Neurology Training at St. Josef Hospital in Bochum

Training Dates:
Nov. 6-Dec. 4, 2017
The overall objective of my neurology department visit was capacity-building and strengthening of basic skills training in integrated management of essential emergency care in stroke, other neurological conditions, and procedures at Ruhr University Hospital for Neurology.

Martin Kaddumukasa, MD

Martin Kaddumukasa, MD

Specific Objectives
I trained in the use of the “Integrated Management Package on Stroke Emergency and Essential Stroke Care.” This included thrombolysis, exposure to new techniques and treatment modalities, specialist for education, and existing training programs. The training allowed me to improve knowledge and professional skills in stroke care in the five selected areas: neuroimaging, thrombolysis, inpatient care, transcranial Doppler scanning, and intensive care.

Achievements
This training exposed me to the following neurology areas to which I hadn’t been exposed before:

  • Multiple sclerosis care and management
  • Intrathecal treatment options for MS
  • Intensive care patient nutrition
  • Use and interpretation of ICU monitors
  • Management of seizures in stroke
  • Thrombolysis
  • Stroke diagnosis via trans-cranial Doppler scan

From the training, I am able to identify the gaps in stroke care protocols in Uganda from emergency patient assessment with international assessment scale, timely patient management, active rehabilitation, and 24-hour patient evaluation.

Acknowledgements
Special thanks to World Federation of Neurology and German Neurological Society for funding this training fellowship. In addition to the head of the neurology department, Prof. Dr. Med Ralf Gold, head of stroke and intensive care unit PD Dr. C. Krogias and all staff of Bochum Hospital. •

Sri Lanka Annual Academic Sessions Update

The Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists (ASN) held its 11th Annual Academic Sessions in November 2017 at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, under the theme of Neurology for Tomorrow. Prof. Raad Shakir, president of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), was the chief guest at the Welcome Ceremony, and Prof. Man Mohan Mehndiratta, president of the Asia Pacific Stroke Organization (APSO), was the guest of honor. The Association of British Neurologists (ABN) was represented by an official ABN delegation.

Procession of guests at the Welcome Ceremony.

Prof. Shakir delivered the opening plenary on global neurology challenges. The JB Peiris Oration was delivered by A/Prof. Udaya Seneviratne from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. The overseas faculty consisted of 19 speakers from Australia, India, Pakistan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and was complemented by the local faculty. The academic program spanned three days and had a strong emphasis on new advances in neurology.
Two half-day symposia were held on movement disorders and stroke. The other topics covered included epilepsy, demyelinating diseases, neurological infections, CNS vasculitis, neurology and sleep, neurology of autonomic dysfunction, eye movement disorders, myasthenia gravis, neuroplasticity, and neurorehabilitation.

Two post-lunch quizzes tested the neurology knowledge of participants and provided light entertainment in between the intense academic deliberations. A guided poster tour was introduced at the Annual Sessions, and provided young researchers a good opportunity to showcase their research. A parallel workshop on EEG was conducted for EEG technologists.

Prof. Udaya Ranawaka, ASN president, delivers the Welcome Address.

The Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists is still a fledgling organization, being only 10 years old, but remains strongly committed to the promotion of continuous education. It has held successful annual meetings every year over the last 10 years. Its membership is scattered rather thinly across the country, with only 41 neurologists serving 21 million people, with less than one neurologist per 500,000 population. During the calendar year of 2017, academic activities were conducted in eight of the nine provinces of the country, with a view to promoting professional development among those serving in the peripheries. In addition, monthly updates were held in the city of Colombo, primarily aimed at the postgraduate trainees in internal medicine and neurology.

The Annual Academic Sessions are the pinnacle of the academic activities of the ASN. The 2017 sessions went a long way toward meeting the key objectives of the ASN, of promoting continued education and training, fostering research, and facilitating networking and exchange of ideas. The social programs (the Welcome Ceremony, President’s Dinner, and the ASN Banquet) provided time for networking, camaraderie, as well as building and strengthening friendships. We hope these will lead to closer collaborations between the ASN and its friends across the globe, and ultimately improvements in neurological care in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Udaya K. Ranawaka, MD, FRCP, FCCP, FAAN, FAHA, is professor of neurology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, and was the president of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists in 2017.

WFN Takes Stock and Moves Forward

This, my second column, is to inform you of some important steps taken by the new administration and the rationale for these. They comprise the essence of the strategy meeting held Feb. 12-13 in London.

William Carroll, MD

Such strategy meetings have been held from time to time previously. But due to the value of this strategy meeting, the trustees have decided it should become a regular biennial event for this administration. The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) was most fortunate that this meeting was attended by all of its elected representatives and the presidents or the representatives of the regional neurological organizations affiliated with the WFN.

These included Prof. Yomi Ogan, president of the newly formed African Academy of Neurology; Prof. Riadh Gouider, representing Prof. Chokri Mhiri , president of the Pan Arab Union of Neurological Societies; Prof. Marco Medina, president of the Pan American Federation of Neurological Societies; and Prof. Boon Soek Jeon, president of the Asian Oceanian Association of Neurology. We were also especially honored to have Prof. Ralph Sacco, president of the American Academy of Neurology, and Prof. Franz Fazekas, president-elect of the European Academy of Neurology and representing Prof. Gunther Deuschl.

