February 2022 Society Spotlight
Meet William Renthal, MD, PhD, FAHS Welcome to the February Society Spotlight, in which I am delighted to talk about my favorite AHS initiative: the International Headache Academy (IHA). This year, Dr. Elizabeth Leroux and I will be co-directing this event in Los Angeles, if the virus allows, or virtually, if not. The IHA is a very special AHS program that teaches, inspires, and connects the next generation of headache medicine providers, researchers, and educators. One of the reasons I am so fond of AHS is that it was a pivotal turning point for me in my own career. After...Read More
Become a Leader in Headache Medicine With Special Interest Sections
What are Special Interest Sections? Special Interest Sections are groups designed to promote specific scientific, educational, or patient care goals within the society. 7 out of 10 AHS members choose to get involved in one of our committees and/or Special Interest Sections—a testament to how engaged our members are with the headache medicine community. What kind of Special Interest Sections are there? AHS offers several specialized Special Interest Sections, each focusing on a different subject within headache medicine. Some examples of these sections within the society include: Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Designed to promote open communication between providers and their...Read More
December 2021 Society Spotlight
Meet Lawrence Newman, MD, FAHS How apropos that it is the day before Thanksgiving as I sit here writing this. I just attended (virtually) my 34th Scottsdale meeting and looking back I am reminded how lucky and thankful I am to be part of the family that is the American Headache Society. Being active in Headache Medicine was almost preordained. Having lived much of my life with undiagnosed migraine and the stigma and disability that attends it, I was shocked, relieved, and dismayed to self-diagnose myself during medical school. Many have opined that this is what fueled my desire to...Read More
November 2021 Society Spotlight
Meet R. Allan Purdy MD, FRCPC, FAHS Learn everything you can about migraine… This month will be my 25th Scottsdale Headache Symposium. I first came to the Scottsdale meeting in 1996 at the request of Dr. Fred Sheftell, a good friend, and former AHS President. He wanted me to speak to the AHS Board of Directors about Case Based Learning (CBL) in headache, which was an interest of mine for some time. After discussing a case with the board members, they gave case learning a slot at the next two Scottsdale meetings. Those who participated enjoyed the teaching method. Since...Read More
Next on Deck:
2021 Scottsdale Headache Symposium® What is the 2021 Scottsdale Headache SymposiumⓇ? The Scottsdale Headache Symposium® is a premier educational event in the headache medicine field. We hope that through the Symposium, we can help provide more effective patient care through enhanced diagnosis and treatment of headache disorders. This year will feature both in-person and virtual experiences, where we bring Scottsdale to you! What’s unique about this year’s symposium? Not only is this our first time back in person since 2019, but we are also offering two great ways to experience the content. Join us and reunite with colleagues, experience numerous...Read More
October 2021 Society Spotlight
Meet Richard B. Lipton, MD, FAHS The Best is Yet to Come Hello to my extended AHS family. My name is Richard Lipton and I have been involved with AHS for over 30 years. It was my honor and privilege to serve as AHS president from 2000-2002, an astonishing 20 years ago. As my presidency was winding down, Steve Silberstein told me that I had peaked too early. I laughed and told him that I thought the best is yet to come. Since then, I have attended board meetings as an advisor, taught in Scottsdale, presented at our scientific meetings,...Read More
Virtual Issue Summary: Kids (with headache disorders) are not just little adults (with headache disorders)
Headache® has begun to resume the quarterly online release of its virtual issues. Virtual issues can be found at headachejournal.org and represent a carefully curated list of recent publications from the journal, unified around a specific content theme and woven together with an accompanying editorial. Virtual issues are intended to provide the reader with an easily accessible digest of recently published content from the journal to act as a primer on current understanding and ongoing research on the subject matter. The editorial to this virtual issue, “Kids (with headache disorders) are not just little adults (with headache disorders),” highlights two...Read More
Advocacy in Action: AHS Proposes Changes to Coverage for Home-use Oxygen for Cluster Headache Attacks
Back in September of 2020, AHS and its members used their voice and platform to advocate for patients with cluster headache and it worked! Home-use oxygen for the treatment of cluster headache has not been a coverable benefit for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. This is despite the therapy being a proven safe and effective way to abort a cluster headache attack. Since the policy became public in 2011, advocacy organizations like the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy and AHS have strongly advocated for its repeal. In January 2019, a formal appeal was filed to CMS. In August 2020, CMS initiated...Read More
July 2021 Society Spotlight
Meet Mia Minen, MD, MPH, FAHS, Chair Special Interest Sections Hi, I am pleased to serve as the Overall Chair of the Special Interest Sections of the American Headache Society and to share my journey in Headache Medicine and how AHS has influenced it. While a senior resident at Columbia’s Neurological Institute, I attended my first AHS Scientific Meeting and was amazed at the science presented, the active involvement of the New Investigator and Trainee Section (NITS), and the friendship and the support of people who have since become very involved in the Society, e.g., Dr. Rebecca Wells. Early on,...Read More