Dear Colleagues of the International Neurosurgical Community:
It is a great pleasure to announce the Foundation activities through Federation web site and make myself available to answer any questions and concerns that may arise.
The WFNS Foundation was created in 2000 in Geneva, inspired by Madjid Samii and Gerardo Martín Rodríguez, both current WFNS Honorary Presidents, as a branch of the Federation, with its own authorities and Board of Trustees.In addition, our Foundation has a branch office in the District of Columbia, in the United States of America, with the sole purpose of raising American funds supporting Foundation Programs.
The major purpose of the Foundation is promoting the worldwide development of Neurosurgery, mainly concerning basic neurosurgical issues and focusing on developing countries. One of those issues is the provision of essential, high-quality and low-cost neurosurgical material. Companies in the industry such as Carl Zeiss and Aesculap have contributed to our purpose.
For this, we are truly thankful.
Post-graduate neurosurgical education is another of the Foundation’s main issues. An international network of Training Centers is being developed for that purpose. An agreement with the Moroccan University Mohamed V. Souissi, which has appointed the Department of Neurosurgery at l’Hôpital des Spécialités of Rabat as one of the Reference Centers for the training of African neurosurgeons, has been signed. Similarly, the International Center for Neurosurgical Training at Recife University Hospital, in Brazil, is available for the training of young Portuguese-speaking African neurosurgeons. For short-term educational courses on specific neurosurgical topics, agreements with the New York University Neurosurgery Department at the NYU Medical Center, where 4-month Programs are being organized, have also been signed.
New agreements has been signed with Medical Centers in USA, Spain, Italy, Japan, China and Saudi Arabia. So as not to duplicate efforts, we are working together with similar American, European and Japanese organizations for the development of joint educational Programs. Our Foundation does not participate in WFNS or Regional Federations political activities. However, it has active participation in all projects or Programs meant to reduce inequality in worldwide neurosurgical management, with equity as the essence of our mission. I am deeply grateful to all those neurosurgeons who uninterestedly contribute to the success of our mission, also to contributing commercial companies, to the members of the WFNS AC, and, last but not least, to the Director of our Central Office in Nyon, Mrs. Janette Joseph, for her enthusiasm and efficiency.
With very best wishes.
Armando Basso, MD, PhD
President of WFNS Foundation
Armando Basso, MD,
PhD President of
WFNS Foundation