Ali Karim, Minya, Egypt
Hosting department: Department of Neurology, Stroke Unit, Georg August Universität, Göttingen, Germany
Supervisor: Dr Ilko Maier
As cerebrovascular stroke is my area of interest, I am always eager to update my knowledge and learn from how other colleagues handle these patients professionally. When I discovered the EAN Clinical Fellowship programme, I felt it would be the perfect opportunity to do just that. I had the privilege of completing this fellowship at Georg August University in Göttingen, Germany, under the supervision of Dr Ilko Maier, who was exceptionally helpful, not only enriching my knowledge but also changing my perspective on stroke diagnosis and treatment through his comprehensive stroke unit and incredible team.
Each day, we began with a morning meeting to discuss new patients’ imaging with the radiology department. Afterward, I joined the ward round in the stroke unit and sometimes in the Neuro ICU, alongside the residents. This experience was invaluable; it allowed me to see a variety of cases, including complex ones, and observe how they developed treatment plans and followed patients’ progress. Later in the day, I attended the neurovascular clinic, where I could follow up with patients post-discharge, gaining insight into both acute and long-term management with the help of the outstanding clinic team that was helpful and illustrated every single patient in detail.
On certain days, I attended the Duplex clinic or the general neurology ward, which helped me gain comprehensive knowledge across different areas. The program was wonderfully flexible, allowing me the autonomy to engage in additional clinics that matched my interests. I had the opportunity to observe in clinics specialising in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, botox treatments, and multiple sclerosis, each of which was enlightening. I was also encouraged to attend various seminars, which further enhanced my learning experience.
Dr Maier also invited me to participate in research during my stay, involving a literature review project. This experience not only improved my research skills but also motivated me to read extensively, enhancing my understanding of current cerebrovascular research.
Regarding Göttingen, it is a charming, small city with wonderful people and beautiful nature, which made my stay truly enjoyable.
Overall, this fellowship was an exceptional opportunity to deepen my understanding and collaborate with such a skilled team. I am extremely grateful to the EAN for offering this chance for neurologists to enhance their skills and gain such a rich experience.
Mantas Jokubaitis, Vilnius, Lithuania
Hosting department: Headache Group, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Supervisor: Prof. Peter Goadsby
As a final-year neurology resident with a special interest in headache disorders, I was honoured to undertake an EAN Clinical Fellowship at King’s College Hospital. Supervised by Prof. Peter Goadsby, this experience marked a turning point in my professional development, offering both hands-on observational learning and invaluable academic insights. The fellowship coincided with my invitation to attend the Migraine Trust International Symposium, further enhancing my learning experience.
During this fellowship, I was immersed in both live and teleconsultations, gaining insight into expert approaches to diagnosing and managing a wide array of headache disorders, including chronic migraines, cluster headaches, and other complex presentations. Observing botulinum toxin injections and occipital nerve blocks gave me practical knowledge of their application and impact on patient outcomes.
At the beginning of the fellowship, I was given a reading list that aligned my understanding of headache disorders with that of the headache team. Weekly patient discussions led by Prof. Goadsby and the team further enriched my knowledge, enabling collaborative exploration of diagnostic approaches and treatment nuances. These sessions encouraged critical thinking and provided me with a deeper understanding of both common and rare headache disorders.
A highlight of the fellowship was my involvement in a research project focused on indomethacin-sensitive headache disorders. Assigned to data collection, I analysed a large database, resulting in a presentation for the European Headache Congress. This research holds the potential to evolve into a multicenter study and may also serve as the foundation for my PhD topic.
This EAN fellowship at King’s College Hospital was a significant milestone in my career as a future headache specialist. It provided a unique blend of clinical exposure and research opportunities. I am deeply grateful to Prof. Peter Goadsby, his assistant Alison Worth, and the entire headache team for this exceptional learning experience.
Vasiliki Poulidou, Thessaloniki, Greece
Hosting department: Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
Supervisor: Dr Giorgi Kuchukhidze
My name is Vasiliki Poulidou and I spent three months on an EAN Clinical Fellowship at the Epilepsy Department at Christian Doppler Clinic in Salzburg.
The department of Neurology at Christian Doppler Medical Center offers a multidisciplinary approach in the field of epilepsy including pharmacological management of different types of epileptic disorders as well as status epilepticus, video EEG monitoring, advanced neurophysiological techniques including MEG, functional neuroimaging, presurgical evaluation and epilepsy surgery.
I was assigned to the EEG lab and I spent most of my fellowship there. I had the chance to work with a brilliant and very experienced team and of course with my excellent supervisor Dr Giorgi Kuchukhidze. During these 3 months, under his guidance, I gained confidence and got familiarised with interpreting continuous EEG, EEG in critical care and EEG in status epilepticus. In addition, I also attended the epilepsy monitoring unit, where I had the chance to observe long term EEG recordings and also learn how such patients are monitored, tested, and eventually diagnosed.
Moreover, the educational programme of the Neurology Department included educational meetings twice a week, where a great variety of topics were presented, and a seizure conference on Wednesdays, where interesting and complex cases undergoing presurgical evaluation were discussed.
This fellowship ended in the best way I could imagine, attending the 9th London-Innsbruck Colloquium on status epilepticus and acute seizures with my colleagues, which was held in London. It was a comprehensive summary of what I have learnt and also an excellent presentation of the scientific work from one of my colleagues.
I should not forget to mention the wonderful city of Salzburg. This unique city always finds a way to radiate its charm through the landscape, the architecture, the arts, the music and culture.
In conclusion, I would like to thank the EAN for the opportunity, organisation and the whole experience. I am really grateful for all the learning, support, guidance and opportunities I have been given from Prof. Eugen Trinka and Dr Giorgi Kuchukhidze. I would also like to thank Fabio Rossini, Julia Höfler, Markus Leitinger and Kalss Gudrun for dedicating time and sharing their experience and knowledge with me. Last, but not least, my great colleagues and friends Pilar Bosque Varella, Adrian Ridski Harsono, Andreea Toma, Eirini Milonaki and Nicolás Jannone Pedro who made this fellowship really exciting!
The department of Neurology at Christian Doppler Medical Center provides state-of-the-art knowledge in epilepsy diagnosis and management and it was a great opportunity for me to attend as a fellow an epilepsy clinic of excellence.
