What does receiving the World Federation of Neurology Award for Service to International Neurology mean to you personally and professionally?
"Professionally, receiving one of the highest honors in neurology still feels unreal – why me? Personally, I was particularly moved by Vladimir Hachinski’s last lines in his award oration: ”Tens of thousands of patients will be less disabled or alive because of his personal efforts, multiplied by his research, education and leadership. Many people will not have a stroke at all, because of Bo Norrving.”. These lines means a lot to me."
Looking back over your long career, what are you most proud of yourself?
"The use of an evidence base for governmental advocacy work to raise the status of stroke and reach out to implementation. The 2013 Lancet Neurology portrait ”Bo Norrving – putting stroke of the world map” still can give me chills – is that really me? Being a founding executive of the World Stroke Organization and the European Stroke Organisation also makes me proud seeing all the development that has followed."
Your work has influenced stroke care, research, and policy worldwide. Which achievement do you think has had the greatest global impact, and why?
"Probably my role as the long term stroke representative at the WHO and the UN, and the opportunity to influence on global policy declarations. In Europe I chaired the European Stroke Action Plan 2018-2030 which is now in implementation phase with very rapid progress."
You have played a key role in bringing stroke and cerebrovascular diseases into the ICD-11 classification under neurological diseases. Why was this so important, and what difference does it make in practice?
"For long stroke was in the shadow, had the lowest priority, had no urgency since there was no acute therapy available. Stroke (the 2nd largest killer globally and a main cause of disability) was hidden under Circulatory Diseases, and ”cardiovascular diseases” were usually misread as ”cardiac disease”. Placing stroke and all other manifestations of cerebrovascular disease into a single block under Diseases of the Nervous System, and settle all definitions once and for all, was one of the largest changes in the ICD 11. The change has a profound impact on defining the burden of neurological diseases and providing links to vascular cognitive impairment, dementia, and brain health."
After more than four decades in international neurology, what continues to motivate you today, and what do you hope the next generation of neurologists will carry forward?
"I am very pleased with the succession to the next generation in the research group (expanding, and now successfully chaired by Teresa Ullberg) and am glad to have the opportunity to continue as senior/mentor. I happily continue with many international tasks in particular for the World Stroke Organization and the WHO. Still so much to do, for myself and the next generation. The work gives so much rewards back."