Morris Freedman

I am honored to be nominated for WFN treasurer. This position comes with great responsibility to the WFN and its member societies, and requires in-depth knowledge of the WFN, as well as the experience, judgment, ethical character, equitable approach, and transparency, which are essential for managing the WFN’s finances. Moreover, in the currently uncertain financial times, serving as treasurer requires vision for creating novel approaches to maximize the WFN’s financial assets.

I believe that I bring the above qualities to the position of treasurer. I have been actively involved with the WFN since 2007, when I started by serving as the Canadian delegate, and I have continued to serve the WFN up to the present. I am now completing my second term as elected trustee. I am also chair of the innovative e-Learning Subcommittee of the Education Committee, and served as chair of the Membership Committee, member of the Education Committee, and co-chair of the eLearning Task Force together with Prof. Riadh Gouider. I also served as president of the Canadian Neurological Society and president of the Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences. I also served as secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Neurological Society and Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences.

We need new strategies to ensure the financial security of the WFN. The WFN’s mission is to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide. If elected as WFN treasurer, I will use my skills in innovation to advance this mission, which is dear to the heart of people all over the world, by developing a mechanism to raise funds from donors across the world. The goal will be to generate financial support to significantly expand the implementation of the WFN mission, especially as applied to middle- and low-income countries where the need is greatest—and to do this in a way that is sustainable.

An example of my track record in innovation relates to my international leadership role in neurological education. I spearheaded the concept of the WFN e-Learning Hub, which will serve as an electronic library to access recorded educational materials from leading sites all over the world through links available on the WFN website. Thus, the WFN website will be the “go-to” place where health care professionals across the world can easily access a broad spectrum of educational videos.

I have a vision, a clear sense of direction, and the necessary personal qualities, as well as the focus and determination to serve as WFN treasurer in a way that will honor the tradition of this very important role, ensure the financial security of the WFN, and introduce innovation in generating financial support to significantly enhance implementation of the WFN mission. This will require extensive collaboration within the WFN, as well as with people with diverse needs and across many countries. Those who know me say that I am an excellent team player, organizer, and innovator, and that I am highly responsible, ethical, equitable, and fully transparent. These qualities are essential for serving as WFN treasurer. I hope that I have your support. •

* This is an additional candidate nominated under Article 6.3 of the constitution (nominated by five member societies). All other candidates are by recommendation of the WFN Nominations Committee.

Lawrence Tucker

It is an immense honor to be nominated for the position of WFN trustee.

After completing a laboratory-based, neuroscience PhD in Cambridge as a young doctor in 1993, I returned to train as a neurologist in sub-Saharan Africa where neurologists to general population average one per five million. I now head of neurology at Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town’s Neuroscience Institute. I am president of the College of Neurologists of South Africa and past president of the Neurological Association of South Africa. I also sit on the boards of various other national, neurological, professional, and academic bodies

I am a general neurologist with an interest in epilepsy, but my passions lie in the advancement of neurological education, training, clinical practice, and advocacy, especially in resource constrained environments. Little surprise, then, that working with the WFN over the past decade has been a privilege and source of great personal fulfilment. I have been a WFN delegate for almost a decade and served on many WFN committees (core education, grants, public awareness and advocacy, RTC, e-Learning, 2023 WCN, and finance). In these and other roles, it has been a pleasure and honor to interact with esteemed WFN colleagues, including four presidents, trustees, and many other office bearers.

I am grateful to the WFN for providing me with opportunities to pursue its mission. For example, using WFN seed sponsorship, our Cape Town group developed an intensive, annual, 6-month, distance learning program for electroencephalography training, which has enrolled well over 1,000 neurology residents and neurologists, predominantly from lower and middle income countries during the past seven years. However, I regard working closely with the WFN and African colleagues to establish the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN) in Dakar (2017), and setting up the Cape Town WFN Regional Training Center (2019) as two particularly significant personal achievements.

Since its inception, I have been treasurer, vice president and, most recently, president-elect of AFAN, which is now well-established and collaborates with the WFN and other international, regional, and national bodies globally to promote neurology in Africa. Among other activities, AFAN runs biennial congresses and, jointly with the WFN, virtual annual e-Learning days and advocacy programmes.

