The International Working Group of Young Neurologists and Trainees (IWGYNT) was initiated in 2009 and held its inaugural meeting at the World Congress of Neurology in Bangkok. IWGYNT’s vision is to advocate young neurologists interests on a worldwide basis within the World Federation of Neurology. IWGYNT is represented by one member (Walter Struhal) within the Education Committee of the World Federation of Neurology. (See World Neurology, April 2010.)
Our mission is to:
• Represent residents and young neurologists interests and initiatives with a single voice,
• Establish networking between young neurologists, and
• Support international training exchange.
The group is organized as a delegate panel consisting of two delegates from each continent. Only a national or international neurological body representing young neurologists in that area may send delegates. Currently, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand and the U.S. are represented within IWGYNT.
Within the last years, we managed to establish a network between young neurologists of five continents. This network serves as strong platform for young neurologists initiatives in the future. We have started to employ this network to collect ideas and establish initiatives on training improvement within young neurologists worldwide.
IWGYNT actively promotes topics of interests online employing WFN’s website and social media channels.
IWGYNT Roundtable at AAN 2013
International roundtable participants at the 2013 AAN meeting. From left: Johann Sellner, Tissa Wijeratne, Justin Jordan, Rachel Marin de Carvalho, David R. Mayans and David Avila.
The IWGYNT seeks to represent the interests of junior neurologists within the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). The founding members in 2009 were junior neurologist organizations from different continents including the European Association of Young Neurologists and Trainees (EAYNT), the Pan-African Association of Neurological Sciences (PAANS) and the Asian Neurological Society (ASNA), Asia-Pacific Association of Young Neurologists and Trainees (APAYNET), Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN). In 2012, the IWGYNT was pleased to welcome the Consortium of Neurology Residents and Fellows (CNRF) of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) as an additional member.
At the AAN annual meeting in San Diego, the CNRF organized various events called “the experience for junior members and residents.” The international roundtable discussion featured CNRF chair-elect Justin Jordan (Dallas) and president David R. Mayans (Winston Salem, N.C.) as well as Johann Sellner (Salzburg, Austria) for the EAYNT and Tissa Wijeratne (Melbourne, Australia) for the APAYNET. Further delegates included Rachel Marin De Carvalho (Sao Paolo) and David Avila (Ecuador).
The IWGYNT seeks to represent the interests of junior neurologists within the World Federation of Neurology.
A variety of topics relevant for residents and trainees were addressed and ideas for future joint projects were collected. These included the spectrum of residency training in different countries and continents and emerging educational initiatives with worldwide relevance. Additional topics discussed were exchange programs to gain cross-cultural experience and improve clinical practice.
As the EAYNT is maintaining a Pan-European exchange program with 106 departments across Europe, this could serve as a basis for exchange within the IWGYNT.1 In addition, the participants agreed to launch an international survey on different aspects of residency training worldwide and assemble a practical guide on residency training and terminology of neurology in the United States.
The IWGYNT is a dynamic and growing group of enthusiastic residents, trainees and fellows. Major activities are regularly reported on Facebook and Twitter. The events of interest for junior colleagues during the World Congress of Neurology Oct. 21-26 in Vienna, include the IWGYNT session, a visit to the University hospital of Vienna and get-together events; these are covered in an recent article in the European Journal of Neurology.2
References
1. Sellner J, Schirmer L, Gilhus NE, Grisold W, Struhal W. The Open Facilities for Training in European Neurology (OFTEN): an emerging pan-European exchange programme for junior neurologists. Eur J Neurol. 2012 Jun;19(6):e54-5.
2. Macerollo A, Varga ET, Györfi O, Kobeleva X, Paterson RW, Sellner J. The European Association of Young Neurologists and Trainees in 2013: striking a blow for European junior neurologists. Eur J Neurol. 2013 Apr;20(4):e54-8.
