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On Becoming President of the Japanese Society of Neurology

Hidehiro Mizusawa, M.D.,Ph.D.
Department of Neurology and Neurological Science
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
August 2010

Introduction

Following the conclusion of the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neurology (academic congress and general meeting) on May 22 this year, I became the President of the Japanese Society of Neurology on the retirement of Past President Shigeki Kuzuhara at the conclusion of his term of office. With my appointment as President coinciding precisely with the holding of the Society's 50^th anniversary ceremony and commemorative celebrations as we take a step towards our next 50 years, I am feeling the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. At the Executive Board meeting held on July 17, I explained my policies for the future in addition to confirming the new Committee Chairpersons following the retirement of the Past Chairpersons at the conclusion of their two-term, four-year period in office, and the new Secretary of the Society (Assistant Professor Yasuo Terao, Department of Neurology, The University of Tokyo Hospital). Since this completes the Society's new leadership structure, I would like to convey a few thoughts at this point.

The Japanese Society of Neurology as a New General Incorporated Body

The first important point is that the Japanese Society of Neurology is currently in the process of becoming incorporated. Elections for representatives (corporate members) will be held during this fiscal year. Also during this year draft procedures for electing Society executives are to be decided and in the New Year are to be presented to Society members, who will be asked for their opinions. After these election procedures have been confirmed at the annual general meeting to be held in May 2011, Society executives will be elected using these procedures but even then the executives elected under this new system will not take office until May 2012 and beyond, and so it will take a little more time for the system to become fully operational. Moreover, beginning with the 51st Annual Meeting this year, the annual meeting for which only the meeting president and its' department were responsible is transformed greatly and now operated under the uniform policies of the Society as a general incorporated body. Advancing this further, we hope to maintain high standards, both academic and educational, as well as formulate a basic style that ensures the annual meeting is easy for members to participate in. Furthermore, by regional societies operating as one with Society headquarters as corporate branch offices, we hope to ensure that a high standard of neurological practice and education can be provided anywhere within Japan.

Mission and Operation of the Japanese Society of Neurology

When considering the role of the Japanese Society of Neurology, as is made clear in the Society's charter, the Society's paramount role is to contribute to the health and welfare of the Japanese public and to contribute to Japanese society through the improvement of neurological practice, enhancement of neurological education, and the expansion of research on neurological diseases. In the past the Society has undertaken many activities under previous presidents in order to fulfill this role, and we will strongly promote these activities with the aim of further developing the Society. With regard to neurological practice through regular revision of guidelines we intend to work tirelessly to diffuse standards of practice for the field of neurology, expand and enhance health insurance treatment, and increase remuneration for neurological services. With regard to education, we intend to respond to ever-increasing educational needs by better differentiating among pre-graduation, post-graduation, and lifelong education - the borders between which are somewhat ambiguous at present- and further increasing and enhancing the efficiency of collaboration between these, as well as considering educational activities such as the educational program during the annual meeting and utilization of our clinical neurology journal as part of the Society's activities overall. With regard to research, we intend to promote such efforts and activities as enhancing the scientific program for the annual meeting, enhancing various awards, publishing an English-language journal, collaborating with other associations and societies related to the Japanese Society of Neurology, and increasing of neurological research funding, spreading its information and supporting applications for it.

In order to fully accomplish these key roles, it is imperative that the Society's various operational activities are carried out efficiently. In other words, we will further promote the improvement of efficiency in Society activities and operations. The area of finance in particular is extremely important, and we are therefore aiming to achieve sound finance with the understanding of the Committees, which have been the main bodies for the Society's businesses, the income and expenditure for each business. Moreover, membership management is also extremely important for sound finance, and we also need to be able to deal swiftly with ethical issues such as conflict of interest. For these reasons, too, we need to promote the introduction of IT in all areas of the Society's operations and activities, but as yet our e-mail registration rate is very low - lust under 60% - and so I ask you all for even greater cooperation regarding this matter.

Efforts toward Social Contribution

Although this is also concerns the Society's key roles, we will strongly promote and spread knowledge of neurology and the Japanese Society of Neurology both in Japan and overseas. First of all, in Japan, awareness of neurology is low compared to neurosurgery and orthopedics, and so we intend to take innovative measures to enhance understanding and awareness of our field by the general public, physicians in other specialist fields, government agencies such as the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, politicians, and the business community. Our 50^th anniversary celebrations held in May this year also had this purpose, and I feel that they were enormously effective in this regard. However, a one-off event is hardly sufficient, and we are aware of the need for us to continue our tireless efforts in this area in the future. We expect that these efforts will have positive effects in every aspect of the Society's activities, not only in spreading awareness of the fact that neurology is an extremely important primary field of medicine that covers a huge number of disease types and numerous patients, but also in improving neurological practice in Japan - that is, enhancing the status of neurologists in addition to helping people suffering from neurological diseases - increasing the number of neurologists, advancing research on neurological diseases, and enhancing neurological education. I believe that it is precisely undertaking activities such as this that will establish neurology and its identity backed with the achievements.

Promotion of Internationalization

Next, looking at Japan's historical and geopolitical situation and the worldwide scale of globalization's flow, it goes without saying that internationalization of medicine and medical practice is imperative. The Japanese Society of Neurology also greatly desires to promote internationalization. One aspect of this is the internationalization of the annual meeting; another is our publication of an English-language journal. With regard to the former, we intend to further deepen our present collaboration with South Korea, Taiwan, and China and extend our collaborative activities within the Asia and Oceania regions as well as steadily demonstrate leadership in the international community focusing on the Asian-Oceanian Federation of Neurology (AOFN) and the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). With regard to the internationalization of our annual meeting, The Japanese Society of Neuroloscience have gradually internationalized the academic congress over three years, and I believe that thier successful achievement of the current participation rate for foreign nationals of approximately 30% will be a very useful reference for us in this endeavor. With regard to publication of an English-language journal, the decision has already been made by the Subcommittee for this issue and approved by the Executive Board; publication can begin as soon as funding has been secured.

Summary

Summarizing the above, the points I wish to emphasize are expansion of the key roles of the Japanese Society of Neurology, enhancement of the efficiency of Society's activities and operations, completion of incorporation process, dissemination of knowledge about neurology and the Japanese Society of Neurology both in Japan and overseas, and internationalization. It goes without saying that the Japanese Society of Neurology stands on the combined strength of each of our members, and so it is only when our executives, representatives, full members, staff, and other people related with the Society work together that these numerous and high-aiming goals can be achieved. Devoting myself wholeheartedly, I will make every possible effort to see that these goals are achieved, and I ask you all for your support and cooperation in this endeavor.

August 2010
Photographer:Junich Ihara