President, CNS
QUESTION | What is the best thing about being President of the CNS?
I think the best thing has been the privilege to represent the profession of child neurology in so many different ways. It is a huge responsibility, but also a unique opportunity to participate in the many facets of child neurology and the impact child neurologists have on policy, children, professional education, scientific research, career development, and international collaboration among our colleagues.
QUESTION | What is the most difficult aspect of being President?
The most difficult aspect has been time management. While many aspects of the role are predictable, there are others that require attention at unexpected times. Fortunately, the other leaders of the CNS and the central office personnel have been outstanding to work with.
QUESTION | What are the major ways in which a CNS President spends his or her time between meetings?
Aside from the “day job”? There are other meetings that occur from time-to-time with CNS partners in AAN, ANA, AAP, and CNF. Planning future CNS Annual Meetings is a continuous thread. There are frequent requests to review new practice guidelines, policy statements, budgets, and the impacts of pending legislation on child neurologists.
QUESTION | What is your proudest accomplishment, as President of the CNS?
There are a few. I don’t know that I can call it an accomplishment yet, but I think we have made important strides increasing diversity in our leadership, especially at the committee level. The expansion of opportunities for junior members at the Annual Meeting has been significant and has both short-term and long-term implications. Our collaboration with NINDS Child Neurologist Career Development Program and
the Minority Research Scholars Program has also grown substantially during my tenure as President, setting a precedent for future investment and support of research
career development for child neurologist physician-scientists. And finally, our international programs have grown substantially and have been highly successful.
QUESTION | What are the biggest challenges facing the field of child neurology?
I think the most pressing challenge is financial. This includes how child neurologists get paid for their work, how that work is valued by both payers and employers, and making sure that child neurologists have a seat at the table when it comes to defining that value. But, there are other challenges. The sheer explosion of information and knowledge requires all of us to continue learning and improving our ability to apply that new knowledge. The fact that child neurology is still firmly in the era of discovery also requires that we focus on enhancing the career development of future physician-scientists. Finally, the number of potential new disease-modifying therapies for rare childhood neurological diseases is a huge challenge. It is a wonderful time to be a child neurologist, but we must rise to the occasion and help bring these new treatments to our patients in a cost-effective, ethical, compassionate, and rigorous manner.
QUESTION | In what way is the CNS most valuable to its members?
CNS membership is a bargain. CNS is the foundation of a professional community of child neurologists who share common goals, overlapping needs, and a broad purpose. It provides education content, networking opportunities, advocacy for the profession, and a representative voice that speaks for child neurologists.
QUESTION | What actions could we child neurologists take to most improve our field? And what actions could we take to most improve the CNS?
To improve our field, we must stay engaged with one another to share knowledge, solutions to problems, and foster the next generation of child neurologists. We must always be vigorous advocates for our profession, but never lose sight of the needs of children with neurological disorders. The best way to improve the CNS is to participate actively on committees, in CNS programs, and in a variety of capacities at the Annual Meeting.
QUESTION | What advice would you give to a medical student who is interested in a career in child neurology?
There is no better career in medicine. Being a child neurologist has meaning, ongoing intellectual stimulation, and the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of groundbreaking discoveries and their application to make the lives of our patients better. Most importantly, I advise all medical students to never lose sight of the importance of kindness and empathy in their future careers. For kind and empathetic students, the rewards of child neurology are limitless.
QUESTION | Any additional closing thoughts?
Although I am proud of what we have done the past two years, I have also had the opportunity to be involved in planning two major upcoming meetings: the 2020 joint meeting with the International Child Neurology Association (ICNA) and the 2021 CNS 50th Anniversary meeting. Those will be two major milestones for our society and ones that will celebrate the incredible impact of the CNS on our field.
QUESTION | What will you do with your free time, when you’re not President anymore?
I’m looking forward to devoting more time to my own research and to mentorship of the next generations of child neurologists both locally and nationally.
CNS membership is a bargain. CNS is the foundation of a professional community of child neurologists who share common goals, overlapping needs, and a broad purpose. It provides education content, networking opportunities, advocacy for the profession, and a representative voice that speaks for child neurologists.