World neurological organizations, regional neurological associations, and global disease-specific organizations share the common goals of improving brain health through advocacy, advancing public awareness, and providing specialized education worldwide. As these influential organizations pursue their important strategic goals, it is imperative that they consider the disparate impact of neurological disease on people living in low-income countries (LIC) as well as racial and ethnic minority groups in high-income countries (HIC). It is anticipated that the epidemiological transition in LIC from infectious diseases to noncommunicable chronic diseases, and greater economic differences between LIC and HIC, will lead to a worsening of the already disproportionate burden of neurological disease in underresourced parts of the world, while neurological disease disparities in HIC stratified by race and ethnicity remain subtantial.1 Two areas of improvement to help organizations achieve their strategic goals include a deliberate push toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts that are codified into organizational action statements, and systematically supporting diversity among organizational leadership and doing so in a transparent way.
Author(s):
Charles Esenwa, MD, MS
References including authors (Vancouver referencing style):
- Esenwa C, Ovbiagele B. Paging Global Neurology Organizations—The Time Is Now for More Inclusive Leadership. JAMA Neurology. 2022;79(10):964–965. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.2181