Overview and History
It began with a meeting and became a reference
The Society was not created in response to an administrative decision, but to a need recognised by clinicians caring for people with epilepsy across separate clinics without a Saudi reference to consult.
A group of consultant neurologists shared one observation: epilepsy teaching and practice in Saudi Arabia relied entirely on references written for other contexts, while patients bore the consequences of that difference. From that meeting came the idea of a scientific society that brings practitioners together, publishes local guidance and speaks to the public in accessible language.
Today the Society follows the same three pathways established at its founding: continuing medical education for healthcare practitioners, publication and updating of local clinical guidelines, and community awareness in partnership with government bodies, schools and workplaces.
A licensed Saudi medical scientific society governed by approved bylaws.
Consultants, specialists, residents, medical students, nurses and primary care practitioners.
Regional chapters extend the Society’s work beyond the capital.
Milestones in the Society’s history
Three stages, each beginning when it became clear that the previous stage was no longer sufficient.
-
Founding meeting of consultant neurologists
-
Approval of the bylaws and registration of the Society
-
Formation of the first two standing scientific committees
-
Publication of the first local clinical guideline for epilepsy diagnosis
-
Launch of the continuing medical education programme
-
First Saudi Annual Epilepsy Conference
-
Launch of the school awareness programme
-
Opening of regional Society chapters
-
Work begins on the national epilepsy registry