WFNS Education and Training Committee Update

Isabelle M. Germano, MD, MBA, FACS

The WFNS Education and Training Committee wishes to thank its 30 Faculty members representing 5 continents who volunteered over the past 20 months donating their time and efforts to deliver a robust neurosurgery education program around the world. Our mission is to work together with the WFNS to improve worldwide neurosurgical care, training and research to benefit our patients. Our immediate goal is to facilitate Neurosurgery Education and Training throughout the world with particular attention to Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) by providing Educational courses on site and on-line, web-based material, publications.

The education and training course organized by our committee represent a significant contribution to global neurosurgery education. Over the past 20 months, under my leadership we organized 16 educational activities for neurosurgeons in training, young and mid-career neurosurgeons following diverse strategies: 1. Partnership with neurosurgical societies focusing on LMIC education; 2. Empowering emerging Neurosurgical/Neuroscience Societies; 3. Partnership with NS annual meeting in South America, Africa, Eastern Europe; 4. Partnership with continental NS societies; 5. Partnership with new neurosurgery and neuroscience organizations; 6. Programs within WFNS meetings

• Partnership with neurosurgical societies focusing on LMIC education

In partnership with the Turkish Neurosurgery Society on March 28-April 1, 2018, in Antalya, Turkey, the WFNS Education Committee offered a ½ day course on neurosurgical emergencies. This course hosted free-ofcharge, registration and hotel, over 70 neurosurgery residents delegates from LMIC, 24% women, from 4 continents: Africa 37%, Asia 40%, SE Europe 19%, and South America 4%.

• Empowering emerging Neurosurgical/Neuroscience Societies

In conjunction with the inaugural Meeting of the Togolese Neurosurgery Society and the 23 rd meeting of PAANS, on May 13-18, 2018 in Lome’, Togo, the WFNS provided a program focused on cranial and spinal emergencies. The course was well attended by neurosurgery and neurology residents, young neurosurgeons, and medical students from Togo and neighboring African countries (see photo).

In partnership with the Cuba Neuroscience organization, which includes neurosurgeons, neurologists, and neuroscientists, the WFNS provided a focused program on cerebrovascular and brain tumors, including endoscopy. This meeting, held in Havana, Cuba, on November 17-18, 2017 and organized by Prof. Yoko Kato prior to our tenure, set a great example of seamless leadership transition. Over 500 delegates participated from all 5 continents.

For the inaugural meeting of the Fondation Haitienne pour le development de la Neurologie et la Neurochirugie (FHADNNEE) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12-13, 2019 the WFNS education committee organized a course focused on handling cranial and spinal emergencies with limited resources. Unfortunately, 3 weeks prior to the course, it was canceled due to internal political turmoil (reschedule TBD).

• Partnership with annual meeting of NS societies in Eastern Europe, Africa, South America

In partnership with the South East European Neurosurgery Society (SeENS), on June 1-2, 2018 in Cluj, Romania, the WFNS provided an update on new clinical trends in all neurosurgery sub-specialties. A segment of the program was devoted to young neurosurgeons who presented their own cases and discussed with the international faculty alternative surgical options.

In conjunction with the 12th PanArab meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco on October 17, 2018 the WFNS provided a day course reviewing updates on cerebrovascular, epilepsy, movement disorders, tumor and complex spine surgery. An additional interactive session for case discussion with the young neurosurgeons allowed them the unprecedented opportunity to present their cases and seek feedback from the Senior international faculty. Over 250 delegates from 5 continents participated in the meeting.

During the 38th Congreso Latinoamericano de Neurochirurgia (CLAN), Santa Cruz, Bolivia, November 14-18, 2018, WFNS provided didactic lectures on brain tumors, epilepsy, movement disorders and head trauma.

• Partnership with new neurosurgery organizations

During the Mediterranean Association of Neurosurgical Societies (MANS) on June 18-20, 2018 in Naples, Italy, the WFNS organized a breakfast seminar, focused on comparing Neurosurgery residency and fellowship training in the Mediterranean Countries. Delegates from all Mediterranean countries were present and participated in the presentations and discussion.

Prior to the 2nd International Conference on Complications in Neurosurgery in Mumbai, India on January 30, 2019 the WFNS Education Committee held a didactic course on complication recognition and avoidance in basic areas of head trauma, brain tumors, skull base, SDH, spine, pediatrics.

• Partnership with continental societies

The WFNS Education committee and Cerebrovascular committee were asked to hold a ½-day course within the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Cerebrovascular Diseases during their bi-annual meeting in Honolulu, HI on February 6-8, 2019. The didactic meeting entitled “How to do it with limited resources” had speakers from 4 continents and delegates from 5 continents. Six participants from LMIC countries received free registration and 2 free nights hotel stay supported by the AANS/CNS Joint Section.

During the AANS in San Diego, CA on April 14 2019, we organized a ½-day practical clinic on neurosurgical training and education around the world. The faculty representing 5 continents reviewed the current state and challenges of NS training in each geographical region. Participants were from 5 continents. The positive feedback received, encouraged the Faculty to submit a proposal to Neurosurgery Focus for a special issue on neurosurgical training and education around the world. This was accepted and to be published in 2020.

During the CAANS meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on July 24-26, 2018 the WFNS Education Committee participated in the Session entitled “The role of neurosurgery in the African Renaissance”.

• WFNS International meeting

The day prior to the WFNS International Meeting in Belgrade, Serbia the WFNS Education Committee organized a one-day symposium on brain trauma and tumors. Our portion of the program was “sold-out”.

Upcoming organized meetings:

•XXV Mexican National Meeting of Neurosurgery, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, July 9, 2019.

In partnership with the Mexican Neurosurgical Society, we offer a one-day pre-meeting course with didactic lectures and interactive case discussion with the local neurosurgeons and neurosurgery residents

•Interim WFNS meeting, Beijing, China; September 10, 2019

The WFNS Education and Training Committee will hold a 2and ½-hour session on a rapid fire communications on what is novel in each of the neurosurgical sub-specialties

•Joint Congress of the Chilean Society of Neurosurgery and of the Neurosurgery Society of the South Cone, October 9-12, 2019 Vina del Mar, Chile.

This meeting which together neurosurgeons from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile. The WFNS Education Committee in collaborations with FIENS organized a full day boot camp with interactive case management and hands-on training.

Additionally, under the leadership of Prof. H. Kinouchi the following meetings were organized:

•Joint Neurosurgery Meeting in 2018 (Japan Neurosurgical Society and the Society of Neurosurgeons of South

Africa) August 2-5, 2018, Sun City, South Africa

•WFNS Education course in conjunction with WFNS-Skull Base Surgery Committee course, Sep 28-30, 2018,

Cancelled due to security situation in the Middle East

•WFNS Education course (April 4, 2019) with the 2nd NESON International conference (April 5-6, 2019), Kathmandu, Nepal

•WFNS Education course (August 8-9, 2019) with Annual Scientific Meeting of Indonesian Neurosurgical Society 2019, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Photo: Lome’, Togo, May, 2018

 

Education and Training Committee