Simulation is an increasingly valuable tool in stroke education. It provides a safe and structured environment to train practical skills, improve decision-making, strengthen teamwork, and rehearse time-critical scenarios in acute stroke care. For junior clinicians as well as more experienced professionals seeking a refresher, simulation helps translate knowledge into action.

At ESOC 2026 in Maastricht (6–8 May 2026), the ESO Simulation Education Committee will host four Hands-on Simulation Workshops on Thursday, 7 May 2026. We will simulate two acute stroke cases in a simulated emergency department environment with you actively role-playing the physician part. These small-group sessions are designed to provide practical, case-based learning with direct faculty feedback, and places are limited. Workshops can be booked separately during ESOC registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

Here is what to expect from each workshop:

Workshop A | 08:30–10:00 – Simulation Workshop on Code Stroke: From Diagnosis to Early Treatment

A practical workshop on acute stroke diagnosis, early treatment, door-to-treatment times, and crew resource management in the hyperacute setting. Particularly suited to participants looking for a structured overview of the code stroke pathway, either as a starting point for simulation-based training or as a focused refresher of core principles.

Workshop B | 13:15–14:45 – Simulation Workshop on the Management of the Deteriorating Patient After Reperfusion Therapy

Focused on the acutely deteriorating patient after reperfusion therapy, with emphasis on decision-making, communication, shared mental models, and interprofessional learning. Especially relevant for participants interested in teamwork and crisis management in a high-pressure scenario.

Workshop C | 15:00–16:30 – Simulation Workshop on the Management of Complex Acute Stroke Cases

Dedicated to challenging stroke presentations, including complications, frailty, and contraindications to treatment. Particularly suitable for participants with prior experience in acute stroke care who want to deepen their approach to complex cases and nuanced treatment decisions.

Workshop D | 17:00–18:30 – Simulation Workshop on Tele-Stroke Management in the Acute Stroke Setting (Joint Session of the ESO Stroke Simulation Committee and the ESO Telestroke Committee)

This workshop explores simulation training in a telestroke environment, including remote assessment, communication, NIHSS scoring, workflow optimisation, and complication management using telemedicine equipment in a controlled simulated setting. Especially relevant for participants interested in understanding the operational principles of tele-stroke services and gaining initial experience within such an environment.

As each workshop takes place in a different time slot, participants are welcome to register for more than one session and build a progressive learning experience across the day.

Whether you are early in your stroke career or looking to refresh essential practical skills, these workshops offer a unique opportunity to learn by doing.

Places are limited! Book your workshop during ESOC registration and join us in Maastricht, Thursday 7 May 2026: #VoiceOfStroke.

Early in my career, I embarked on what I believed was a groundbreaking project: exploring molecular and genetic biomarkers of Moyamoya disease and leveraging artificial intelligence to identify predictors of clinical outcome. The vision was ambitious—combining advanced techniques including omics with machine learning to improve prognostic accuracy in a such a rare and complex cerebrovascular disorder. Our team invested months in designing the study, building collaborations, and drafting a comprehensive grant proposal. I was confident this project was successfully funded allowing to improve personalised medicine in Moyamoya.

The outcome, however, was not what I expected. The funding application was rejected. The initial reaction was a mix of disappointment and self-doubt. When a project you deeply believe in is turned down, it feels like a personal failure. But after the first wave of frustration, I realised that resilience in research is not about avoiding setbacks—it’s about transforming them into stepping stones. I carefully reviewed the reviewers’ comments and understood that the main concern was the proposed team strenght and feasibility. In fact the proposal lacked preliminary data to support the integration of AI models with biomarker analysis.

Instead of abandoning the idea, we shifted strategy. We started creating an Italian network of centers involved in clinical and reaserch of Moyamoya disease to collect a dataset of clinical and biological data and evaluated molecular markers in a smaller cohort. This process not only strengthened the scientific foundation but also expanded our network of collaborators, including data scientists and bioinformaticians. Months later, we resubmitted a revised proposal—and this time, it was funded. Today, the project is generating insights on molecular biomarkers of Moyamoya disease and we are working on the prediction model development that may help predict outcomes and guide treatment decisions in Moyamoya disease.

What did I learn? First, rejection is not the end—it is feedback. Second, resilience is not passive endurance; it is active adaptation. In research, flexibility and persistence are as important as innovation. Finally, collaboration is key: complex challenges require multidisciplinary approaches and open minds.

As Chair of the ESO Education Committee, I often remind young researchers that science is rarely a straight path. It is a journey with detours, and those detours teach us how to navigate better. Embrace setbacks, learn from them, and keep moving forward—because resilience is the true engine of discovery.