by Günther Deuschl
Dear colleagues,
The European Academy of Neurology (EAN) has been founded on the 3rd of June 2014 in Istanbul. A new era of European neurology is starting because all neurologists in this part of the world have a unified representation now. This new society is serving more than 19.000 neurologists. Our organisation is brand-new but has a long tradition of two parent societies, the European Federation of Neurological Societies and the European Neurological Society. We take over much of the content and infrastructure of these two Societies, which have served neurology for almost 30 years: They held two congresses which were merged into the highly successful Istanbul congress in June 2014 for the first time. They developed guideline programmes; held Europe-wide teaching courses, a spring school, web-sites and journals and many other services for neurology in Europe. This is now all in the hands of the new EAN. We have our head office in Vienna and are a society established according to Austrian law. Our purpose is to promote “Excellence in Neurology in Europe” and detailed aims and realisations have been defined in the bylaws.
Neurology is a scientific discipline with a long tradition in Europe and the first neurology book ever was written 1840 by a European. Our member societies are relying on this long tradition of neurology in Europe covering several different national schools of neurology, which have been exported in the last two centuries to many countries worldwide. While neurological diseases are the same everywhere, the health system organisation may be very different and indeed the richness and diversity has developed into several different cultures of practicing neurology. These will all be respected and integrated in this new society. We consider such diversities of neurological cultures to be a strength of European neurology. On the other hand we move forward together to develop similar quality of care within all countries while we will make sure that the national characteristics are respected. Diagnosing and treating neurological diseases needs minimum standards which can objectively be defined on the basis of sound scientific evidence. This will help defining the standards on a European level and the member societies can use them to negotiate for appropriate financial resources in their respective countries.
Europe is underway to come closer together. The EAN is enthusiastically supporting this move. It is our purpose to bring European neurologists together. We will hold our EAN congress annually and all new developments in the field of science and healthcare development will be covered during these congresses. From 2016 in Copenhagen on, each congress will be dedicated to a certain theme. The scientists of Europe and from all over the world will present new insights and we will recruit our best teachers to have the latest knowledge transferred into clinical practice in the teaching courses. Berlin 2015 will be our first congress. The programme for this congress is almost ready and was created by a joint programme committee of the two parent societies. It will be a terrific demonstration of richness and diversity of neurology.
In Istanbul the new officers were elected and the group is eager to move forward and to approach the tasks which have been defined in the bylaws of the EAN. The Board has already met for the first time in Vienna at our wonderful headquarters on 22/23. June 2014.
President: Prof Günther Deuschl, Germany
Vice President: Prof Franz Fazekas, Graz, Austria;
Secretary General: Prof Didier Leys, Lille, France
Treasurer: Prof Marianne de Visser, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Chair Scientific Committee: Prof Antonio Federico, Siena, Italy
Chair Liaison Committee: Prof David Vodušek, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Member at large: Prof Per Soelberg Sørensen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Who are the members of this new society? The EAN is an umbrella organisation for all 45 neurological societies in Europe and at the same time a member society which has individual members who are interested in taking part personally in the exciting events of the neurological development on our continent. We very much encourage individuals to become individual members and to benefit from the many services which our society has already developed and will develop in the future. We will also have a membership category ‘Fellow of the EAN’ (FEAN) which is available on special application for eligible persons. We will also have categories for residents, students and other health professionals. Membership applications will be accepted as soon as possible.
It is of paramount importance to have both the member societies and the individual members involved in the development. We are striving at involving as many of our neurologists as possible. We will make sure that young people feel represented within the society.
Allow your society to have a learning curve and let us know where and what we can improve!
Adopt this society as yours and make it strong by getting involved!
