Asra Al Fauzi Department of Neurosurgery, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, INDONESIA Nearly 400 delegates - neurosurgeons, general practitioners and nurses from all over Indonesia, known for their considerable experience in managing neurotrauma and neurointensive care - convened in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital for a four-day symposium. A large and diverse group of experts - both local and international - reviewed and discussed existing evidence and ongoing trials. It was felt necessary to provide guidance on bridging the gap between developed and developing countries in research and education via a consensus‐based approach. The meeting was organised by the Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, for 4 days. The first and second days were filled with symposiums, workshops, and a meet and greet event, the third day was an inauguration ceremony, and the last day was a case discussion with cross-departments. On the first day of the symposium, we heard excellent talks from Prof. Franco Servadei (WFNS President) on the global perspectives of traumatic brain injury management, followed by Dr. Agung Budi Sutiyono (Indonesia), Prof. Tariq Khan (Chairman of WFNS Neurotrauma Committee - Pakistan), Adj. Asst. Prof. Jai Prashanth Rao (Singapore), Dr. Dawn Antony (Brunei Darussalam), and Dr. Lynne Lourdes Lucena (Philippines). The next session included talks from Prof. Abdul Hafid Bajamal (Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia), Prof. Jafri Malin Abdullah (Malaysia), and Dr. Tedy Apriawan (Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia). On the second day, Indonesian Neurosurgical Society (INS) members - represented by its president, Prof. Abdul Hafid Bajamal - presented the status of Indonesian neurosurgical services and education entitled “Meet and Greet Indonesian Neurosurgical Society Members and the WFNS President.” All delegates from various branches of neurosurgery throughout Indonesia and distinguished guests from abroad discussed proposed recommendations. This session was moderated by Dr. Joni Wahyuhadi, INS president-elect. On the third day, the Inauguration Ceremony of Prof. Franco Servadei, MD PhD as Honorary Professor, Universitas Airlangga, was held at the Main Hall. In addition to several honored guests from abroad, this special event to congratulate Prof. Servadei for his achievement was attended by dozens of professors from various neurosurgical centers in Indonesia. On the fourth and final day, Prof. Servadei was honored by the Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, to lead cross-departmental forums, to discuss both educational management and some interesting cases encountered by cross-departments in the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. There were long discussions on topics that included services, competence, research, and equipment problems in a developing country like Indonesia. Regarding these four topics, Prof. Servadei - who has extensive experience comparing education and service systems from developed countries to developing countries to disadvantaged countries - provided many recommendations for the development of neurosurgery services and education in Indonesia. One interesting concept that has been implemented in Indonesia is that of regional development. Papua - with only one neurosurgeon and just starting to develop its neurosurgery services - attracted Prof. Servadei’s attention: he felt that Papua’s neurosurgical program could implemented in other countries.
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