Global Neurology Initiative: Global Engagement Committee: Progress and Future Directions*
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 11:45 am to 12:45 pm
Room: Sandpiper Salons C&D
Track: Interactive Lunch Workshop (ILW)
Session Description
Over the past year, reductions in international aid and global health programs in combination with increased restrictions on international collaborations supported by federal grants have led to disruption and uncertainty for the global neurology field. This interactive lunch workshop led by members of the ANA Global Engagement Committee will address the current challenges facing the field but also highlight the recent successes of the ANA’s global health programs, including the International Outreach Travel Scholarship (IOS), which provides funding for early-career US-based neurologists to travel to a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) and complete an education or research project, and the Grant to Activate Global Engagement (GAGE), which empowers organizations in LMICs to hold neurology education and/or outreach events. We will hear from recent IOTS and GAGE recipients about their global health projects and the impact they have had on their careers and the communities they serve. We will also convene a panel of global neurology experts to discuss the current challenges in the field and the way forward, including discussions on how to prove the value of global neurology to lawmakers, funders, and other stakeholders.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the current challenges facing global neurology, including the effects of changes in international funding, global health programs, and restrictions on international collaborations on education, research, and partnership activities.
- Evaluate successful models of global neurology engagement, including the ANA International Outreach Travel Scholarship (IOTS) and Grant to Activate Global Engagement (GAGE), and their impact on career development, neurology capacity building, and outcomes.
- Develop approaches to advocate for and sustain global neurology programs by engaging stakeholders and communicating the value and impact of global neurology activities.