Child Neurology at the Top of the World
In May 2010 I met by chance in Rome Dr. Galo Pesantez Cuesta, a pediatric neurologist from Quito, who was, like me, on his way to Cairo to attend the International Child Neurology Congress. This wasn’t the first time I had met him, as I already had the chance to appreciate his work during earlier congresses of the Ibero-American Academy of Pediatric Neurology.
At the time I served as Chairperson of the ICNA Educational & Training Committee, and therefore had a profound interest in promoting education in child neurology around the world. During the Cairo congress I had the opportunity to discuss with my friend Galo how to improve the level of pediatric neurology in Ecuador. We made plans for me to visit Ecuador and organize together the first Child Neurology meeting within the National Epilepsy Center directed by Dr. Pesantez in Quito.
In addition, I suggested to Galo to spend a training period in Rome and sign up to the Master program in Child Neurology at the Tor Vergata University Hospital. In January 2011 I visited the Epilepsy Center in Quito located 3000 meters above sea level, and the bottom of the Pinchincha volcano, in very picturesque surroundings. It is probably the highest center in the world dedicated to the cure of children affected by epilepsy and developmental disabilities. In that same location Dr. Galo Pesantez Cuesta and Dr. Monica Rios Rodriguez organized a school for the rehabilitation of children affected by neuropsychomotor disabilities.