Articles – Page 2

Candidate Statement for President: Dame Pamela Shaw

Shaw

I am Prof. Dame Pamela Shaw, professor of neurology at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. I am also director of the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), where we were honored to be awarded the Queen’s Anniversary prize, the highest national honor for U.K. universities, for improving outcomes for patients with conditions such as motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and stroke.

My specialist area is in the field of neurodegenerative disorders, especially motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/MND). My research developing neuroprotective therapies and multidisciplinary care for ALS/MND has produced more than 600 papers with approximately 60,000 citations, and improved life expectancy and quality of life for patients facing this devastating condition, which is increasing globally along with other age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Addressing global disparity in patient access to neurological care and specialist expertise is crucially important in the current era where new treatments are being developed for hitherto intractable neurological conditions. The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) has a central role to play in increasing educational and training opportunities and widening patient access to care and clinical trials.

If appointed as the first female WFN president, I would increase the visibility of women neurologists within our global community, explore with clinical teams and trial sponsors ways of developing new trial sites in underserved areas with training opportunities, and further the development of our training centers and e-learning courses.

I would like to explore opportunities to increase income generation for WFN activities, including philanthropic support to underpin fellowship and training opportunities for early career neurologists/neuroscientists. I would promote patient participation in the executive team and take advice on patient priorities and, together with WFN partners, build consensus on the most important, feasible, and urgent priorities to deliver for global neurological communities. •

Candidate Statement for First Vice President: Prof. Riadh Gouider

Gouider

My dedication to neurology began with my training in both Tunisia and Europe. This diverse educational foundation instilled in me a deep appreciation for global neurological collaboration and shaped my commitment to advancing neurology worldwide.

Since attending my first World Congress of Neurology in Vancouver (1993), I have remained engaged with the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). Serving as the Tunisian Society of Neurology’s delegate (2005–2015) reinforced my belief in the vital role of national societies in strengthening international neurology networks.

As WFN regional director for the Pan-Arab Region (2008–2010) and Africa (2012–2015), I witnessed WFN’s impact in regions with limited neurological resources. I contributed to accrediting three WFN teaching centers in Africa, reinforcing WFN’s mission to improve neurological education.

Serving as two-term WFN elected trustee (2014–2020) and later as co-opted trustee (2022–2023) gave me valuable insight into WFN’s strategic direction.

I am still trying to contribute within WFN as co-chair of the Education Committee and the WCN 2025 Teaching Course Committee and, more recently, as a member of the WFN-American Academy of Neurology Global Advocacy Leadership Program (GALP) Steering Committee. I have been devoted to e-learning since 2009 by co-chairing WFN e-Health Task Force and actively contributing to WFN regional e-Learning Days, including WFN-African Academy of Neurology, Education in Headache to Healthcare Providers in Africa, and WFN-Asian and Oceanian Association of Neurology.

With my experience and dedication, I am honored to stand for first vice president. If elected, I pledge to:

Enhance WFN’s partnerships with global organizations, including the World Health Organization, to advocate for neurology as a public health priority.
Expand educational access through WFN-accredited training centers and e-learning.
Strengthen global collaboration so all neurologists, especially in underserved regions, benefit from shared expertise.

I am committed to advancing neurological education, research, and advocacy worldwide. I humbly ask for your support and pledge to work tirelessly toward our shared vision — a world where no one is left behind. •

Candidate Statement for First Vice President: Tissa Wijeratne

Wijeratne

Thank you sincerely for the trust you placed in me as an elected trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). It has been an honor to serve our global neurology family, united by one shared vision — better brain health for all.

Today, I humbly seek your support once again — this time as a candidate for first vice president.

This is a defining moment. One in three people lives with a brain disorder. Behind each number is a person, a family, a community. I have witnessed this burden firsthand growing up in rural Sri Lanka, and now working in western Melbourne’s richly diverse communities, where over 165 languages are spoken.

Diversity at its best demands leadership that is inclusive, bold, and human.

If elected, I will bring energy, compassion, and clear action to translate global strategies into local impact. We must lift education, equity, and research, especially in underserved regions. I will work with member societies, support emerging leaders, and build lasting partnerships to advance our mission.

As co-chair of World Brain Day, I’ve seen the power of collective action. I have trained over 450 physician trainees and 60 neurologists across three continents, mentored 42 PhD candidates, and currently supervise 12 PhD students. My clinical work has focused on stroke, migraine, and headache — some of the world’s most disabling conditions.

