Professor Michel Dumas is both a Neurologist and a Tropical Medicine Specialist. He previously led the Neurology Department at Dakar Hospital in Senegal, followed by the same role at Limoges University Hospital in France. He founded the Institute of Neurological Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology in Limoges, serving as its Director from 1982 to 2002. Throughout his career, Professor Dumas has mentored numerous neurologists, many of whom have gone on to become professors and establish neurology departments in their home countries, where they continue to train the next generation of neurologists.

A respected figure in the field, Professor Dumas is affiliated with several international organizations and has contributed to over 700 publications, including book chapters and training manuals. Over the past four decades, he has built an extensive scientific and human network, particularly in the areas of neuro-infectious diseases and neuro-epidemiology, creating what is now a thriving "tropical neurology family." His efforts have been instrumental in advancing neurology training, care, and research not only in Africa but also in Southeast Asia and South America.