EAN Advocacy Training
Be the voice of brain health!
Online Programme
Advocacy is a key pillar of the EAN Brain Health Strategy, aiming to raise public awareness and understanding of brain health. This training is structured around four interactive modules that guide participants through the essential elements of advocacy. Participants will explore the principles of brain health advocacy, understanding how they can influence policy, public health, and societal awareness, while developing skills to communicate effectively with stakeholders and craft clear, impactful messages. The modules also address leadership and policy engagement, providing insights into European and national brain health initiatives and strategies for building collaborative networks. Throughout the training, participants will also gain experience in working with patient communities, learning to foster inclusive, patient-centred advocacy and enhance the reach and effectiveness of their initiatives.
The programme strengthens advocacy leadership across Europe by connecting neurologists in a collaborative network, while showcasing the importance of neurology in public health and preparing a new generation of leaders to drive social, economic, educational, and policy change for brain health.
Reasons to join
- Gain knowledge and practical skills to advocate for brain health at local, national, and European levels.
- Engage directly and foster collaboration across sectors with leading advocacy voices, EAN Board members, and patient organisations.
- Learn how to develop communication strategies and leverage your expertise to guide policy, shape healthcare strategies, and advance initiatives that prioritise brain health.
- Build a professional network of peers from diverse geographic regions, sharing best practices and strategies for impactful advocacy.
- Strengthen your leadership potential, and develop skills for impactful roles in brain health advocacy.
Programme overview
Module 2: Strategic Framing: Communicating Science with Purpose 13 April 2026 | 14:00-17:00 CEST
Module 3: Advancing Brain Health Through Policy and Leadership 4 May 2026 | 14:00-17:00 CEST
Module 4: Patient Community Engagement in Advocacy 8 June 2026 | 14:00-17:00 CEST
Everything You Need to Know
- Applicants must be EAN Individual members in good standing at the time of application.
- Associate EAN members may be considered only if they have a letter of support from their national neurological society.
- Candidates must be medical doctors currently working as neurology residents, research fellows, practicing neurologists, or individuals with an active interest and demonstrated competence in neurology, who should have no more than 10 years of practice following the completion of their medical degree
- EAN welcomes applications from individuals at different levels of experience, recognising that diversity in age, gender, geographic background, and advocacy expertise enriches the programme by fostering the exchange of experiences, best practices, and knowledge.
The application period for 2026 will open in October 2025.
The EAN Advocacy Training will be offered for FREE to all EAN members.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents via the online application form:
- CV
- Letter of Motivation (max. 300 word) - Please ensure your letter answers the questions below in your own words (do not include the questions themselves):
- What are your expectations from the Advocacy Training Programme?
- How do you define advocacy, and why do you believe advocating for neurology is important?
- What objectives or goals do you hope to achieve through this programme?
- Have you previously led or participated in advocacy campaigns, or advocated for a particular cause? If so, please provide a brief description of your experience.
- How do you intend to apply the skills and knowledge gained from the training?
- Details of any relevant participation in EAN initiatives.
- Support letter from your national neurological society president or a Brain Health Mission strategic partner. (Please note that while this field is optional for EAN Individual Members and will provide additional points in the evaluation of the application, Associate EAN members have to submit the letter in order to be considered for the programme.)
Each application will be reviewed by the Advocacy Training Task Force members. The reviewers will use a scoring sheet for the reviewing process and the score for each application will be the result of the following separate scores:
- 3 points for the motivational letter
- 2 points for the CV
- 1 point for the overall impression
- 1 point for EAN membership status and involvement in EAN activities
- 2 points for the letter from the national society president or the strategic partner.
- Attendance (60%): Minimum required: 80% of each module's session.
- Active Participation (40%): Q&A/insights/active engagement during modules/assignments/breakout room work
Important!
Attendance to Module I is compulsory; failure to attend will result in exclusion from the training programme. If a participant misses any subsequent module, they may still qualify for the certificate of attendance provided they:
1. Contact the EAN Advocacy Team at advocacy(at)ean.org to request the recording of the missed session and re-watch it.
2. Complete the personal Brain Health Action Plan:
Latest one week after completing the programme, the participant should submit a personal Brain Health Action Plan (PDF format, no more than 2 pages) that demonstrates how they will apply what they learned to advance brain health advocacy in their local context. The plan should include:
- Objective/Mission Statement: What do you aim to achieve in terms of brain health advocacy?
- Key Strategies: (3-5 bullet points) - How do you plan to reach your goal?
- Stakeholder Analysis/DISC - Who will you work with or engage to make your advocacy plan a reality?
- Timeline & Key Actions (3 bullet points) - What are the key actions or steps you will take, and when? (by 3/6/12 months)
- Desired Outcomes - What do you hope to achieve as a result of your advocacy actions?
Terms and conditions for participation in EAN events & for receipt of EAN grants.
The terms apply for all EAN activities and grants, meaning that participants who successfully applied and will receive a financial contribution or tuition from EAN.