To qualify as a 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 enjoy getting to know the Fellows who participate in the 2020 interview series and thank them in advance for taking the time to share with our readers.
For the July issue of the ESO member newsletter, we present Francesco Arba MD, PhD, FESO, Stroke Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy. Francesco is an active FESO.
What are your main fields of interest in stroke medicine and research?
My main field of interest is acute stroke therapy and management. I am particularly interested in imaging markers for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, such as early ischemic changes, small vessel disease, blood-brain-barrier disruption, predictors of hemorrhage expansion. Expanding knowledge about all these markers should help design of clinical trials for acute stroke therapy, eventually optimizing clinical outcomes of patients.
What is the role of ESO in facilitating and promoting the projects you are coordinating or where you are involved?
It is stimulating to be part of a great world platform such as ESO. It is a major opportunity to share ideas, get involved in research projects, discuss about management of stroke patients. In ESO I found enthusiastic colleagues and enjoyable friends to work with.
What do you expect from ESO in the future to support research?
ESO is a main reference for all stroke professionals all over the world. I would expect from ESO to keep on this tremendous effort, possibly involving more countries, and to maintain the usual excellent quality of conferences and meetings. I would expect an open, diffuse, high-level science community as already is. ESO gives many opportunities for those interested to be part of it.
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?
I had the fortune to have mentors of highest profile, and this has been a great opportunity to gain experience and learn a lot, of course. They were supportive, gave me the chance to expand the ideas to a wider context, to seek for collaborations and funding. They highlighted the importance of building an international network of collaborators. A mentee should expect availability to discuss ideas and willingness to instill passion. The mentor is a model for the mentee, and learning from someone you consider a model is fundamental in this beautiful work.
