Petr Mikulenka, MD, from Prgaue, Czechia
Fellowship Term: 18.06 – 27.07.2018
Hosting department: Department of Neurology, Atkinson Morley Wing, St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London SW17 0QT
Supervisor: Dr. Anthony Pereira, Consultant Neurologist
I had the privilege to spent six weeks at the Department of Neurology, St George’s Hospital in London. The principal aim of my visit was to extend my knowledge and experience in cerebrovascular diseases, therefore I did spent most of my time with the stroke team at the Hyper acute stroke unit, which is one of the leading stroke centers in the UK.
During my six-week educational visit I was very well received and integrated in all daily activities. In the morning, the stroke team gathered in the meeting room and discussed all the patients and reviewed CT or MRi scans. Then I usually participated in consultant-led ward rounds, had an opportunity to discuss interesting cases and novel therapeutic approaches based on the latest research. I also frequently participated on thrombolysis calls with stroke registrars and nurses (and frankly was surprised by the number of functional patients at St George’s ) and had a chance to observe a good number of thrombectomies. Stroke consultants (especially Dr Blight and Dr Pereira) motivated me to study carefully the latest research and become truly familiar with the main trials in cerebrovascular medicine.
In the afternoon, I usually attended outpatient clinics led by Dr Pereira or Dr Khan and observed mostly vascular, general neurology or headache patients. Sometimes I also attended TIA clinics, where patients with suspected transient ischemic attack are reviewed and treated. Again the consultants were more than happy to answer my questions and I was actively involved in discussions about the patients with other junior doctors.
Apart from that I also got to observe how multidisciplinary teams at St George´s work together to find the best treatment for patients with carotid stenosis, aneurysms or other vascular pathologies. I highly valued attending a journal club and discussing latest papers with junior doctors and experienced consultants. Teaching sessions with Dr Pereira were also very helpful and inspiring – we either debated interesting clinical cases or various different topics such as medical statistics.
Despite the fact that my main focus is stroke, at times, I joined general neurology ward rounds at Kent Ward. I got to see patients suffering from various neurological diseases such as neuropathies, myasthenia gravis or multiple sclerosis. Consultants in charge – Dr Blain and Prof. Cock – treated me in a very polite and friendly manner. I learned a bit different and perhaps more aggressive approach to treatment of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (when compared to my institution) to learn more I also attended MS clinics with Dr Blain.
During my stay at St George´s I had an opportunity to attend three academic meetings: SW London and Surrey Regional MS Education meeting, Conference on epilepsy and Geriatrics registrar training in stroke led by Dr Pereira. Furthermore I attended teaching lectures in The John Parker Lecture Theatre and Neuroradiology meetings.
As one could have expected London is a very expensive city, but also has a lot to offer. I would recommend to find an accomodation in Tooting, because it is a lovely area and one could save time and money on commuting. It is definitely worth checking St George’s University, Tooting Accommodation 2018 / 2019 group on facebook for accomodation.
I would like to express my gratitude to the European Academy of Neurology and particularly to Dr Anthony Pereira for giving me this great learning opportunity, I also want to thank Prof Ivana Stetkarova for supporting my application and to Magda Dohnalova for handling my application.
Natalia Szejko, MD, PhD, from Warsaw, Poland
Fellowship Term: 03.09-19.10.2018
Hosting department: Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
Supervisor: Atbin Djamshidian-Tehrani, MD, PhD
My stay in the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck was very successful. I am interested in Movement Disorders and Innsbruck is one of the biggest Movement Disorders centers in Europe. I participated in everyday visits in the ward specialised in movement disorders, particularly: different patients with Parkinson’s Disease (after DBS operation, treated with apomorphine, with juvenile Parkinson Disease), different ataxias (mitochondrial, genetic ataxias and ataxia secondary to sclerodermia), dystonia and chorea (Huntigton Disease, Wilson Disease). Each day, I also participated in morning shift changes and description of neuroimaging. Moreover, I attended and helped in patient examinations in Dystonic, Parkinson’s, Chorea and Ataxia Outpatients Clinic. I was examining the patients and preparing the documentation. I also established a scientific collaboration with Prof. Gregor Wenning and Dr Atbin Djamshidian Tehrani, and we are preparing now a number of case reports to publish and present during international congresses. I also hope to come back to Innsbruck and do there my post doc.
Olga Tsyganenko, MD, from Pervouralsk, Russian Federation
Fellowship Term: Six weeks
Hosting department: Unit Clinical Neurology and Neurometabolic Diseases, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Federico
First of all, I want to express gratitude to European Academy of Neurology for the opportunity to take part in the Clinical Fellowship programm 2018 at the Unit of Clinical Neurology and Neurometabolic Diseases at the University of Siena, supervised by Prof. Antonio Federico.
During my 6-weeks practice I have visited Outpatient department, Inpatient department, Admission department and Laboratory department. The organization of neurology support is different in Italy and my country, it was interesting to learn and compare it.
Most of the time, I had practice at the Outpatient department for patients with neurometabolic diseases. Usually patients with unclear diagnosis were hospitalized there. Every day I took part in the clinical rounds in the hospitalization ward and discussion of clinical cases.
During this time, I improved my skills in neurological examination, especially in patients with neurophtalmological promblems, knew new modern laboratory ( genetic, biochemical, immunological) and radiological examination, managment in patient with rare nerologic disesases.
During my practice in the outpatient department I saw many patients with different cognitive, extrapiramidal and mitochondrial diseases. Also department specialized on Tarlov cyst disease and observed such patients from all Italy.
In conclusion, I consider that these six weeks of practice have helped me to broaden my knowledge in neurology and this experience will have a very positive impact on my medical career.
Also I want to thank Prof. Antonio Federico and his highly specialized neurology team (Prof. MT. Dotti, Prof. A. Malandrini, Dr. C. Battisti, Dr. A. Rufa) for excellent education programm and very friendly atmosphere during my visit.