I have authored over 300 peer-reviewed papers, with an h-index of 86 and over 136,000 citations. I remain a full-time clinician, just as you, while voluntarily contributing to education across disciplines.

But I am not driven by numbers. I am driven by people.

WFN needs leadership that listens, unites, and delivers. I am ready to serve in that spirit. •

Candidate Statement for WFN Elected Trustee: Chandrashekhar Meshram

Meshram

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

I am indebted to WFN for giving me the opportunity to serve as co-opted trustee, elected trustee, and president of the Tropical and Geographical Neurology Specialty Group (TGNSG). In these roles, I have contributed to the mission of WFN: fostering quality neurology and brain health worldwide. Through TGNSG, I organized 16 webinar sessions on neuro-infections and gave opportunity to trainees from different regions of the world to sharpen their clinical skills. The series “Inspiring People in Neurosciences” was a step in the same direction.

I contribute timely updates for the “Spotlight on COVID and Current Global Neuro-Infections” blog on the WFN website. I was instrumental in starting the WFN Department Visit program in India. In 2024, the president of India conferred on me Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honors in India.

I have served as a member of the Constitution and Bylaws and Scientific Program Committees. I am a member of the Infectious disease panel of the European Academy of Neurology. I am section editor of the Encyclopedia of Neurological Sciences and assistant editor of eNeurologicalSci.

World Brain Day is the most eminent public awareness initiative of WFN. As part of that initiative, I organize public education campaigns throughout the year. I have published about 500 articles for public education, including several in World Neurology.

WFN is making every attempt to take care of inequality in neurology care and education worldwide, and I am committed to addressing it. Collaboration with WHO and other societies is important for brain health. My passion to work for the WFN is the main reason I am standing for the post of elected trustee. I would be grateful for your support. •

Candidate Statement for WFN Elected Trustee: Ghazaleh Tabatabai

Tabatabai

My name is Ghazaleh Tabatabai. I am a neurologist, a physician scientist, and a professor of neurology and neuro-oncology at the University of Tübingen in Germany. I am honored to be nominated as a candidate for elected trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) by the German Society of Neurology.

My work in different leadership roles has provided me with deep insights into international health care challenges and disparities in neurological care. These disparities are a global threat and will lead to an unmanageable global disease burden caused by neurological disorders. This burden is particularly heavy in low-income countries where even access to routine neurological care is restricted, as is access to modern diagnostic measures and clinical trials.

These global challenges require dedicated regional activities and concerted support from the international community. The WFN and its member societies, together with the World Health Organization and the United Nations, can make a significant difference here. We can learn from each other and combine forces to empower the next generation of neurologists, ready to face these global challenges. I will consider it a privilege to contribute to this WFN mission.

Examples of activities that I envision include:

Action plans for implementing low threshold interventions for prevention, as well as specific training in multiprofessional rehabilitation and palliative care that can be implemented globally.
The development of strategic concepts and implementation plans toward a globalization of access to clinical trials.
Empowerment strategies of international research collaborations.

These activities require strategic thinking, analytical skills, high level expertise in neurology, and intercultural competence. Based on my intercultural socialization, I have acquired a high level of empathy. I am convinced that tolerance and flexibility, particularly when facing ambiguity and controversy, combined with a growth mindset and high frustration tolerance will finally help us to make significant contributions to push boundaries. •

Candidate Statement for WFN Elected Trustee: Mayela Rodriguez-Violante

Rodriguez-Violante

I am honored to be considered for the role of elected trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). As a movement disorder neurologist and head of the Clinical Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City, I have dedicated my career to improving the care of individuals with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, particularly in Latin America, where access to specialized neurological care remains a challenge.

With a strong foundation in both clinical practice and academia, I have trained numerous neurologists through my role as a full professor in the Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders high-specialty course. My international experience, including movement disorder training at the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona and advanced degrees from the University of Murcia, has strengthened my ability to collaborate across cultures and disciplines, ensuring that diverse perspectives contribute to the advancement of our field.

Beyond my clinical and educational work, I have been actively involved in international neurological organizations. This includes serving on committees within the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society and mentoring in the MDS LEAP program. My research contributions, reflected in over 180 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index of 29, underscore my commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and fostering collaboration across regions.