New Committee Chairs

Nominating Committee Prof. Hidehiro Mizusawa
Constitution and Bylaws Committee Prof. Phil Smith
Finance Committee Prof. Bo Norrving
Regional Liaison Committee Prof. Ralph Sacco
Publications Committee Prof. John England
Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee Prof. Tissa Wijeratne
Education Committee Prof. Steven Lewis
Standards and Evaluations Committee Prof. Jan Kuks
Membership Committee Prof. Morris Freedman
Applied Research Committee Prof. Albert Ludolph
Congress Committee Prof. Ryuji Kaji
E-Communications Committee Prof. Walter Struhal

Over two days, all WFN activities were discussed, evaluated, and had action plans developed to proceed for each. All such plans were carefully scrutinized by Prof. Richard Stark, WFN treasurer. While the WFN activities have been largely centered on education in neurology, the WFN must ensure that such programs are not only properly established with oversight and clear communication channels but they must be financially sustainable and have clear and measurable outcomes. Through the careful diligence, foresight, and enterprise of the strategy meeting attendees, we have largely attained this goal. It was with much pleasure that I was able to observe enthusiastic contribution of all participants and a most successful outcome.

Here are the items that I believe to be of most interest to the membership.

Education

Regional Training Centers. There are five centers that are presently operating; four in Africa and one in Mexico. A proposition was received from Bangalore for which the WFN was most grateful.

The strategy meeting participants considered that the Asian proposition was different than that developed for Africa and required careful review by the Education Committee to clearly define the goals, location, collaborative organization, and the funding and outcome measures before proceeding. It is hoped this review will be completed quickly.

Regional Teaching Courses. These are predominantly held in Africa at the present time through a collaboration of the EAN, WFN, and specialty groups, such as the WSO, the MDS, and this year ECTRIMS. One proposition that was considered to have some merit was the linking of every second regional teaching course in Africa with the African Academy of Neurology.

The African Academy of Neurology is of fundamental importance, and this nascent but most essential development may require its organizational structure to be nurtured for the time being. Having a formal relationship in place facilitates its growth.

World Congress of Neurology (WCN). The Scientific Program Committee and Teaching Course Committee for the 2019 WCN, to be held in Dubai, will meet during the upcoming AAN meeting in Los Angeles. Under Prof. Chris Kennard and Prof. Steven Lewis, the program development is ahead of schedule.

We all remember the wonderful 2015 WCN held in Santiago, Chile. Notices have gone out to member national societies asking for nominations for the 2023 venue. In this year, the WCN is again scheduled to be hosted in the Americas. This WFN region encompasses North America (Canada and the U.S.), Central America, and South America.

Junior Traveling Fellowships. Applications closed after the receipt of 82 requests for one of 30 JTFs, each valued at GBP1,000. Applicants will be advised of the results shortly.

Grants. It was determined at the strategy meeting that these should be more focused and targeted with two principal aims. First, to provide young neurologists with the opportunity and funds to undertake a piece of original research. Second, that the research would result in both a publication for the author and provide data with which to launch a larger project or direct local resources to areas of need. Six grants of up to

U.S. ($) 25,000 to a maximum total of U.S. ($) 100,000 will be available this year. For more details, please refer to the grant announcement on page 5 of this issue of World Neurology.

Structure and Visibility

The London office has been relocated to a larger space within its present location in Chester house in Fulham. The office staff will continue to be led by Laura Druce and assisted by Jade Levy (nee Roberts) and Carlos Hunte and with Chiu Keung Man providing valuable IT support. Chiu will also review all electronic media to harmonize the WFN logo and livery across the website and all communication platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and the website) as well as Office Communications and all WCN material. He is also completing the insertion of the newly promulgated EU General Data Privacy Regulations into all the WFN member information.

A new committee, the e-Communications Committee, will oversee these activities and will be chaired by Prof. Walter Struhal. A subgroup of this committee, aided by Profs. Wolfgang Grisold, Morris Freedman, and Riadh Gouider, are preparing a paper on e-learning to guide the WFN on this aspect.

The new committee members will be posted on the WFN website shortly. The roles and charges for each committee will be updated by the new committees. On behalf of the trustees, I offer my thanks and congratulations on those who have assumed new roles. I also offer my most sincere thanks to those who have completed their two-year terms for jobs well done.

With increasing activities to be managed by the London Office and the WFN committees, Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, the secretary-general, is preparing a “universal calendar.” It is envisaged that this will contain the timelines for all routine office activities and those for all committees each year. It will be an important e-document that will be relatively easy to revise and update as required and to which the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for each and every function will be able to be added. It is hoped that this will aid the efficiency of the office for day-to-day work and its “corporate memory.”

With this base, the WFN will be in a position to explore and expand its educational and other activities. 

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