A fellow reports on experience with stroke care, Doppler ultrasonography, neuroimaging interpretation, and more.
By Cynthia Marleny Aliñado Ramos
I am honored to present the final report of my participation in the One-Year Stroke Visiting Fellow Program. My visit took place from September 2024 to August 2025 in Mexico.
I had the privilege of rotating at the General Hospital of Mexico Dr. Eduardo Liceaga (HGM), the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), and the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suárez (INNNMVS). Each of these institutions contributed in different ways to my training in vascular neurology, providing a comprehensive and highly enriching experience.
At the HGM, I acquired competencies in the outpatient care of patients with cerebrovascular disease, the performance and interpretation of Doppler ultrasonography, and the critical review of scientific literature. Teaching emphasized neurological examination, neuroimaging interpretation, and the implementation of the stroke code with validated screening scales.
At the INCMNSZ, I reinforced the use of standardized Doppler protocols, participated in specialized outpatient clinics, and engaged in academic activities of great depth. I also integrated into the multidisciplinary management of acute stroke, including clinical discussions and case analysis sessions.
The INNNMVS constituted the academic core of the fellowship, integrating and consolidating previous learning within an environment of excellence in teaching, research, and teamwork. From the outset, I was fully incorporated into the group, with active participation in literature reviews, guideline discussions, interdisciplinary ward rounds, therapeutic planning, and research projects. Complementary rotations broadened my clinical perspective, making this stage the culmination of the program and an experience of great professional and human value.
This fellowship has had a profound impact on my professional practice. I learned advanced skills in Doppler ultrasonography, strengthened my ability in comprehensive and multidisciplinary stroke management, and refined the critical application of scientific evidence. The knowledge I acquired will translate into the strengthening of the stroke code in Guatemala, the training of multidisciplinary teams, and the development of applied clinical research in my context.
I am especially grateful to the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), the Mexican Academy of Neurology (MAN), and my professors and mentors for this invaluable opportunity, which not only enriched my clinical and academic competencies but also reaffirmed my commitment to improving stroke care in my country. •
Cynthia Marleny Aliñado Ramos is a young neurologist in Guatemala.
