The EFNS Scientist Panels and ENS Subcommittees aim at coordinating different facets of clinical research and good neurological practice at European level. They will play a very important role in the European Academy of Neurology – EAN.
We invited the chairpersons of the EFNS Scientist Panels and ENS Subcommittees for their view on the future role of these panels/subcommittees within the EAN.
Interview with Josep Valls-Sole
Neuropenews (NN): Briefly outline the future role you see for your scientist panel/sub-committee within the European Academy of Neurology.
Josep Valls-Sole (JVS): A Scientific Subspecialty Panel on Clinical Neurophysiology is needed in the European Academy of Neurology. This should be formed by a group of experts in clinical neurophysiology that use electrodiagnostic techniques as a means of clinical diagnosis or research. The role of the Panel is 1) to preserve the quality of educational activities on clinical neurophysiology, 2) define the most adequate format for the teaching courses, and 3) propose the speakers and the topics for sessions on Clinical Neurophysiology of incoming congresses. The Panel should work in collaboration with other panels that represent a neurological subspecialty in which colleagues use neurophysiological techniques, such as peripheral neuropathy, sleep, multiple sclerosis, neurorehabilitation, movement disorders or others, in order to contribute to the preparation of the EAN congresses.
Activities of the Panel on Clinical Neurophysiology should have special consideration for the Hands-On practical sessions that are expected to be part of the teaching activities of the EAN. Such Hands-On sessions should be organised according to the needs of the audience, the utility of the techniques and the teaching and technical abilities of the speakers. The Panel should also advise on the type of material that is most adequate to use, including equipment, accessories, technicians, etc.
NN: How can Neuropenews contribute and enhance the work of your panel?
JVS: Neuropenews may help with the tasks of recruiting neurologists with interest in Clinical Neurophysiology by publishing brief outlines of the resolutions and activities of the Panel. Unfortunately not all European countries share the same educational programme for neurologists in regard to clinical neurophysiology, ranging from a specialisation course after Neurology to a completely separate specialty. A common situation in most countries, though is a defective knowledge on clinical neurophysiology at the end of the specialisation. In this context, Neuropenews could contribute to spreading the news that there is a group of neurologists in Europe devoted to promote such subspecialty, demonstrate how to exercise the most useful techniques and advance in our knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms of neurological conditions through clinical neurophysiology.
Among other possibilities and with the aim to keep the readers updated Neuropenews could briefly report on new findings, specific techniques and diagnostic approaches of clinical neurophysiology, written by panel experts in the field (for instance in a small column of 300 words).
Professor Josep Valls-Sole works at the Department of Neurology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain
1 comment
The comments by Professor Valls-Sole are shared by many neurologists in Europe with a special interest in Clinical Neurophysiology. Together, we have presented evidence in many conferences over the years that stress the importance of Clinical Neurophysiology not only with regards to diagnosis, but also in predicting the disease course and also in helping to determine the mechanisms of the disease cause and process. The EAN needs to actively incorporate Clinical Neurophysiology in its activities.