Board walk - December 2013.

Dear colleagues, It is a singular honor and tremendous privilege to have been elected President-elect by the International Headache Society members. The opportunity to work alongside remarkably accomplished leaders in the field on the board is not only humbling, but comforting, knowing that the society is in such wise and capable hands. I have a long history of service to the International Headache Society, and I have been, and continue to be, committed to its success, prominence and influence, as the ultimate beneficiary will be our patients. As President-elect, I will maximize the opportunity over the next 6 years on the board to work with the leadership of the society and my colleagues around the world on a set of strategic goals and objectives. I believe the priority in the field of headache medicine is to optimize the access and quality of patient care by providing fundamental education to providers around the world; inspire and mentor the next generation of clinician-scientists; elevate headache care and research as a public health priority in established and developing nations; and bring the global brain trust in headache medicine from around the world together within multinational research consortia to answer the most pressing research questions and develop safe and effective treatments. These goals are lofty and will take time as well as a coordinated and concerted effort on the part of many to make them a reality. Fortunately, while ours is a small subspecialty, the creativity, camaraderie and passion has always been a source of pride and has already led to remarkable accomplishments. Through closer collaboration and strategic partnerships with regional, national and other mission-focused organizations, we will be positioned for success. Indeed, we have already embarked upon several initiatives designed to accomplish each of these goals and in future Board Walks, we will keep the membership appraised of our progress. For one of the most common and disabling illnesses on the planet, it will take a global community – clinicians, scientists and public-private partnerships – working together to solve the myriad challenges that lay ahead. The International Headache Society has an enormous responsibility and is uniquely poised to effectively respond to these challenges. It is an honor and a privilege to help lead that effort.