Shaw

I am Prof. Dame Pamela Shaw, professor of neurology at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. I am also director of the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), where we were honored to be awarded the Queen’s Anniversary prize, the highest national honor for U.K. universities, for improving outcomes for patients with conditions such as motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and stroke.

My specialist area is in the field of neurodegenerative disorders, especially motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/MND). My research developing neuroprotective therapies and multidisciplinary care for ALS/MND has produced more than 600 papers with approximately 60,000 citations, and improved life expectancy and quality of life for patients facing this devastating condition, which is increasing globally along with other age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Addressing global disparity in patient access to neurological care and specialist expertise is crucially important in the current era where new treatments are being developed for hitherto intractable neurological conditions. The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) has a central role to play in increasing educational and training opportunities and widening patient access to care and clinical trials.

If appointed as the first female WFN president, I would increase the visibility of women neurologists within our global community, explore with clinical teams and trial sponsors ways of developing new trial sites in underserved areas with training opportunities, and further the development of our training centers and e-learning courses.

I would like to explore opportunities to increase income generation for WFN activities, including philanthropic support to underpin fellowship and training opportunities for early career neurologists/neuroscientists. I would promote patient participation in the executive team and take advice on patient priorities and, together with WFN partners, build consensus on the most important, feasible, and urgent priorities to deliver for global neurological communities.  •

Gouider

My dedication to neurology began with my training in both Tunisia and Europe. This diverse educational foundation instilled in me a deep appreciation for global neurological collaboration and shaped my commitment to advancing neurology worldwide.

Since attending my first World Congress of Neurology in Vancouver (1993), I have remained engaged with the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). Serving as the Tunisian Society of Neurology’s delegate (2005–2015) reinforced my belief in the vital role of national societies in strengthening international neurology networks.

As WFN regional director for the Pan-Arab Region (2008–2010) and Africa (2012–2015), I witnessed WFN’s impact in regions with limited neurological resources. I contributed to accrediting three WFN teaching centers in Africa, reinforcing WFN’s mission to improve neurological education.

Serving as two-term WFN elected trustee (2014–2020) and later as co-opted trustee (2022–2023) gave me valuable insight into WFN’s strategic direction.

I am still trying to contribute within WFN as co-chair of the Education Committee and the WCN 2025 Teaching Course Committee and, more recently, as a member of the WFN-American Academy of Neurology Global Advocacy Leadership Program (GALP) Steering Committee. I have been devoted to e-learning since 2009 by co-chairing WFN e-Health Task Force and actively contributing to WFN regional e-Learning Days, including WFN-African Academy of Neurology, Education in Headache to Healthcare Providers in Africa, and WFN-Asian and Oceanian Association of Neurology.

With my experience and dedication, I am honored to stand for first vice president. If elected, I pledge to:

• Enhance WFN’s partnerships with global organizations, including the World Health Organization, to advocate for neurology as a public health priority.
• Expand educational access through WFN-accredited training centers and e-learning.
• Strengthen global collaboration so all neurologists, especially in underserved regions, benefit from shared expertise.

I am committed to advancing neurological education, research, and advocacy worldwide. I humbly ask for your support and pledge to work tirelessly toward our shared vision — a world where no one is left behind. •

Wijeratne

Thank you sincerely for the trust you placed in me as an elected trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). It has been an honor to serve our global neurology family, united by one shared vision — better brain health for all.

Today, I humbly seek your support once again — this time as a candidate for first vice president.

This is a defining moment. One in three people lives with a brain disorder. Behind each number is a person, a family, a community. I have witnessed this burden firsthand growing up in rural Sri Lanka, and now working in western Melbourne’s richly diverse communities, where over 165 languages are spoken.

Diversity at its best demands leadership that is inclusive, bold, and human.

If elected, I will bring energy, compassion, and clear action to translate global strategies into local impact. We must lift education, equity, and research, especially in underserved regions. I will work with member societies, support emerging leaders, and build lasting partnerships to advance our mission.

As co-chair of World Brain Day, I’ve seen the power of collective action. I have trained over 450 physician trainees and 60 neurologists across three continents, mentored 42 PhD candidates, and currently supervise 12 PhD students. My clinical work has focused on stroke, migraine, and headache — some of the world’s most disabling conditions.

I have authored over 300 peer-reviewed papers, with an h-index of 86 and over 136,000 citations. I remain a full-time clinician, just as you, while voluntarily contributing to education across disciplines.

