My experience at the 12th European Academy of Neurology Congress in Geneva.
By Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelhamid Abdelkarem
Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Abdelhamid Abdelkarem delivers a research presentation during the European Academy of Neurology Congress in Geneva, Switzerland.
It is a great honor and with gratitude that I write this report as recipient of one of this year’s Junior Traveling Fellowship awards from the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).
This generous award provided me with the invaluable opportunity to travel from Egypt to attend the 12th European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress June 26-30, in Geneva, Switzerland.
I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to WFN President Prof. Steven Lewis, WFN Vice President Dr. Riadh Gouider, and the entire WFN Education Committee for their commitment to fostering quality neurology and brain health worldwide.
A central focus of my attendance was the opportunity to present our research paper, titled “Beyond Visual Analysis: Uncovering the Electrographic Signature of Genetic Focal Epilepsy Via AI-Driven Gamma Power Quantification.”
This research addresses the critical clinical gap in diagnosing focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II in pediatric epilepsy. High-field MRIs often fail to detect the microscopic cytoarchitectural disruptions caused by somatic mTOR-pathway mutations, leaving these highly epileptogenic lesions hidden. Furthermore, the tangential dipoles generated deep within the sulci often suffer from volume conduction, making standard EEG visual analysis insufficient.
Through this presentation, I shared our computational quantification approach, demonstrating how analyzing absolute gamma power can extract the hidden, high-frequency physiological footprint of these hyper-excitable cells.
Discussing these findings with leading global experts provided profound insights that will directly impact my ongoing work as a professional master candidate in artificial intelligence in health care.
The congress was not only a platform for presenting research but also an incredible environment for professional growth. Meeting with my mentor, Prof. Taras Voloshyn, in person was a major highlight. Our ongoing discussions regarding my role as a mentee in the EAN Mentorship Program have been instrumental in shaping my clinical and academic trajectory.
I also had a passionate discussion and got many photos with Prof. Julia Mayer, head of the EAN education department. I met new friends and neurologists from different countries, shared information about neurology in each of our countries, and promised to keep in touch for future neurology events.
Together, we had an informative and helpful tour of the neurology department at Geneva University Hospital.
Engaging with neurologists from around the globe reinforced my motivation to advance pediatric neurology networking across Africa, an initiative I am deeply passionate about in my capacity as the country team representative for Egypt for the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN).
Attending the 12th EAN Congress has been a milestone in my early career. The knowledge acquired, the connections made, and the exposure to cutting-edge neurological research are assets I brought back to my daily practice in Egypt.
I am profoundly thankful to the WFN, including Jade Levy, project manager, for facilitating this transformative experience. •
Mohamed Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelhamid Abdelkarem is a junior neurology resident at the Suez Medical Complex, Egypt Health Care Authority in Egypt.
