The CME Course ‘Forensic Neuropathology’, was organized for the fourth time and held from 2^nd -4^th May 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland. It will be organized again in the future. The dates have not been decided yet.

About the course
As with each Euro-CNS course, it consisted of lectures with an emphasis on teaching, alternating with practical (case work-up and digital microscopy) sessions. The course in Edinburgh was our first in-person course where no microscopes were used, all microscopy being digital.

Program
Unique in Europe, perhaps even in the world, the course provided an overview of problems in neuropathology which are relevant in judicial cases. The first part of the course focused on basic issues in neuro-trauma and adult forensic neuropathology, post-mortem radiology, CNS affection by intoxications and differential diagnostic problems. The second part of the course addressed the difficult field of pediatric neuro-trauma.

During the course, lectures by international experts were illustrated by discussions of selected cases. Because forensic neuropathology represents an integral part of the forensic medical investigation, the focus of the course expanded beyond the main issues in forensic neuropathology.

Last, but not least, the program included a nice dinner for all faculty and the participants.

The 2023 course program can be downloaded here

Aim of the course
The aim of the course is to provide both clinical neuropathologists and forensic pathologists with tools which enable them to ask the right questions, form correct judgments on the quality of forensic neuropathology investigations or to help them to perform these investigations. The organizers envision an interactive course, making use of case discussions, quizzes and by inviting participants to bring their own cases (a selection will be made in advance).

Course organization
Forensic Neuropathology Course Coordinators:
B. Kubat, Maastricht, the Netherlands
C. Smith, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
J. Beckervordersandforth, Maastricht, the Netherlands

Chairman Educational Committee: W. den Dunnen, Groningen, the Netherlands

Educational materials
Course participants will have and keep access to a digital platform with case materials, and received their personal copy of Forensic Neuropathology, 2nd edition, by Helen Whitwell/Christopher Milroy/Daniel du Plessis. We will also had the Escourolle & Poirier Manual of Basic Neuropathology available for those interested (limited number available). All books were provided complimentary.

Registration (registration closed/fully booked)
The registration fee was 875 Euro for Euro-CNS members, and 975 Euro for non-members. The registration fee covered participation in the program and also catering during the course. On the second day the Course organization will offered a (free) dinner in a nice location.  A limited number of grants of 550 euro were available for young trainees in neuropathology (under 35 years). Registration was closed in an early stage as we were fully booked.

Accreditation
CME accreditation granted by the UEMS-EACCME® provides a guarantee to participants from all over the world that the content of the CME provided is of a high quality, unbiased and didactic and, for European doctors, that this quality will be recognised in their home country. There is a mutual recognition agreement with the American Medical Association (AMA).

The Euro-CNS CME Course Forensic Neuropathology, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 02/05/2023-
04/05/2023 has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical
Education (EACCME®) with 15 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should
claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Through an agreement between the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes and the American
Medical Association, physicians may convert EACCME® credits to an equivalent number of AMA PRA
Category 1 CreditsTM. Information on the process to convert EACCME® credit to AMA credit can be
found at www.ama-assn.org/education/earn-credit-participation-international-activities.

Live educational activities, occurring outside of Canada, recognised by the UEMS-EACCME® for
ECMEC®s are deemed to be Accredited Group Learning Activities (Section 1) as defined by the
Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.”

Course location and accommodation
The course took place at The John McIntyre Centre, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Travel grants Euro-CNS
A limited number of grants of € 550 was available for young trainees in neuropathology. Preference was given to applicants from Eastern European countries but applicants from other European countries were also considered.

Travel grants International Society of Neuropathology
If you are a trainee in neuropathology in a medium low-income country (and non-European/non-North American), we recommend that you apply for an ISN award that will help with covering the cost of travel and participation. For application details and eligibility please see the ISN website. Please note that the applications for ISN grants are handled and administered by ISN and that you need to register normally for the Euro-CNS course.

Accommodation
We have no dedicated headquarters hotel for course participants, but Edinburgh has a wide range of accommodation available, covering all budgets. We recommend checking accommodation options that suit your budget most in a booking service like booking.com. Accommodation associated with the University of Edinburgh is here https://www.uoecollection.com/hotels/ – all at walking distance from the course location and the city center. However, room rates start at 170 Euro/night.

Course Dinner
The course dinner was held at a cosy family owned Scottish restaurant in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town. It sits on Edinburgh’s famous Victoria Street, one of Europe’s most beautiful streets,  a 2 minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and The Grassmarket. Dinner is included in the course fee. Fans refer to Victoria street as ‘Edinburgh’s Harry Potter Street’ as it is a ‘real-life Diagon Alley’ that inspired the famous Wizard shopping street in the books.