Interviews

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Translational Neurology” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the EANpages readers. Massimo Pandolfo (MP): I am currently professor of neurology and director of the Laboratory of Experimental Neurology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Brussels, Belgium, and chief of neurology at the ULB-Erasme University Hospital in Brussels.

Elena Moro (EM): As incoming co-chair of the Scientific Panel “Headache” can you briefly introduce yourself and your specific field of expertise to the Neuropenews readers. Stefan Evers (SE): My name is Stefan Evers, I studied medicine at the University of Münster, Germany, and received an MD in 1992. In addition, I studied musicology and received a PhD in this subject.

avid Vodušek (DV): The World Federation of Neurology’s structure comes close to that of the EAN as both societies bring together national neurological societies. Can you please illustrate to the Neuropenews readers how the WFN structures its work with the member societies? Raad Shakir (RS): The WFN has grown rapidly in recent years and now represents 120 professional national societies in all regions of the world. When I ran for the office of WFN President, I did so on a platform of Global Involvement through Regional Empowerment.

As in the previous year, Neuropenews asked EAN committee members, panel chairs, speakers etc. which session one should not miss at the upcoming congress in Copenhagen 2016. Please find their answers below!

David Vodušek (DV): As president of PAUNS, can you please tell the Neuropenews readers of the organization’s history, its present activities and plans for the future? Saeed Bohlega (SB): PAUNS was conceived during the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) meeting in Barcelona, Spain in 1973 but it was only in 22nd May 1975 that PAUNS was officially founded. Under the leadership of the late Dr. Ahmed El Banhawy as first President, PAUNS came into existence in Cairo with the combination of various neuroscience societies in the Arab World, including specialists from countries lacking such societies.

Philip Larkin is incoming President of EAPC (European Association of Palliative Care). David Vodušek (DV): The mission statement of EAPC states: “…EAPC strives to develop and promote palliative care in Europe through information, education and research using multi-professional collaboration, while engaging with stakeholders at all levels.” How would you translate this statement towards possible cooperation with EAN? Philip Larkin (PL): It may be helpful to explain initially how EAPC works. EAPC is a membership organisation and currently has 55 member associations across 31 countries and people are engaged in palliative care from a range of perspectives; specialist clinical practice, education, policy and of course research.

As in the previous year, Neuropenews asked EAN committee members, panel chairs, speakers etc. which session one should not miss at the upcoming congress in Copenhagen 2016. Please find their answers below!

Mads Ravnborg is President of the Danish Neurological Society - hosting the 2nd Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is Co-chair of the EAN Programme Committee 2016. The interview was conducted by Philip Scheltens, who is also a member of the EAN Programme Committee. Philip Scheltens (PS): As President of the Danish Neurological Society (DNS), can you give us a brief history of the society, its activities and plans for the future? Mads Ravnborg (MR): The Neurological Society was founded in 1900 in Copenhagen, an event that heralded the formation of a neurologic specialty in Danish health care.

David Vodušek (DV): The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) declared at the last World Congress on Pain in Buenos Aires that the period, October 2014 to December 2015, would be the Global Year Against Neuropathic Pain. What do you consider the most important achievement of this action? Chris Wells (CW): The Global Year Against Pain evolved from an idea of David Niv’s, former European Pain Federation (EFIC) President and IASP Council member. He conceived the idea of a Day Against Pain in 2001 and this developed into first a Week and then a Year Against Pain, which IASP and EFIC now jointly sponsor and promote.