SLBMC to Host Antigua and Barbuda’s First Clinical Neurology Summit

Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) will host the inaugural Antigua and Barbuda Clinical Neurology Summit from November 13 to 15, bringing together healthcare professionals to strengthen the diagnosis, treatment and management of neurological conditions.

Neurologists, physicians, nurses and allied health professionals from the Caribbean, Canada and the United States are expected to participate in the three-day event, which will offer both in-person and online attendance.

The programme will focus on stroke, headache disorders, epilepsy and other areas of neurological care. A dedicated nursing track will be held on the final day, with regional and international speakers contributing to the sessions.

The summit follows SLBMC’s recent certification as an Essential Stroke Centre by the World Stroke Organization. According to the hospital, it is the first facility in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to achieve that designation.

Dr. Gaden Osborne, SLBMC’s neurologist and Chair of Subspecialty Services, said the conference would help build on that progress through continued education and stronger collaboration.

“Certification as an Essential Stroke Centre was an important milestone, but the work does not end there,” Osborne said.

He said the summit would bring international expertise to Antigua while allowing local clinicians to share their work, with the ultimate aim of improving care for the community.

Beyond stroke, the event will address headache disorders and epilepsy, which can affect patients’ quality of life and underline the need for greater awareness and access to care.

Lyandra Richards, SLBMC’s Learning and Development Coordinator, said ongoing professional education must translate into practical improvements for patients.

“Learning in healthcare cannot be a one-time exercise. Medicine changes, evidence evolves, and the needs of our patients change with it,” Richards said.
She stressed that the value of medical education lies in how healthcare professionals apply what they learn within their teams and daily practice.

SLBMC’s Head of Marketing and Communications, Salma Crump, said organisers also hope the summit will establish professional relationships that extend beyond the event.

“We want this to be more than a conference that happens in Antigua. We want it to create connections that continue after the three days are over,” Crump said.

She added that the summit would provide a platform for local healthcare professionals to contribute alongside regional and international experts.

Healthcare professionals can access the programme, speaker information and registration details at neuroantigua.org.