Spanish Group of Neuropathology (Grupo Español de Neuropatologia)

Establishment
The Spanish Neuropathological Association was created in 1978, in close collaboration with the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN) and Spanish Society of Pathology (SEAP). In respect to the SEN, it is considered as an Associate Scientific Society with all the benefits of this category. In respect to the SEAP, it is considered an autonomous Working Group supported by this Institution. Since its founding, it has celebrated meetings regularly. The Association has its own statutes.

Members
The Spanish Neuropathological Association is an active society having currently about 50 members including ordinary members full-time and part-time neuropathologists (as they work also as general pathologists) and a few neurologists and neuroscientific with a special dedication to neuropathology and associated members, including members with a special interest in Neuropathology. The membership of the Association is open to foreign neuropathologists. All the members of the Association are both associate members of the Spanish Neurological Society and active members of the Spanish Pathological Society, with fully committed participation in all the activities in the respective meetings of this societies. Spanish neuropathologists have many and varied work commitments including routine diagnostic work, research, and participation in brain banking.

Main focus of members
Neuropathology (part time), Pathology with some aspects of neuropathology

Board members
The board members of the Spanish Association of Neuropathology are the Executive President and the Secretary. Once the President has completed his/her term, the Secretary takes over the presidency of the Society.

President: Aurelio Hernandez Lain
Secretary General: Elena Martinez Saez

Educational activities and meetings
Informal meetings are held on a regular basis for review of diagnostically challenging cases and for continuing medical education. The Spanish Neuropathological Association has one meeting per year with the Spanish Society of Neurology, and 1 meeting every 2 years with the Society of Pathology. The usual structure of the meeting´s program includes conferences, seminars, communications, and Assembly.

Status of neuropathology
In Spain, Neuropathology, like other areas of Pathology, is currently not recognized as a specialty by the Spanish Government. Dependent on the services of General Pathology, it is not an independent specialty.

Neuropathology training
There is not a specific neuropathology training requirement in Spain. Upon completion of the Pathology specialty, the future neuropathologist is formed by following special courses and, optionally, by a stay in a national or internationally recognized Neuropathology Institution.

Developments and/or concerns
There are very few neuropathologists in the country. You can only enter through the specialty of Pathology and general pathologists are generally not very interested in neuropathology. Furthermore, it is very difficult to work as a full-time neuropathologist in hospitals in Spain.