning Program created by Dr. Lawrence Tucker and colleagues in Cape Town.
Dr. Dilraj Singh Sokhi next reports on the highly successful Continuum program in Kenya, one of many worldwide examples of this successful collaborative effort between the AAN, the WFN, and our member societies.
Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, a WFN past president, provides a personal and heartfelt obituary on Dr. James F. Toole, WFN president from 1997-2001, who passed away in 2021.
The issue ends with the report from the WFN Nominations Committee regarding the nominating committee’s recommended candidates for the positions of WFN Treasurer and WFN Elected Trustee (followed by the statements from these candidates); the nominating committee report also provides a description of the method by which additional nominations can be made.
In closing, we want to again thank all readers for their interest in and attention to World Neurology and the privilege to report such important updates about neurology and neurologists from around the globe. We look forward to celebrating World Brain Day soon after this issue is published, and to seeing many of you at the WCN in Montreal (in person or virtually) this October! •
