2022 Elections: Candidate Statement for WFN Elected Trustee

Minerva López Ruiz MD

Hello

I introduce myself:

I am Minerva López Ruiz MD and I have applied as a candidate for Trustee of the WFN.

Among my relevant data I am former president of the Mexican Academy of Neurology (MAN), current secretary of the Mexican Board of Neurology, Representative for Latin America of the MAN, undergraduate professor at the medical schools of the Anahuac University and the Autonomous University of Mexico, as well as postgraduate professor at the General Hospital of Mexico (the largest public hospital in Mexico).

Within my activities in the WFN I highlight that, in 2016, being president of the MAN and Dr. Raad Shakir being president of the WFN, it was my turn to organize and finance (getting support and sponsorships), the Pan-American Congress of Neurology. An event that I consider very successful, not only because of the more than 1,200 attendees and 149 speakers, but also because it allowed the re-foundation of PAFNS, by sponsoring the attendance of the Latin American representatives so that, during its assembly, they could achieve the necessary participation and votes to approve its new bylaws. Also, during that meeting, the logo was designed and when it was approved, it was given to PAFNS as a gift and is still used today.

But I do not want this communication to focus on what I have done and my commitment to the WFN, but rather on my proposals to achieve growth of the WFN in the world, especially in Latin America, which I believe is a region where we still have little influence.

To achieve this goal, we have to consider that Spanish is spoken by more than 450 million people in the world (the vast majority in Latin America), being, according to most statistics, the second most spoken language in the world. That is why one of my proposals is that the educational material published by the WFN should also have a Spanish version.

A priority for me is education, I believe that we have a great area of opportunity to positively influence the dissemination of educational material, both for Neurologists (specialists and trainees), as well as the general population. I will also propose, if elected, the realization of online, interactive clinical-pathological sessions, with the participation of the different neurological training centers, and transmitted to the entire Spanish-speaking world.

Another area of opportunity is, with the support of the neurological societies of each country, to develop diverse educational messages on neurological diseases, aimed at the general population, messages that address issues in which the stigma that marginalizes patients still prevails, for example, epilepsy in women (pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc.). Promoting these topics will bring the WFN closer to the neurological societies, to the societies with their population, but, above all, it will benefit the patients.

For all the above, I would like to ask for your vote in the next WFN elections, with the promise that, if elected as Trustee, I will work on these proposals and all those that you suggest to me and to which I am open to listen.