International Issues: The EAYNT

The growing pan-European labor market for young doctors is characterized by a heterogeneity in remuneration, national health care systems, and training curricula. A recent survey on postgraduate medical training documented a varying level of job satisfaction in Europe based on low salaries, working conditions, and career prospects.1,2 Subsequently, a south-to-north migration of young doctors has been observed within Europe, and a paucity of neurologists is expected in certain regions in the near future.2 While neurologists in training and early practice represent a substantial number of doctors and are critically involved in patient care, their voice was almost nonexistent in decision-making processes of the European neurology scene about 15 years ago. The driving forces for the founding of the European Association of Young Neurologists and Trainees (EAYNT) in 1999 included the need for an independent representation of junior neurologists in a changing pan-European labor market, the collection and transmission of information about medical specialization and disparities in working conditions throughout Europe, and the desire to provide a framework for collective expression and proposal development on behalf of these physicians. Junior representatives from 2 European neurologic working groups—the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS; Benedikt Schoser, Konrad Rejdak, Judit Afra) and the European Neurological Society (ENS; David Brassat, Axel Petzold, Canan Ozsancak)—came together and the EAYNT was born. Based on the previously mentioned needs, the EAYNT's founding objectives were to improve clinical training and provide access to exchange programs and career opportunities for European junior neurologists.3 Since 1999, young colleagues from 15 different European countries have held office within the EAYNT (table, figure 1) and were crucially involved …