European Academy of Neurology 2019 - 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The EAN was founded in 2014 with the mission of reducing the burden of neurological disorders. METHODS: In 2019 the society defined four strategic priorities education, science, membership, and advocacy. This paper reviews the EAN development in the last 3 years. RESULTS: The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had a profound impact on the entire world and triggered profound changes in the EAN including the implementation of new digital technologies. Education The virtual congress in 2020 was the best attended in history (43,844 registrations). The European Training Requirements for Neurology was revised. A mentorship program and a student section were created. A state-of-the-art eLearning platform will be launched in 2022. Research To assess neurological manifestations of COVID-19 an international registry (ENERGY) was created. Studies on the burden of neurological disorders and sleep disorders, respectively, were started. The first EAN science school took place in 2022. Membership The EAN includes 45,000 members and 47 national societies. New task forces were created on gender and diversity, tele- and general neurology. Advocacy In 2022 the EAN supported the adoption of the Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders by the WHO and the neurological community in the Ukraine. The same year the EAN launched a Brain Health Strategy promoting a non-disease and -age centred, lifelong holistic approach ('one brain, one life, one approach'). CONCLUSION: The ongoing pandemic and wars demonstrate the fragility of our political and health systems and the need for people centeredness, international collaborations, solidarity, and digitalization. The EAN will continue promoting excellence in neurological care, science and education as well as brain health for all.