European Academy of Neurology: First 10 years

Abstract

The European Academy of Neurology (EAN) was founded in May 2014 as the scientific society of all neurologists and all national neurological societies in Europe. The creation of EAN was based on the conscious decision of two predecessor societies (the European Federation of Neurological Societies and the European Neurological Society) to have a unique society for this continent with its 53 countries according to the World Health Organization and with the EU as the most important continental political decision level. In this report, the important milestones and the motivations of the decision-makers during the first 10 years are described. The development of the annual congress, the broad educational agenda, and the scientific groundwork including the European guidelines for the practise of neurology are described. Collaboration with and work for the national neurological societies is an important task for EAN. The political representation of neurology in Brussels and collaboration with the scientific societies of neighbouring medical disciplines and patient organizations are other major tasks on the agenda of the organization. EAN's goal is to reduce the burden of neurological diseases and to be the "home of neurology" in Europe for physicians, patients, and society. EAN communicates and interacts with its members, patients, partners, politicians, and the public through different channels. EAN is the owner of the scientifically independent European Journal of Neurology. EAN is based in Vienna, where its head office is located, but is also strongly represented in Brussels.

Keywords: European Academy of Neurology; brain health; education; founding process; history; organization; research.

FIGURE 1

The founding board of EAN for the years 2014–2018. The board members were elected by the Assembly of Delegates in Istanbul in 2014. According to the bylaws, the chair of the congress programme committee and the chair of the education committee were appointed by the board afterward.

FIGURE 2

Assembly of Delegates (at the third European Academy of Neurology [EAN] congress in Amsterdam). Forty‐seven delegates nominated by the different national neurological societies of EAN and 47 individual delegates elected by all individual members of EAN represent the democratic oversight committee of EAN.

FIGURE 3

The second European Academy of Neurology board, 2019–2020.

FIGURE 4

The third European Academy of Neurology board, 2021–2022. RRFS, Resident and Research Fellows Section.

FIGURE 5

The fourth European Academy of Neurology (EAN) board, 2023–2024.

FIGURE 6

Development of the membership of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN).

FIGURE 7

The employees of the head office (HO) in 2015 and in 2023. The breathtaking growth of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) is reflected in the increased number of employees. The upper photo shows the head office employees of the first hour, Julia Mayer, Lucia Pavlakova, Marion Russ, Eveline Sipido, Anja Sander, Malin Inzinger, and Magda Dohnalová (from left to right). The lower picture shows the employees in 2023.