As an elected trustee of the WFN, I would advocate for greater inclusion of neurologists from Latin America and other underrepresented regions, ensuring that their expertise and challenges are part of the global conversation. I am also committed to strengthening opportunities for women in neurology, supporting mentorship initiatives, and expanding access to neurological education worldwide.

I look forward to the opportunity to serve and collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds to advance neurological care, education, and equity on a global scale. •

Educational Opportunities, World Congresses, and Outreach

WFN president looks back on a successful 2024 and ahead to a busy 2025.

By Prof. Wolfgang Grisold

World Neurology is not only a source of information, but also a useful chronicle of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), tackling and discussing contemporary issues. You can trace and follow developments in neurology in the archive. It is currently edited by Prof. Steven Lewis and Prof. Walter Struhal, who, in addition to publishing important news and publications of the WFN, gather articles from all over the world to make us aware not only of the ongoing changes and developments, but also the reality of neurology in real-world conditions. These conditions, in particular in low-middle- and low-income countries, may be quite different than the ivory-tower-like outlook on neurology found in higher-income countries.

Large gaps of access and availability exist in neurology worldwide, which is mainly dependent on local income, the sociodemographic index (SDI), and the North-South divide. These gaps are further widened by war, crisis, insecurity, and other threatening factors. The compassion of the WFN is for all persons suffering neurological damages and deficiencies, including from wars and injuries. As proclaimed in the World Brain Day (WBD) motto from 2024, brain health and prevention have become major global issues and may not be available in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Yet, it is one of our most powerful medical interventions.

Looking Back on 2024

In 2024, the WFN steadily introduced new accomplishments and developments, including successful interactions with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). (You can find a full list on the WFN website.) The main focus on the WHO activities is the Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) on epilepsy and other neurological disorders and its implementation in the larger context of brain health.

Prof. Alla Guekht and I participated in some of the United Nations ECOSOC meetings and were welcomed and received twice by U.N. ECOSOC President and Canadian Ambassador Bob Rae. We met with him in November 2024 and confirmed a cooperation between the United Nations and the WFN in regard to the next World Brain Day. We agreed on the theme of “Brain Health for All Ages.”

To preserve and enhance continuity of the WFN’s information on neurologic development, an initiative was launched in 2024 by our professional conference organizer (PCO). Because the two-year time between the World Congress of Neurology meetings is too long, and we wanted to match the rapidly evolving developments of diagnosis and therapies in neurology, we developed the WFN Digital Neurology Update (WNU). This will be repeated in between the congresses. The first WNU featured excellent speakers and hosted an audience representing 60 countries. Following the WNU, several short update papers will be available in the eNS, the WFN’s open access journal.

For the second year, we have continued to publish the WFN Service Pages, which appear in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences (JNS). These carefully selected articles should enhance awareness of our activities worldwide and give a more detailed impression to our readers. We invite you to contribute any worldwide activities for use on our service pages.

The Rabat WFN Training Center team (left to right): Prof. Maria Benabdelajil, Prof. Steven Lewis, Dr. Leila Errguig, Dr. Nazda Birouk, Dr. Leila Tamaoui, Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, and Mostafa El Alaoui.

One of the main WFN tasks is education, which is discussed in many of our letters and mailings. In 2024, for the first time, we completed visits to all African WFN Training Centers. We started in Cairo, Egypt, followed by a visit to Dakar, Senegal, during the summer, and in October wrapped up with visits to Rabat, Morocco, and Cape Town, South Africa. It gave us a good look at the practical teaching and allowed us to communicate with the faculty, residents, and trainees. The results were informative and impressive. I want to emphasize that the WFN at present finances three four-year trainees in Africa, plus five one-year fellowships. This is a large responsibility with a long and time-intensive aspect. We are grateful for the support of the Cairo training position by the Association of British Neurologists (ABN), and the additional neuromuscular trainee in Rabat sponsored by the International Congress of Neuromuscular Diseases (ICNMD).

Two passionate educators meet in Cape Town, South Africa. Prof. Steven Lewis (left) and Prof. Lawrence Tucker discuss the Training Center program.

For 2025, we plan to visit the Latin-American Training Center in Mexico City, which is currently hosting one fellow specializing in stroke.

