| South Honored with 2003 EGA Award | |
Each year, the World Headache Alliance (WHA) presents the Elizabeth Garret Anderson Award, named for the first female physician and the first woman mayor in England. An expert in the field of Migraine, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson founded a London dispensary for women and children in 1866, which was later converted into a hospital for women – The New Hospital for Women. Upon her death, it was renamed the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital.. The award is to recognize a woman whose work over time has made an extraordinary contribution to relieving those affected by the burden of headache pain.
This year, Valerie South,
R.N., was presented the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (EGA) Award on behalf of the
WHA at the Opening Ceremonies of the XI
International Headache Society Congress in Rome.
WHA Chairman and renowned headache and Migraine specialist,
Dr. Fred Sheftell, presented
the award, which was generously sponsored by an unrestricted grant from
GlaxoSmithKline.
Mrs. South is recognized as a worldwide leading advocate for those with
headache and Migraine. She was formerly Executive Director of the Migraine Association of
Canada and was instrumental in the development of the World Headache Alliance.
She has spoken and written extensively on headache disorders. Her book,
Migraine, has been published in English and French and is available
throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Migraine was an
instrumental source in the development of the educational headache information
provided in the
Understanding Headache section of the World Headache Alliance website.
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| WHA Chair Dr. Fred Sheftell presents Valerie South with this year’s EGA Award | |
In addition to an engraved award, the recipient receives ₤5,000, to be donated to the organization of her choice. Mrs. South has generously donated her award to support Lifting The Burden, the Global Campaign to reduce the burden of headache worldwide. The WHA is, as always, deeply indebted to her leadership and support. Lifting the Burden is a joint enterprise between the international headache organizations (World Headache Alliance, International Headache Society, European Headache Federation, and the World Health Organization.
In accepting the award, Mrs. South said she was honored to receive the award, and felt
"extremely fortunate to have been able to work for a cause that is my passion. Migraine has been ever-present in my life, from my childhood years as I watched my mother crippled by incapacitating Migraine through my own adolescence and adulthood when I, too, would develop Migraine. It wasn't until I worked as an emergency room nurse that I realized how poorly understood the disorder is by those not directly touched by it, and furthermore how far we once were - and most still are - away from accessing decent treatment - let alone finding a cure.”
Dr. Anne MacGregor, Trustee and Director of Clinical Research at the City of London Migraine Clinic and last year’s award recipient, congratulated Mrs. South and praised her by saying,
“Valerie has worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, for great achievements. Her efforts have made a significant contribution to those suffering from headache disorders and make her an outstanding candidate for this award.”
During the closing ceremony of the XI International Headache Society Congress, last year's Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Award, Dr. Anne MacGregor was presented with another award for her continued outstanding groundbreaking work on headache disorders.
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| Chairman of the Scientific Program Committee, Dr. Jean Schoenen of Belgium hands Australian Dr. MacGregor an award for her continued outstanding groundbreaking work on headache disorders during the closing ceremony of the 2003 IHC. | |
The International Headache Society Congress is a biennial meeting, which brings together the leading researchers and healthcare professionals in the field of headache, is held in conjunction with the World Headache Alliance Global Convention.
The WHA and its member organizations are committed to reducing the burden and impact of headache around the world and providing voice and representation for those affected by this disabling and under-recognized disorder.
Congratulations, Valerie, and
thank you for all you do for all of us!
Images © Michael John Coleman, 2003. All rights reserved. Used with the permission of Mr. Coleman.
~ © Teri Robert, 2003
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