FESO Interview with Christine Kremer

Each month, the PR Committee interviews an ESO Fellow (FESO) to feature in the newsletter.

To qualify as an FESO, members must demonstrate scientific quality and a willingness to actively volunteer in ESO. There are no age requirements, but FESO must meet minimum standards. FESO receive additional benefits, including participation in the Council of Fellows. Visit our website for more information on how to distinguish yourself as a FESO.

We hope you will enjoy getting to know the Fellows who participate in the 2019 interview series and thank them in advance for taking the time to share with our readers. The series began with Alastair Webb, University of Oxford, UK, next we interviewed Anita Arsovska, University Ss Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. In March we featured Francesco Corea, Stroke and Neurology Units, Ospedale San Giovanni Battista Foligno, Italy. In April, we got to know Prof. Hanne Christensen, MD, PhD, DMSC, University of Copenhagen, Stroke Consultant at Bispebjerg & Frederiksberg Hospitals.

In May, we took advantage of the ESOC to interview 3 YSPR members: Francisco Moniche, Caroline M.J. Moos, Georgia Fischer. For June, we return to FESO interviews and introduce Christine Kremer, assoc professor, Neurology Department, Skåne University Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund University, Sweden and Chair of ESO WISE.

– What are your main fields of interest in stroke medicine and research?

The main fields are acute stroke treatment, thrombolysis and thrombectomy and secondary prevention of stroke in women.

– What is the role of ESO in facilitating and promoting the projects you are coordinating or where you are involved?

As a chair of WISE  I am aware that the WISE (Women initiative stroke in Europe) project plays a crucial role in disseminating and promoting stroke research in women at the same time it serves to increase   visibility of female stroke researchers within ESO and scientific meetings. The network (with now about 110 members) serves as back-up and support  for future  research collaborations.

– What do you expect from ESO in the future to support research?

ESO  could serve to support trial networking and offer a platform to disseminate, facilitate and promote research  of female stroke scientists. Standards of gender equity should be established concerning  gender balance at sceintific meetings (presentation and chairs). ESO should stand for transparency regarding proportions of male and female within the organization and offer support to female stroke scientists. Secondly stroke research on women should be enhanced and given more space and support within the ESO. (this was successfully started as an increase of sessions with focus on this topic). In the future  a closer cooperation with the WSO can enhance global networking with the focus on research of stroke in women.

– What do you think a mentor should do to support the projects and the career of a mentee and, conversely, what should a mentee expect from a mentor?

A mentor should be a reliable source of support  throughout a longer time period of the scientific (or other) career the mentee. He or she should share experience offer collaborations and promote- This means also that in case the mentor has to step back and leave space to the mentee (and her/his) visibility. The mentor has to use his/her influence wisely which means serve as a role model and at the same time lead the mentee. The mentee can expect ”the open door” which means a support in also difficult times and the sense of continuous back-up. The relation is not uni-directional in successful mentor-mentee relationships its both who benefit.