WFN – German Neurological Society (DGN):
Department Visit Program in Germany 2025

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and the German Neurological Society (DGN) are pleased to announce to invite two colleagues from Sub-Saharan Africa to visit two Departments of Neurology at two University Hospitals in Germany for a duration of four weeks in October 2025.

The purpose is to experience the German neurological system in an international environment, meet new colleagues, and foster future cooperation.

Project description

The German Neurological Society supports the African initiative of the WFN by inviting two Sub-Saharan African colleagues to visit two Departments of Neurology at two University Hospitals in Germany for a duration of four weeks.

The purpose is to experience the German neurological system in an international environment, meet new colleagues, and foster future cooperation.

Application

Criteria for application

• The applicant must be a resident of a low or lower-middle-income WFN member society in the Sub-Saharan African continent.
• The applicant must be born after 31 December 1981.
• The applicant must be a qualified neurologist or a current neurology resident in an advanced stage of training.
  
  

Deadline for Application: Tuesday 15th April 2025

APPLY NOW

For any questions regarding the application, please contact Mrs Jade Levy (Executive Assistant Education Project Coordinator) by email at jade@wfneurology.org. 

Details about support

The German Neurological Society will provide the following support:

• Travel expenses Africa – Germany – Africa
• Accommodation for four weeks
• Living expenses (food and beverage) during the four weeks
• Costs of health insurance during the stay in Germany.

Attention: Please note that support is provided for the visiting fellow only and does not include family or dependants.
 

Evaluation Committee

• Dr. Steven Lewis, WFN-Chair of the Education Committee
• Prof. Riadh Gouider, WFN Co-chair of Education Committee
• Prof. Lawrence Tucker, AFAN Acting President
• Prof. Osheik Seidi, AFAN Representative
• Prof. Dr. Christian Grefkes-Hermann, DGN
• Prof. Dr. Markus Otto, DGN

About WFN and DGN

The German Neurological Society was initially founded as the “Gesellschaft Deutscher Nervenärzte” in 1907 by Wilhelm Erb. In 1935, the society was dissolved by the Nazi government. The re-establishment of the society took place in 1950 by Heinrich Pette. The DGN is part of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF). In recent years the DGN has become a fast-growing society which represents more than 13,000 members in Germany.

The World Federation of Neurology was formed in Brussels in 1957 as an association of national neurological societies. Today the WFN represents 125 professional societies in all regions of the world. The mission of the WFN is to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide, a goal we seek to achieve by promoting global neurological education and training, with the emphasis placed firmly on under-resourced parts of the world.

Host Institutions

Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Frankfurt

Director: Univ. Prof. Dr. med. Christian Grefkes-Hermann

Duration of the department visit: 4 weeks in October 2025

The University Hospital Frankfurt is one of the leading medical institutions in Germany, known for its excellence in patient care, research, and teaching. The hospital provides state-of-the-art medicine and treats thousands of patients annually in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Its close interdisciplinary cooperation across numerous specialized clinics and institutes enhances patient care and innovation. The Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Frankfurt is dedicated to patient-centered care, supported by interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research in neurology. The department hosts a significant number of specialists, professors, and junior researchers, ensuring a strong academic and clinical foundation.

Main characteristics

• Number of inpatients: > 3,500
• Number of outpatients: > 20,000
• Number of beds: > 70 beds on multiple specialized wards, including a Stroke Unit, Neurointensive Care and Intermediate Care Unit, Neuro-Oncology ward, and Video-EEG monitoring unit.

Services and facilities

• Specialized inpatient units:
  • Stroke Unit
  • Neurointensive Care and Intermediate Care Unit
  • Neuro-Oncology Ward
  • Video-EEG monitoring unit
• Interdisciplinary collaboration:
  Comprehensive patient care is provided together with the Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Neuro-Oncology, the Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhein-Main, the Department of Neurosurgery, and the Institute of Neuroradiology
• Specialized outpatient clinics:
  • Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology
  • Movement Disorders (including Parkinson's disease and ataxia)
  • Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Cerebrovascular Diseases and Stroke
  • Cognitive Neurology and Dementia
  • Epilepsy and sleep disorders
  • Botulinum Toxin Therapy for Neurological Disorders

Research Focus

The department's scientific activities focus on the following key areas:

• Stroke and neurovascular diseases, including neurological intensive care
• Neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis
• Neuro-Oncology
• Epilepsy and status epilepticus
• Movement disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease and ataxias
   

These research areas are closely integrated into clinical care, ensuring that patients benefit from the latest scientific advancements.

Website: University Hospital Frankfurt - Neurology Department ⧉

Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Halle

Director: Univ. Prof. Dr. med. Markus Otto

Duration of the department visit: 4 weeks in October 2025

The University Hospital Halle is one of the leading medical institutions in East Germany, known for its excellence in patient care, research, and teaching. The hospital provides state-of-the-art medicine and treats thousands of patients annually in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Its close interdisciplinary cooperation across numerous specialized clinics and institutes enhances patient care and innovation. The Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Halle is dedicated to patient-centered care, supported by interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research in neurology. The department hosts a significant number of specialists and junior researchers, ensuring a strong academic and clinical foundation.

Main Characteristics

• Number of inpatients: > 1,500
• Number of outpatients: > 5,000
• Number of beds: > 45 beds on multiple specialized wards, including a Stroke Unit, Neurointensive Care and Intermediate Care Unit

Services and Facilities

• Specialized in-patient units:
  • Stroke Unit and Neurointensive Care and Intermediate Care Unit
  • Highly specialized neurological laboratory (both clinical and research applications, in house neurochemistry lab and muscle lab)
  • Neurophysiology and neurosonology
• Interdisciplinary collaboration:
  Comprehensive patient care is provided together with the Department of Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, the Institute of Neuroradiology and together with multiple partners within the neurovascular and neuromuscular network.
• Specialized outpatient clinics:
  

  Memory Clinic Muscular Disorders Motoneuron Diseases Mitochondriopathies Myasthenia gravis Headache

  Neuropathies Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Movement Disorders  Cerebrovascular Diseases and Stroke Epilepsy disorders Botulinum Toxin Therapy for Neurological Disorders

Research Focus

The department's scientific activities focus on the following key areas:

• Dementia and neurodegenerative disorders
• Neuromuscular diseases
• Neurocritical care and stroke medicine
• Clinical Neurochemistry
   

These research areas are closely integrated into clinical care, ensuring that patients benefit from the latest scientific advancements.

Website: Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie ⧉