WSO Future Stroke Leaders (FSLP) Cohort 3

05 May 2025 Future Leaders

WSO Future Stroke Leaders (FSLP) Cohort 3: A Week of Innovation, Collaboration, and Heart in Perugia, Italy

From April 1st to 4th, 2025, the World Stroke Organization (WSO) hosted the Future Stroke Leaders Programme (FSLP) Cohort 3 workshop in the historic city of Perugia, Italy. This immersive, week-long event marked a milestone in global efforts to advance stroke care, bringing together 26 highly skilled participants from across the globe—including Ghana, Mozambique, Ethiopia, the UK, Nepal, and beyond—along with over 10 international speakers. The program focused on stroke care, leadership, and implementation science, emphasizing context-specific solutions.

Participants engaged in dynamic and multifaceted workshops, exploring critical topics in global stroke care, deepening their knowledge, and building vital connections within the international stroke community. Sessions included expert-led discussions, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and hands-on learning experiences designed to sharpen leadership skills and foster innovation in stroke prevention and treatment. Several implementation proposals received funding to support scalable, context-relevant stroke care solutions worldwide. Funded projects include:

Enhancing Stroke Care Quality in PNG and Ghana: Implementing functional stroke units in resource-limited hospitals.
Stroke Rehabilitation Mapping and Implementation: Improving rehab service availability in India, Brazil, and Colombia.
Tracking Patients in Secondary Transportation: Ensuring care continuity during inter-facility transfers.
PROMiSe: Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Stroke: Integrating patient-centered metrics into stroke outcome evaluation.
Overcoming Barriers in Hemorrhagic Stroke Management: Using modern tech, including AI, to improve care delivery.
SPACE Project: e-Health for Stroke Prevention: A community-based, cluster-randomized study using digital tools to reduce stroke risk.
The Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment Study: Comparing vascular dementia risk factors in LMIC vs HMIC settings.
Where There Is No CT: Innovating stroke diagnosis and care in areas without neuroimaging access.

One of the highlights of the workshop was a visit to the stroke care unit and emergency services at Perugia Hospital. This provided participants with a front-row perspective on Italy’s stroke care system, allowing for real-time comparisons with practices in their home countries and sparking valuable dialogue on opportunities for improvement. The visit included tours of the Stroke Unit, Neuroradiology, and Neuroangiography departments, observing a complex neuro intervention in real time, and showcased advanced ambulance systems, including those for neonatal transport and historic city center access.

Another highlight was the Digital Communication & Marketing workshop, led by Dr. Chiara Piancatelli, Professor at SDA Bocconi School of Management and digital marketing expert. The workshop equipped participants with tools such as the application of a patient-centric logic and map of the digital patient journey, the use of persona-based strategies to design tailored communication campaigns and embracing a B2H (business-to-human) communication approach to enhance patient engagement.

In addition to the scientific program, participants bonded over shared experiences during cultural and team-building activities, including a cooking workshop at the “Università dei Sapori”, a renowned culinary institute in Perugia. Divided into two teams, they were guided by professional chefs to prepare classic Italian dishes—from creamy risottos and handmade pasta to exquisite regional desserts. This simulated high-pressure teamwork and tested their ability to deliver results collaboratively under time constraints.

The workshop also marked an important milestone in the development of participants’ funded projects. Face-to-face team meetings allowed for detailed planning, the alignment of project goals, and a clearer path toward implementation. The energy and commitment displayed throughout the sessions affirmed the strength of the FSLP community and the shared determination to advance stroke care worldwide.

A key theme throughout the workshop was relationship-building—a cornerstone of the FSL programme. Grounded in the belief that strong professional networks are essential for career development and sustained impact, the workshop created an open forum where young practitioners engaged in transparent and inclusive conversations with peers, mentors, and members of the WSO Taskforce. These discussions tackled regional challenges and shared solutions that will help shape the future of stroke care.

Looking ahead, the next in-person event for the Future Stroke Leaders will coincide with the 2026 World Stroke Congress in South Korea, where Cohort 3 will officially graduate from the programme—a well-deserved milestone that will celebrate their hard work, growth, and contributions to the global stroke community.

Keep up the good work, Future Leaders—your dedication is shaping the future of stroke care.