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In the context of the ESO Member Newsletter, the Public Relations (PR) Committee began an annual interview series in 2018. Each month, the committee presents a candid interview with an individual who has been active in ESO. Many of these individuals have distinguished themselves as FESO or elected representatives within the ESO.

This year, the PR Committee plans to continue the traditon of interviews and shine a light on individuals who have demonstrated enthusism and motivation to take on tasks, join a commmittee and make a mark on the organisation all while growing their careers.

For the first issue of the ESO member newsletter in 2021, we begin the new interview series by catching up with Dr. Else Charlotte Sandset, ESO Secretary General and former YSPR Chair. Else was initially interviewed in 2018 as part of the Prominent Members Under 45 series. Over the past three years, she has taken on more responsibility in ESO. We chat about the steps she took to get to where she is now and how she grew along the way.

When did you first join ESO? Was there a person or event that encouraged you to become a member?

I first joined ESO over ten years ago after I met Urs Fischer at the European Stroke Conference in Hamburg. We were both young(er) stroke neurologists interested in blood pressure in acute stroke and presented our work at the conference. I had many suggestions for events directed at Young Stroke Physicians and Researchers and Urs encouraged me to join the YSPR committee.

When we first interviewed you, you shared your determination to join the YSPR Committee, what motivated you to stand for election to the Executive Committee?

Being part of the ESO Executive Committee is a true privilege and highly motivating. We get to influence stroke, stroke care and stroke research throughout Europe. We have seen massive improvements in the service we offer to our patients in the past 15-20 years, but services across Europe differ widely making the SAP-E one of our most important projects. In addition to this, I am passionate about increasing the interest in stroke and stroke research among the next generation and also to contribute to visualise all the fantastic women in our field.

You were instrumental in the establishment of ESOs blog, THE VOICE OF STROKE in Europe, what should new members know about this form of communication?

The blog is an excellent way of communicating science in a more fun way using less scientific terminology. Young colleagues get to practice writing and also critically commenting on papers published in the ESJ. The blog editor role was a great learning experience for me, both when it came to revising other people’s work and doing my own writing. Although I am no longer actively involved in the blog, I enjoy reading the blog posts, they are varied, and you get a true sense of what areas in stroke matters to young stroke physicians and researchers. In addition, I really like the analogies to songs, books and other aspects of life outside stroke making reading it more amusing than a pure scientific paper.

Do you have a favourite ESO memory you would like to share?

ESO has been a big part of my career for many years. I truly like the friendly and including vibe within the organisation and that we are working together across countries to improve stroke care and excel in research. My favourite memory must the first ESOC in Glasgow. Throughout the meeting there was an amazing positive optimistic energy!