The cooperation of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the WFN on the journal Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology is a decades-long success story. After many years of use in countries of all levels of income, the WFN and the AAN have agreed that Continuum will only be made available free of charge for low-middle- and low-income countries going forward. Although this is a cut for some countries, it definitely helps us to continue the Continuum education in countries of need worldwide, and the WFN gladly supports the distribution and survey of the education. We find that several of our low-middle and low-income countries are not using this opportunity yet, and we invite them to apply.

Prof. Steven Lewis (center) with WFN trainees during the Rabat, Morocco, site visit.

The Year Ahead

This year kicked off with a conference of the WFN trustees and the regions with a now traditional extended meeting that will concentrate on the importance of the WHO and IGAP. (See key points for this year’s event and WFN activities in my January “Message From the President.” For the first time, the member societies will be invited to participate in this meeting.

One of our main activities in 2025 is World Brain Day. The theme is “Brain Health for All Ages.” It will be held jointly with committees, collaborations, and participation from the U.N. ECOSOC. We also hope the WHO will take part. This World Brain Day will continue our tradition of using the momentum of July 22, 2025, to advocate for neurology, and in this case, complete the series on brain health that we started four years ago.

The next World Congress of Neurology (WCN) will take place Oct. 12-15, in Seoul, South Korea. The program committee, which includes the WFN and the local society, is developing both the scientific and educational programming. We are introducing a special set of lectures called “Brain Health Lectures.” These are not scientific lectures. They will highlight the importance of regional and global activities for neurology worldwide. They will include some plenary lectures, regional meetings, and specific WFN lectures.

An illustration of African countries represented in the Fourth Annual Education in Headache to Healthcare Professionals in Africa.

We also will have the Global Neurology Advocacy and Leadership (GALP) meeting, a new initiative, which will be hosted jointly with the AAN. The program will start at the 2025 AAN Annual Meeting in San Diego, continue over a few months with virtual educational meetings, and end in Seoul with a live meeting and a graduation ceremony for the 20 GALP participants. This is an ambitious worldwide, global venture, synthesizing the experience of advocacy and leadership of the AAN and knowledge of the needs of neurology worldwide.

Continuing with education, we will co-host the WFN and Asian and Oceanic Association of Neurology (AOAN) Educational Day on Feb. 15. The theme of this e-learning event is movement disorders. This event continues the tradition established with our successful educational day on neuropathies with the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN) in 2024, and also successful day on headache education with AFAN and the Global Patient Advocacy Coalition (GPAC).

We believe in the education days as one of the bases of organization for regional education, and we will be glad to organize education days in other parts of the world.

The WFN looks forward to the first meeting of the Global Advocacy and Leadership Program (GALP), a joint initiative with the AAN, as well as the first-ever Global Leadership Roundtable at the AAN Annual Meeting and co-hosted by the WFN, on Tuesday April 8th.

Prof. Steven Lewis inspects the COEX Center plenary hall in Seoul, South Korea

The WFN Election

At the next Council of Delegates (COD) meeting in Seoul, the WFN election results will be presented. The election this year will be for the position of the president (presently Prof. Wolfgang Grisold), vice president (presently Guy Rouleau), and one trustee (a position currently held by Prof. Chandrashekhar Meshram).

The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, site of the 2024 ICNMD congress.

Of the three positions up for election this year, only Prof. Meshram is re-eligible for election. This is important, as the tasks of the WFN are many — such as managing trainees and planning the congress — and range over multiple years. As such, competent leadership being aware of these elements is needed. The delegates have supported the move by the trustees to change the bylaws and ask the newly elected presidents to be available for one year before their office, serving as president-elect, and to keep the past-president for one year as an adviser to ensure a smooth transition.

Following the Seoul congress, Cape Town, South Africa, will host the next World Congress of Neurology in 2027. During a visit to the Training Centers, we walked through the meeting site. It is impressive, well located, surrounded by hotels, and is in a safe area of Cape Town.

The site of the World Congress of Neurology 2027 will be the Cape Town International Convention Center. A view of the main entrance hall.

Europe will be the site for the World Congress of Neurology in 2029. Seven countries have expressed interest, and they will be evaluated by the permanent Congress Committee and the PCO for technical feasibility, access, and location. Following this, we will develop a short list of candidate countries, and the short-listed sites will be visited by the WFN Visitation Committee.

