It is all change at the top of the Encephalitis Society.

At the Encephalitis Conference 2019, it was announced that Professor Barbara Wilson would become President Emeritus of the Encephalitis Society with Professor Tom Solomon succeeding her as President.

“I would just like to say that it has been an honour and a privilege to have served as President since 2007,” said Professor Wilson.

“I am sure Tom will be a great President and I wish him, Ava and all members of the Society the very best for the future. I will certainly keep in touch and will attend as many meetings as possible.”

Meanwhile, as a result of Professor Solomon’s appointment as President, he has stepped down as Chair of the Society’s Scientific Advisory Panel.

He was also presented with a special award for his 21 years of support of the Encephalitis Society at the conference.

Professor Tom Solomon reacts to becoming President of the Encephalitis Society

Dr Nicholas Davies adopted the mantle of the scientific panel’s role of Chair with Dr Benedict Michael being named Vice Chair.

They will both help drive the research initiatives of the Society alongside other members of the scientific advisory panel.

Dr Davies, who is a consultant neurologist at Chelsea and Westminster, Charing Cross, and the Royal Marsden Hospitals in London, said he was “honoured and delighted” to accept the post of Chair of the Scientific Advisory Panel.

He became involved with the Society in 2002 and was originally a trustee for several years before adding his expertise to the scientific advisory panel.

Dr Benedict Michael, the new Vice Chair, added: “I am very honoured to be appointed to the Vice Chair of the Scientific Advisory panel for the incredible Encephalitis Society. I would like to thank the Board of Trustees, Dr Easton, the Society’s CEO, the Chair and the President for their support. And of course special thanks to  Phillippa and the rest of the team at the Encephalitis Society.”

Speaking after the announcement, Dr Ava Easton, Chief Executive of the Encephalitis Society, said: “I am excited about the changes at the Encephalitis Society and also for the future of our research and burgeoning international agenda. We are very lucky to have such wonderful and dedicated support from so many experts in encephalitis and I am grateful to each and every one of them.”

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