Encephalitis 2024: hear from those who were awarded the Conference bursary

Photo: Dr Dulmini Weerathunga, Dr Ava Easton -Encephalitis International, Dr Enrique Steff Hernandez Rojas 

An encephalitis experience from a tropical country

Dr Enrique Steff Hernández Rojas, Neurologist, Colombia

On my way to becoming a Neurological Infectious Diseases expert, being at the Encephalitis International Conference of 2024 was definitively one of most exciting moments in my career and all my life. Meeting those experts who have taught you so many things through their amazing work, published in the most important journals worldwide, it’s just incredible.

I had tried twice before to win the bursary for the Encephalitis International Conference. I could only attend the event virtually. In 2023 as a young neurologist, thanks to a great effort, I joined the NeuroID course in Liverpool. There, I met some members of the Encephalitis International team, very kind people who encouraged me to apply again for the bursary. I decided to make a new attempt.

From Ibagué to London,  is a very long trip! Luckily, 2024 was the perfect moment, and it couldn’t be better. Encephalitis, a devastating neurological condition frequently associated with some infections, is one of the topics I’ve focused on since my Neurology Residency. Now, with the support of my team, we have been working on arboviral infections and its neurological effects. NEUROINFECTOL (Neuroinfectious diseases in Tolima, the region where I work) is the group I created and I’m leading, composed of very talented active or former med students from the University of Tolima, where I teach Clinical Neurology.

This was a huge opportunity to share some of my work. I was chosen for the clinical case study presentation on the first day of the conference. Definitively, this was one of the most important and valuable experiences in my life. I presented a clinical case related to the tremendous current dengue outbreak in my country and Latin America. He was a very young man with Dengue Encephalitis, we saved him and helped to improve his quality of life. Presenting and discussing this case in front of the Expert Panel (Prof Stacey Clardy, Prof Arun Venkatesan, Dr Nick Davies and Prof Gagandeep Singh) with the guidance of Prof Kiran Thakur was such an honour. Two remarkable days learning about infectious and autoimmune encephalitis.

Nowadays, facing a Yellow Fever outbreak with most of the cases until now reported in my region, we are studying about Encephalitis associated to vaccination for this entity (yellow fever vaccine associated neurotropic disease, YEL-NAD) and preparing for eventual cases. Colombia is making a great effort with vaccination campaigns for this serious and potentially fatal infection.

I really want to thank Encephalitis International because of the networking opportunities, the amazing people I met and of course all the knowledge shared by the best experts in the field. You are doing a wonderful job inspiring and motivating people (physicians, researchers, patients and families affected by this condition) to fight against encephalitis. This was an absolutely life changing experience.

 

Encephalitis Conference 2024

Dr. Dulmini Weerathunga, Consultant Neurologist, Sri Lanka

The encephalitis conference 2024 was an exceptional event. It was my first experience attending in person after previously participating online. Compared to my previous virtual experience, attending in person significantly enhanced my ability to immerse myself in the conference over the two day period.

The first day offered an insight into new knowledge and fascinating case studies from around the world. This exposure not only broadened my understanding of encephalitis but also highlighted innovative approaches and treatments being explored internationally. On the second day, listening to ground-breaking research and developments, further enriched my knowledge of the current landscape in encephalitis research.

One of the most rewarding aspects of attending in person was the opportunity to network with experts and peers who share similar interests. It was an invaluable opportunity to get insight about the different case presentations and treatment strategies across the globe. Engaging in academic discussions was refreshing and made me motivated to apply this new knowledge in my practice.

The collaborations and conversations I had will undoubtedly influence my work and enhance the care I provide to my patients. Although I was unable to share my experiences at this conference due to uncertainties surrounding attendance, this has motivated me to participate more actively in future meetings.

I was also privileged to connect with the remarkable team of Encephalitis International, whose dedication and passion for the field are truly inspiring.

I would like to express my gratitude to Encephalitis International for giving me the opportunity to attend the conference in person. I look forward to continuing my collaboration with Encephalitis International and engaging with interest groups in the future, as we work together to advance our understanding and treatment of encephalitis.