The Cape Town WFN regional training center (RTC), which I head, is the only Anglophone WFN RTC in the southern hemisphere. It offers career neurology training, as well as clinical fellowships (in stroke, epilepsy, neuroinfection, neuromuscular disorders, and clinical neurophysiology) for neurologists practicing in lower and middle income countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

If elected as trustee, I will continue to work with WFN colleagues toward our organization’s goal of quality neurology for all. This will involve strengthening established collaborations with national, regional, and international organizations, including the WHO; expanding the WFN’s existing and already successful educational, e-Learning, visiting fellowship and RTC programs; and supporting new, inclusive initiatives between the global north and south to promote the WFN’s mission in Africa, South and Central America, Asia, Oceania, and all regions in the world where neurologists and neurological expertise remain scarce. •

Mohammad Wasay

I am currently Alicharan Endowed Professor of Neurology at Aga Khan University Karachi, past president of the Pakistan Society of Neurology and Pakistan Stroke Society, president of the Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation and distinguished scholar of COMSTECH (OIC). I have also served as a director of World Stroke Organization (WSO) and am currently serving as fellow of Pakistan Academy of Sciences and Secretary of the Environmental Neurology Speciality Group (ENSG) and member global policy committee for WSO. I was recently elected as fellow of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

I have worked with WFN for more than a decade as an active neurology advocate and researcher from South Asia. I was trained at Palatucci Forum, and then received Advocacy Leader of the Year Award by American Academy of Neurology for my global advocacy contributions. I served as chair of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) Advocacy Committee for four years. This committee was instrumental in starting and organizing World Brain Day activities and promoting brain health across the globe. We organized many advocacy workshops and teaching courses during the Asian Oceanian Association of Neurology conferences, Asian Pacific Stroke Conference, and World Congress of Neurology.

I established a network of neurology training and research in Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. We established the Asian stroke network with more than 20 centers in 10 Asian countries. Currently, I am leading an initiative to establish the OIC Neurology Academy to promote neurological acre and training in developing Islamic countries. Recently, I have been appointed as chair of the specialty groups committee by the WFN president. As secretary of Environmental Neurology Specialty Group (ENSRG), I have organized many educational and awareness activities related to environment and neurological diseases.

I have trained more than 50 neurologists under my supervision. I have published more than 238 papers in peer-reviewed medical journals with impressive publications metrics (IF: 676; citations=6700, H-index 39 and I10 index 95). I have received many awards, including the Teachers Recognition Award by American Academy of Neurology, Gold Medal by Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences, Gold Medal by Pakistan Academy of Sciences and Research productivity awards by Pakistan Council of Science and Technology. I have received 29 research and training grants (intramural and extra mural) as PI and co-PI. I have been an invited speaker at more than 130 conferences in 73 countries.

The growing burden of neurological diseases in the world has established WFN as an important stakeholder in global health. The WHO has recently approved an intersectoral action plan for promotion of neurological care, training, and advocacy across globe. We plan to promote brain health as a top agenda for WHO and United Nations. There is an inequity in neurology training and care across the globe. South Asia, Central Asia, and Africa should be a center point for our future interventions. As an expert in stroke from south Asia, active role in the World Federation of Neurology and World Stroke Organization, I could be a useful member of this global task force. •

Tissa Wijeratne

What an exciting time to be in the WFN. It is an incredible honor to have been nominated for the trustee position in the upcoming election this year. Brain health is in peril globally. One in three of us has a brain disorder. Every one of us will experience disability (temporary or permanent) during our lifetime. The potential for prevention is enormous. Brain disorders are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death globally. Two-thirds of these occur in low- to middle-income countries. Different regions of high-income countries demonstrate vast disparities in awareness, education, access to care, prevention, and rehabilitation. I have seen this imbalance in care firsthand during my youth in rural Sri Lanka, followed by culturally and linguistically diverse communities representing 166 nations in Western suburbs in Melbourne, Australia.

I believe WFN can build on the successes of the last few decades, capitalize on IGAP, and advocate more for quality neurology and better brain health by improving local engagement and activities.

If elected, I will seek to enhance the inclusiveness and constant collaboration already at our society’s heart. We shall continue to work hard to support movers and shakers in brain health worldwide — not only neurologists, academics, and industry, but also the billions of patients and families experiencing the effects of brain disorders.

Advocacy and supporting local advocates will be a crucial component of my global vision for quality neurology and better brain health. We will continue to assist national societies, health ministers and ministries, aiming to deliver the IGAP for all neurological disorders in all regions during the next decade. Educational programs, grants, symposia, CME, traveling fellowships, accreditation, and postgraduate training programs will all be added to, enhanced or, in some cases, newly developed to help address this need globally. We are already doing a lot, but we can and will do more. Our many activities will continue to bring neurologists worldwide together, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. Committee representation, additional scientific activities, and other advocacy campaigns shall be the tools we use to achieve this goal.

The WFN needs hard-working men and women who can dedicate themselves to improving brain health worldwide. To cohesively solve the issues facing neurologists across the globe, we can listen to, discuss, and assimilate the ideas of many. I will bring these qualities to our leadership group.

As you know, I have already represented the global neurology community in WFN activities for nearly two decades. I am ideally poised to take up the responsibilities of a trustee, as I bring experience from both sides of the world — from rural Sri Lanka to Australia and beyond.

The World Brain Day campaign has already reached out to over a billion people since its genesis in 2014. Yet, there is more ground to cover, but our goals are achievable. With our already talented team, we can work together on this critically important task now.

See more about me on my website. I am on WhatsApp at +61430048730 if you need to clarify anything with me directly.  •