Dear Prof. Jean Marc Leger, Dear Prof. Pavel Kalvach, Dear Ms Magda Dohnalova and all EFNS representatives,
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for being awarded with EFNS D-D Programme 2012 and given the opportunity to spent 6 weeks at the Neurology Institute at the “La Sapienza” University of Rome chaired by Prof. Gian Luigi Lenzi.
After meeting the clinical staff and daily work organization, I started with the daily service at the neurology clinic working with Doctor Marta Altieri in the specialist ambulance with patients suffering from different neurological disorders (myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, compressive myelopathy, peripheral nerves injuries, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonism, cerebral venous thrombosis, migraine, tension type headache). Dr. Altieri has presented me every case in detail presenting specificities of each neurological finding and also presenting diagnostic, differential diagnostic and therapeutic approaching based upon actual guidelines for neurological management.
After that (one week later) I started working with Prof. Gian Luigi Lenzi in his ambulance practice where he mainly observes patients with cognitive impairment. Prof. Lenzi has shown me neurological findings and patients’ results from neuropsychology tests especially pointed out on diagnostic frameworks and including and excluding diagnostic criteria for different cognitive, emotional and behavioural disorders in these patients. Also he has checked the patients suffering from other neurological disorders (Arnold Chiari malformation, hemorrhage, peripheral nerve injuries), proposed and discussed some changing in their therapy, its needs and insights of these pathological conditions.
Then, I have met Prof. Vittorio Di Piero, chairman of the Stroke Unit and Headache Center at the Neurology Clinic A. Prof. Di Piero and his co-workers very cordially have presented me actual patients observed and treated in their hospital, based upon pathophysiological underlying data of each one of these patients (retinoblastoma metastases in brain, untypical polyneuropathy with unknown etiology, axonal motor neurodegeneration, hemorrhages in brain stem, coma, cavernoma multiplices with focal seizures, dissection of spinal anterior artery aneurism). It has been my special pleasure, since my special interest in neurology is headache; to work with Prof. Di Piero and his staff in the Headache Center (working every Monday afternoon), where we have observed different cases of patients with headaches, also including some rare primary and secondary headache origins (migraine acute and chronic, tension type headache, TAC, some rare primary headaches, vascular malformation and headache, pseudotumor cerebri, medication overuse headache, bipolar disorder and depression and headache, glossopharyngeal neuralgia).
Each working day has started with visiting the patients where every biochemical, clinical, neurological and radiological change in each patient’s condition was highlighted. These visits have been moderated by Prof. Lenzi and Prof. Di Piero and sometimes by Prof. Bruno and Dr. Vicenzini. After the visit we discussed the patients’ neurological disorders. In addition to this, Prof. Lenzi has given me the opportunity to prepare with residents interesting case presentations of patients with unusual clinical presentations of polyneuropathy.
I must highlight that Prof. Lenzi has been available for my personal and professional questions all the time and he and his team have been generous, professional and above all their amicable attitude toward my working and dwelling in their hospital was outstanding.
I am sure that this granted visit has provided me with new knowledge, ideas and practice experiences which I will surely include in my daily academic and neurology practice improvement in the future.
Again I want to thank everybody within the EFNS who has participated in organising the EFNS Department to Department Programme 2012, and also congratulate all accepted candidates, trustful that each of them took the same impressions from their hosting departments. It absolutely confirms that the EFNS achievement for improving neurology power within Europe through exchange knowledge and experience between the young neurologists is very successful.
Also, I want to send special thanks to Ms. Magda Dohnalova, for her effort, expertise and active contribution in my applying and choosing host department, without which it would be impossible to maintain on this way.
With all my respect,
Srdjan Ljubisavljevic, MD
Nis, Serbia
