WELCOME LETTER

​​​​​​​Dear Colleagues,

We warmly welcome you to join us for the Stroke and Neurocritical Care Symposium, March 28-30, 2017 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Symposium is organized for the first time within the framework of the education-science partnership of the 2nd International Forum “Neurology Update in Kazakhstan” 2017. We are very glad that the symposium will be held in Kazakhstan —one of the largest countries in the world, connecting Europe and Asia.

Stroke is a global heath challenge. It is a major cause of disability and death in Kazakhstan. The stroke care infrastructure is currently in the developmental stage in Kazakhstan. Public hospitals are not fully equipped to treat stroke patients, and new private hospitals have just started to offer stroke care. Moreover, there is not sufficient research pertaining stroke being conducted in our country. Therefore, the relevance of our event is significant to attracting public attention to the problem of stroke, as a paramount challenge facing the population and healthcare providers in Kazakhstan.

Stroke is a heterogeneous disease requiring collaboration between neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neuropathology, neurorehabilitation, and neuroscientists, among other disciplines, to overcome such a devastating disease. The Stroke and Neurocritical Care Symposium in Kazakhstan will showcase a cutting-edge educational and scientific experience, focusing on the latest developments in stroke prevention, acute management and rehabilitation care after stroke.

Kazakhstan is a country with a rich historical and cultural past. Its geographical and geopolitical situation has played a significant role in promoting the development of Kazakhstan. Being located in the center of Eurasia, Kazakhstan has long been at the intersection of ancient world civilization and at the crossroads of major transport arteries. Thus it has been a region for social, economic, and cultural interaction between Europe and Asia. At different stages in history, Kazakhstan has been home to many nations with distinctive cultural heritage, which have, in turn, been absorbed into modern Kazakhstan.

We hope to see you for the 3-day Stroke and Neurocritical Care Symposium 2017 in Kazakhstan in the exciting city of Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Saltanat Kamenova, MD

Professor of neurology, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Afshin A. Divani, PhD

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA