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Neurologists meet to pick each other’s brains
All that is wonderful about the human brain has been on the minds of eminent neurologists, both local and international, as they focused on what could trigger mishaps of this power organ, over three days ending today.
It's all smiles as Prof. Jun Kimura lights the traditional oil lamp as (from left) Dr. J.B. Peiris, Dr. Sudath Gunasekera, Prof. Tom Warner and Dr. Kulan Nagendran look on. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
As the 9th Annual Academic Sessions of the Association of Srilankan Neurologists (ASN) concludes, there has been much brainstorming on a wide range of issues including peripheral nerve injuries, neuro-rehabilitation and vertigo that makes the lives of thousands go into a spin, which are not commonly addressed.
The sessions were inaugurated on Friday evening at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo, under the guidance of ASN President Dr. Sudath Gunasekera — who is the first Sri Lankan to be trained as a Consultant Clinical Neurophysiologist — and Patron Dr. J.B. Peiris who is considered the ‘Father of Neurology’ in Sri Lanka.
“The human brain is the last, and greatest, scientific frontier. It is truly an internal cosmos that lies contained within our skulls.
The more than 100 billion brain cells and trillion supporting cells that make up your brain and mind constitute the most elaborate structure in the known universe.”
This was the quote from American science writer Joel Davis that ASN Joint Secretary Dr. Nilanthi Fernando read at the start of the ceremony, setting the mood for the inauguration and the academic sessions.
The Chief Guest was Professor Emeritus, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, United States of America and also Kyoto University, Japan, Prof. Jun Kimura and the Guest-of-Honour Consultant Clinical Neurophysiologist, Barts Health NHS Trust, United Kingdom (UK), Dr. Kulan Nagendran who is of Sri Lankan origin.
“With greetings from Kyoto where I live and Iowa where I work”, it is Chief Guest Prof. Kimura, a much sought-after speaker and teacher, who stressed that the Colombo Congress, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in neurology and the neurosciences, “exemplifies our mission that centres on improving patient care through education of clinical neurologists globally”.
Dr. Sudath Gunasekera
Pointing out that it serves as an effective venue for presenting scientific achievements that may be unique to the region and interacting with colleagues of varied backgrounds and perspectives, he said it also improves communication between member societies and encourages their continued participation and interaction.
On a lighter note, Prof. Kimura said that he was able to catch the last plane out to attend the sessions because of a heavy snow storm which grounded flights thereafter.
Explaining that he had to run for the flight and that was why he was wearing running shoes when attending such an august event, he said, “I thought it best to show up than dress up”, drawing much laughter from the usually staid audience.
Prof. Kimura has more than 500 international research papers and books on neurology to his credit, one of which is used as a text in medical education not only in Sri Lanka but also across the world. This has a citation by ASN President Dr. Gunasekera, it is understood.
Dr. Nagendran, meanwhile, who had his early education in Matale until he was about 13 years old, had been sent to St. John’s College, Jaffna, “a more competitive environment” by his father, who most probably saw his abilities, which paved the way for the young Kulan to enter the Medical Faculty.
Having established himself in the UK after he qualified as a Clinical Neurophysiologist, he has been mentor to four of the six Sri Lankan Neurophysiologists, with ASN President Dr. Gunasekera being the first, and many Sri Lankan Neurologists, as also postgraduate trainees from other countries. (Neurologists or neuro-physicians have specialised in treating disorders of the brain and nervous system, while neurophysiologists are trained in a ‘finer’ or sub-specialty of checking the electrical impulses of the nervous system).
An important collaboration at the academic sessions continues this year too with the active participation of a team from the Association of British Neurologists.
The inauguration was preceded on Friday morning by the important ‘Master Class in Vertigo’ conducted by veteran Professor of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Germany, Prof. Michael Strupp at the Neuro-Trauma Auditorium of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.
The ASN is not just active during its academic sessions but has been working throughout the year, conducting monthly academic lectures which included in-depth discussions on case presentations, targeting doctors in Colombo.
Moving out of Colombo, the ASN has also spread the message about the importance of the brain and the nervous system, focusing on stroke and epilepsy, in Polonnaruwa among doctors as well as those training to be doctors.
The ‘catchment’ areas for this message included Ampara and Batticaloa, with medical students from the Eastern University attending.
Another point of interaction has also been Ragama, where medical students from the Colombo North Medical Faculty have been targeted.
Meanwhile, action has matched words, with the ASN working closely with the National Stroke Association of Sri Lanka to improve stroke care with the unstinting support of the Health Ministry.