Neurologist Dr Wan Asyraf Wan Zaidi was the first Malaysian ever admitted to the inaugural World Stroke Organisation (WSO)'s Future Stroke Leaders Programme, a global initiative to equip early-career clinicians, educators, and researchers with an understanding of the key challenges in stroke care.
Vice-chairperson of the Malaysia Stroke Council and a clinical lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Asyraf, 35, was one of 32 candidates selected out of 113 applications received by the WSO.
His experience as the national lead investigator for several multi-centre clinical trials helped him be selected into the programme.
The two-year programme, which began this month, will equip these career clinicians and researchers with an in-depth understanding of the challenges in the disease and how they can be addressed within diverse stroke care systems.
“I hope with my involvement in this programme, together with international experts in stroke (care), I will be able to develop a better system and to provide the best high-quality care for stroke patients in the Asean region, Malaysia, and specifically in our hospitals.
“I am very excited to work with the mentors and other colleagues. Together, we will be presenting our project at the next World Stroke Congress 2021 and 2022. I would also like to express my appreciation to HCTM, UKM and the Malaysia Stroke Council team for their endless support,” he told Bernama.
He said the programme would also allow him to be involved in the most recent comprehensive, multidisciplinary discussions on stroke prevention, stroke awareness, stroke treatment, and rehabilitation planning.
“(I will be) the first cohort... to ensure continuous efforts (are being made) in improving stroke care in this region and, specifically for me, in Malaysia. It’s definitely an honour to be selected as the first Malaysian for this programme,” he added.
In March, the WSO invited applications for the programme from individuals under the age of 40 with the potential to lead the transformation of stroke prevention, treatment, and support at national, regional, and global levels.
Despite challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 113 applications were received from Asia (34), Africa (23), Europe (23), South America (21), North America (seven), and Australasia (five).
The selection committee led by Professor Werner Hacke from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, Professor Valeria Caso from the University of Perugia, Italy, and Professor Christopher Chen from the National University of Singapore interviewed all shortlisted applicants.
Subsequently, 32 early-career clinicians and researchers, evenly divided by gender and geography with a diversity of backgrounds, were finally admitted to the first WSO Future Stroke Leaders Programme.
The curriculum, which will leverage on WSO’s World Stroke Academy, led by its new editor-in-chief Gustavo Saposnik, encompasses the stroke care continuum from prevention, acute treatment, and post-stroke care through to rehabilitation.
It will support the development and exercise of key skills including research and peer review, writing for publication, care quality improvement tools, multidisciplinary collaboration, project design and management, and stroke advocacy.
- Bernama
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