By Francesco Di Lorenzo, RRFS member
Exposed to a distinctive landscape of mountains and sea and hidden by the “Mediterranean Maquis”, the EAN Autumn School took place in Loutraki, Greece from 17 to 20 October.
Conceived as chance for trainees in Neurology (registered to the EAN Resident & Research Fellow Section) to increase their knowledge of clinical neurology, this educational meeting refreshed its format in order to ease the learning process of participants. Together with morning frontal lessons, in the afternoon hands-on courses and interactive or case-based sessions enriched the program giving the unique opportunity to directly see how experienced neurologist approach a patient (as it was for a migraine patient) donating priceless notions for beginners hungry for Neurological knowledge.
The first day focused on guided interpretation of disease-specific imaging patterns related to cognitive dysfunction and headache (the main topics of the course), with the take-home message to learn to watch and interpret imaging findings, apart from the neuroradiologist response, to achieve a full comprehension of the clinical picture presented.
On Saturday the discussion was centered about cognitive dysfunction including the cases of rapidly progressive encephalopathy (treatable or not) and the huge chapter of neurodegenerative diseases.
On the last day really interesting and up-to-date focus on headache and its possible clinical manifestations (acute, chronic and in a comorbid patient) with plenty of valuable tips to catch and to apply in our clinical practice.
The amenity of the location and the punctual organization of the EAN Office facilitated the learning process for all the participants, giving also enough space to socializing events (the boat trip in Corinth Channel accompanied by traditional Greek dance on Friday, the Goodbye Party on Sunday evening) or to refreshing swims in the Corinth Gulf.
Attended this year by 1 trainees from 22 countries (European and not), the Autumn school is also an opportunity for a direct exchange of views and opinions about the different lives of Neurology residents in the different nations and to create new friendships to meet again in future conferences.
With the hope that this event (together with the EAN Spring School) would become a “must” for every resident in Europe, we just thank EAN and the Educational Team for organizing such an intense and rich event.