Our specialty group on neuromuscular disease, the ICNMD, had a successful 2024 congress in Perth, Australia. Another congress will be held in 2026 in Florence, Italy. The ICNMD held a successful virtual meeting in 2023 providing an update in neuromuscular disease. This will be repeated in 2025. It is likely that from 2026 onward, the ICNMD will be held annually, and great care will be taken to preserve the important rotation around the world as needed for any WFN congress.

In conclusion, following a successful 2024, we will continue our efforts in 2025. We look forward to meeting at the WCN 2025 in Seoul. •

The First Aden International Neurology Conference

Updates on multiple sclerosis, stroke, and more.

By Aussan Al-Athwari, MD

More than 400 people attended the first Aden International Neurology Conference in Aden, Yemen.

The first Aden International Neurology Conference (ANC) brought together over 400 researchers, physicians, and experts in neurology, neurosurgery, internal medicine, radiology, psychiatry, and pediatrics to discuss updates in the field of neurology at the Crown Resort in Aden, Yemen.

The conference, which was held Dec. 18-19, 2024, was organized by the Aden Neurology Advisory Board (ANAB). Prof. Riadh Gouider, co-chair of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) Education Committee, attended the opening ceremony and presented a report on the latest guidelines from the Middle East North Africa Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (MENACTRIMS).

Prof. Steven Lewis, WFN secretary general, Prof. Hatem Samir, Egyptian Society for Neurologic, Psychiatric, and Neurosurgery (ESNPN) general secretary, and Prof. Hesham Masoud, associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the State University of New York’s Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, participated via Zoom.

The Yemen Neuroscience Society (YNS), a WFN member, is located in the capital city of Sanaa. Because of the ongoing political crisis in Yemen, the scientific activities are being held in Aden. ANAB has initiated activities for the international days of stroke, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. It also organized the first ANC.

The ANAB members are Dr. Abdullah Al-Qadhi, conference president, Dr. Mohammed Taher, treasurer, Dr. Aussan Al-Athwari, conference coordinator, Dr. Nagween Magharef, and Dr. Addul-Rakeeb Alhakimy.

Prof. Riadh Gouider.

The pre-conference workshop focused on clinical neurophysiology, interventional neurology (carotid artery stenting and thrombectomy), ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injection in post-stroke spasticity, and focal dystonia. The fields of interventional neurology and neurosonology were launched last year in Aden by Dr. Al-Athwari, who was trained in Egypt. The first cerebral angiography was conducted Feb. 13, 2023.

The conference underscored the urgency of accelerating the transition to modern neurology education and adopting acute stroke care policies. It was widely agreed that collaboration across all medical specialities and the YNS is essential to achieving the goals of the World Stroke Organization (WSO) and WFN. Participants also highlighted the importance of policy frameworks that support research and development in neuroscience.

Organizing the first ANC was an invaluable experience. It not only broadened our understanding of the latest advancements in neurology, but also deepened our appreciation for the complexity of global education challenges. We look forward to applying our best knowledge and making use of the support we receive from our professors in Egypt, Tunisia, and all over the world via WFN. •

Prof. Aussan Al-Athwari is a neurologist and neurointerventionist in Yemen, director of the Yemen Comprehensive Stroke Center, and coordinator of the Aden conference.

From the Editors

Welcome to the January/February 2025 issue of World Neurology, the first issue of this new year.

In this issue’s President’s Column, World Federation of Neurology (WFN) President Prof. Wolfgang Grisold chronicles important 2024 WFN events and provides an outlook for some of the many exciting plans for 2025.

Drs. Raelle Tagge, Lilyana Amezcua, and Bruce Ovbiagele provide an introduction to the U.S.-based Society for Equity Neuroscience (SEQUINS), which is dedicated to enhancing equitable neurological care and outcomes via research.

This issue also includes two reports from young neurologists who participated in important experiences organized through the WFN. Dr. Aïssata S. Touré, a neurology resident from Mali, reports on her month-long neurology department visit to Dusseldorf, Germany, supported by the German Neurological Society (DGN). The WFN thanks the DGN for providing this wonderful opportunity for young neurologists from low- and lower-middle income countries from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Bermet Nurbekova, a young neurologist from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, reports on her attendance at the 15th European Epilepsy Congress. Her attendance to the congress held last September in Rome, Italy, was made possible through her WFN Junior Traveling Fellowship.

This issue also includes the announcement that Prof. Raad Shakir, a past president of the WFN, has been appointed as president of the Joint Neurosciences Council (JNC) UK, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The JNC UK is the umbrella organization for 18 neurosciences specialty associations. The WFN congratulates Prof. Shakir on this important appointment.