But I am not driven by numbers. I am driven by people.

WFN needs leadership that listens, unites, and delivers. I am ready to serve in that spirit. •

Meshram

I am grateful to the Indian Academy of Neurology and the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) for considering me worthy for the position of elected trustee.

I am indebted to WFN for giving me the opportunity to serve as co-opted trustee, elected trustee, and president of the Tropical and Geographical Neurology Specialty Group (TGNSG). In these roles, I have contributed to the mission of WFN: fostering quality neurology and brain health worldwide. Through TGNSG, I organized 16 webinar sessions on neuro-infections and gave opportunity to trainees from different regions of the world to sharpen their clinical skills. The series “Inspiring People in Neurosciences” was a step in the same direction.

I contribute timely updates for the “Spotlight on COVID and Current Global Neuro-Infections” blog on the WFN website. I was instrumental in starting the WFN Department Visit program in India. In 2024, the president of India conferred on me Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honors in India.

I have served as a member of the Constitution and Bylaws and Scientific Program Committees. I am a member of the Infectious disease panel of the European Academy of Neurology. I am section editor of the Encyclopedia of Neurological Sciences and assistant editor of eNeurologicalSci.

World Brain Day is the most eminent public awareness initiative of WFN. As part of that initiative, I organize public education campaigns throughout the year. I have published about 500 articles for public education, including several in World Neurology.

WFN is making every attempt to take care of inequality in neurology care and education worldwide, and I am committed to addressing it. Collaboration with WHO and other societies is important for brain health. My passion to work for the WFN is the main reason I am standing for the post of elected trustee. I would be grateful for your support. •

Tabatabai

My name is Ghazaleh Tabatabai. I am a neurologist, a physician scientist, and a professor of neurology and neuro-oncology at the University of Tübingen in Germany. I am honored to be nominated as a candidate for elected trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) by the German Society of Neurology.

My work in different leadership roles has provided me with deep insights into international health care challenges and disparities in neurological care. These disparities are a global threat and will lead to an unmanageable global disease burden caused by neurological disorders. This burden is particularly heavy in low-income countries where even access to routine neurological care is restricted, as is access to modern diagnostic measures and clinical trials.

These global challenges require dedicated regional activities and concerted support from the international community. The WFN and its member societies, together with the World Health Organization and the United Nations, can make a significant difference here. We can learn from each other and combine forces to empower the next generation of neurologists, ready to face these global challenges. I will consider it a privilege to contribute to this WFN mission.

Examples of activities that I envision include:

• Action plans for implementing low threshold interventions for prevention, as well as specific training in multiprofessional rehabilitation and palliative care that can be implemented globally.
• The development of strategic concepts and implementation plans toward a globalization of access to clinical trials.
• Empowerment strategies of international research collaborations.

These activities require strategic thinking, analytical skills, high level expertise in neurology, and intercultural competence. Based on my intercultural socialization, I have acquired a high level of empathy. I am convinced that tolerance and flexibility, particularly when facing ambiguity and controversy, combined with a growth mindset and high frustration tolerance will finally help us to make significant contributions to push boundaries. •

Rodriguez-Violante

I am honored to be considered for the role of elected trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). As a movement disorder neurologist and head of the Clinical Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City, I have dedicated my career to improving the care of individuals with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, particularly in Latin America, where access to specialized neurological care remains a challenge.

With a strong foundation in both clinical practice and academia, I have trained numerous neurologists through my role as a full professor in the Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders high-specialty course. My international experience, including movement disorder training at the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona and advanced degrees from the University of Murcia, has strengthened my ability to collaborate across cultures and disciplines, ensuring that diverse perspectives contribute to the advancement of our field.

Beyond my clinical and educational work, I have been actively involved in international neurological organizations. This includes serving on committees within the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society and mentoring in the MDS LEAP program. My research contributions, reflected in over 180 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index of 29, underscore my commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and fostering collaboration across regions.

As an elected trustee of the WFN, I would advocate for greater inclusion of neurologists from Latin America and other underrepresented regions, ensuring that their expertise and challenges are part of the global conversation. I am also committed to strengthening opportunities for women in neurology, supporting mentorship initiatives, and expanding access to neurological education worldwide.

I look forward to the opportunity to serve and collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds to advance neurological care, education, and equity on a global scale. •