Wolfgang Grisold
Wolfgang Grisold
In this issue, we will introduce the Constitution & Bylaws Committee, chaired by Anna Hege Aamodt (Norway). This committee ensures that the constitution and bylaws are correct and updated. Conversely, the trustees, often as requested by members, consider to implement changes, which are first scrutinized by this committee for feasibility and practicalities before they are up for voting.
From the WFN Speciality groups, Prof. Kurt Niederkorn will report on the activities of the Neurosonology Specialty Group.
Anne Hege Aamodt is the chief physician at the Headache Clinic and senior consultant at the Stroke Unit at Oslo University Hospital, Norway. She has a broad interest in cerebrovascular and headache research and is the coordinating investigator of several international and national trials. She has organizational leadership, experience in national and international scientific organizations, and was the president of the Norwegian Neurological Association from 2014-2021.
WORLD FEDERATION OF NEUROLOGY, Constitution and Bylaws Committee
Anne Hege Aamodt
The Constitution and By-Laws Committee has members representing all regions. Anne Hege Aamodt is the chair of the committee, representing Europe and Norway. Akram Al-Mahdawi (Iraq) and Hani Aref Pan Arab (Egypt) represent the Pan Arab region, Gagandeep Singh (India) represents Asia-Oceania, Terrence Cascino from USA is represents North America, Fernando Gracia (Panama) represents Latin America, and Thérèse Sonan from Ivory Coast represent Africa.
With the representatives from the different regions, the bylaws committee is well-prepared to work with its main tasks helping the Trustees with the evaluation of proposals for the revision and improvement of the bylaws. The committee aims at providing adaptation and improvement to improve the structure and the function of the Federation. Changes in the bylaws have to be carefully considered by the committee, before voted on by the Council of Delegates after discussion of a resolution presented by the Trustees.
Kurt Niederkorn
The other task of the committee is to review and discuss any inquiry into matters pertaining to the organisation and functioning of the Federation, to help the Trustees with decisions in such matters.
The committee has been supporting the president with advice regarding the electronic voting. Electronic voting was planned before the pandemics to aid the number of people involved in making important decisions when it is not possible to meet physically.
Other points were the discussion of changing the Articles of Association to include a role for the immediate past president to ensure continuity and the length of time this would be required for. The conclusion of the committee was that this statutory position is not needed. Furthermore, the appointment of a non-executive trustee to comply with the rules of the charity commission has been discussed, such as including people from other fields and to increase the breadth of knowledge and opinion. For instance, a lawyer, an economist, or a patient advocate has been discussed. Adding board members puts an additional strain on the WFN finances. However, we recommend that additional board member(s) advisors could be brought in as and when necessary.
For the time being, the committee is working on Standard Operating Procedures that outline areas of responsibly with updated charges, aims, and a protocol.
WFN Neurosonology Specialty Group
For the WFN Specialty groups, Prof. Niederkorn was so kind summarize the impressive activities of the WFN Neurosonology Specialty Group.
Prof. Kurt Niederkorn has been the Chairman of the Neurosonology Specialty Group/WFN since 2019. He has a long experience with neuro ultrasound, and has organized national (Austria) and international courses. He was the secretary of the Neurosonology Research Group/WFN 1993-2001. He works at Graz University, is a professor of Neurology since 1996 and was the vice chair until 2013 of the Dept. of Neurology Graz, Austria. From 2001-2019 he was the head of the Stroke Unit and Stroke Outpatient Service and Neurosonology Lab at the university clinic in Graz
The Specialty Group has a large membership, which can be found on the WCN website.
The Specialty Group was founded in 1977 and endorsed by the WFN in 1981. It is chaired by Kurt Niederkorn and its purpose is the promotion of science and research as well as education and training in the field of ultrasonic techniques (brain vessels and parenchyma and muscle, nerve). This has been a growing and expanding field and modern diagnostics of stroke need ultrasoound equipment. In addition, the group also fosters the development of nerve and muscle ultrasound.
The Specialty Group organizes biannual meetings (2011 Beijing, 2013 Sofia, 2015 Chile, 4/2019 Linz/Austria- Joint meeting with ESNCH, around 300 participants); for 11/2022 a meeting is planned in Korea.
The Specialty Group organizes and co-sponsors international teaching courses and workshops (2014 Lima, 2015 Georgia, 2019 Kazakhstan).
The International Certification in Neurosonology (GM v Reutern/E.Bartels/S Horner, in cooperation with ESNCH) worldwide has been successfully passed by 180 applicants.
Presently, it has 415 members from 50 countries who contribute Euro 25/year for the society. The Specialty Group is constituted from different Chapters: Asia, Latin America, Bulgaria and Georgia.
It has a homepage at https://www.nsrg.net (Content: meetings information and links, guidelines and recommendations). Applications for membership can be made to : alexander.razumovsky@specialtycare.net.
Both the Committees and the Specialty Groups contribute to the vital functions of the WFN.
For each issue of World Neurology, we will continue to introduce a WFN Committee and a Specialty Group. •
Wolfgang Grisold is Secretary-General of the WFN.