In this issue’s History Column, Dr. Peter Koehler delves into the topic of headache and migraine as it was recognized in the time of Shakespeare, and as reflected in his work.

Dr. Aussan Al-Athwari reports on the first Aden International Neurology Conference (ANC) that occurred in December 2024 and brought more than 400 participants to Yemen to discuss updates in the field of neurology. Prof. Lewis, editor of World Neurology, was privileged to participate in this seminal conference. We congratulate the organizers for hosting this conference for the region.

This issue also includes an obituary for Prof. Stephan Zierz. Written by Drs. Benedikt Schoser, Jan Kuks, and Marianne De Visser, the article details Prof. Zierz’s profound impact on the field of neurology and neuromuscular medicine.

We thank all neurologists and neurologic trainee readers in all regions of the world for your interest in the WFN and in World Neurology. We look forward to your contributions to this publication in 2025. •

Prof. Stephan Zierz (1954-2024)

Award-winning neurology pioneer and educational proponent was 70.

By Benedikt Schoser, Jan Kuks, and Marianne De Visser

Stephan Zierz

Stephan Zierz, a pioneer in the field of neurology and neuromuscular medicine, was born on July 20, 1954, in Heidelberg, Germany. His father, Prof. Paul Zierz, was a well-known figure in the German Dermatological Society. In 1973, after finishing a classical gymnasium education as secondary school, Stephan Zierz enrolled for medical studies at the University of Giessen, Germany, at the age of 19. In 1980, he completed his medical studies at the University of Giessen and the University of Bonn.

He started his residency in neurology at a small clinic in Klingenmünster, Germany. At the same time, he began his scientific career at the Max Planck Institute in Gottingen (1980-1983). In 1984, he joined the Neuromuscular Research Center as a research fellow at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Under Dr. Andrew Engel’s supervision, he worked on the biochemical characterization of carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II), one of the mitochondrial enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids. He generated four scientific papers.

After Mayo, Stephan Zierz joined the University Hospital of Bonn as a physician in 1986 and was promoted to senior physician in 1989. A core trigger element of his career was working with Felix Jerusalem, the most well-known myologist in Germany at that time, who also collaborated with Andrew Engel. In 1990, he completed a post-doctoral teaching degree with a paper titled “Ophthalmoplegia-Plus and Kearns-Sayre Syndrome: Clinic, Biochemistry, and Therapeutic Trials With Coenzyme Q.”

In 1994, he was appointed neurology chair at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and remained in that position until his retirement in 2021. For several years, Stephan Zierz also served as the dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

Beyond his local and national engagement for neuromuscular disorders, he was an active member of various neurological and neuromuscular societies. He organized neuromuscular sessions at the annual congress of the German Neurological Society. He was a recognized fellow of the European Academy of Neurology. He established cooperation with the Mongolian Neurological Society with annual training events and internship programs for Mongolian doctors in Germany and Mongolia.

For many years, he engaged himself with the Section of Neurology in the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS), and he participated as a faithful examiner in the European Board Exam in Neurology. During the UEMS meetings, he was always eager to contribute to the mission of the Section of Neurology to support medical specialists in enhancing their skills and proficiency. After the meeting, he sat with all UEMS delegates and chatted about his encounters and experiences. It was a pleasure to join him at dinner, where classical philosophy and literature were beloved topics. Stephan Zierz was a family man who often brought his daughters — who were also devoted to neurology — along to section meetings.

Stephan Zierz’s impact on the field of neurology and neuromuscular medicine was profound. His research in neuromuscular disorders earned him the highly esteemed lifetime award for a myologist in 2017: the Duchenne-Erb Prize of the German Society of Neuromuscular Disorders. This recognition was a testament to the weight of his contributions and his influence on the field, a source of pride for all who knew him.

Stephan Zierz was an excellent and enthusiastic teacher, supervisor, and author of more than 350 scientific reports and monographs. Many of his papers focused on mitochondrial disorders, addressing their clinical, pathological, histological, biochemical, and molecular genetic aspects.

His unique sense of humor warmly backed his endless enthusiasm, which was linked to his German perfectionism.

Stephan Zierz is sadly missed, but his legacy in international and German neurology and neuromuscular medicine will continue to inspire and guide future generations. •