ISNMI (IFCN Society of Neuromuscular Imaging) is comprised of clinicians and researchers from six continents. A wide range of specialties is represented, including neurology, radiology, physiatry, rheumatology, orthopedic surgery and many more. Our academic interest centers on integration of imaging into the clinical and neurophysiologic assessment of peripheral nerve and muscle diseases. ISNMI conducts an annual course and conference for the presentation of research, didactics and to provide hands-on training in neuromuscular ultrasound techniques. ISNMI (IFCN Society of Neuromuscular Imaging) is the former ISNMI (International Society of Neuromuscular Imaging) and ISPNI (International Society of Peripheral Neurophysiological Imaging).
The ISNMI is a society dedicated to teaching and advancing knowledge and skills in the field of neuromuscular imaging. We believe these techniques are a valuable addition to this field. Our aim is to facilitate the implementation and use of nerve and muscle ultrasound, MRI and other imaging techniques, in every part of the world that has practitioners involved in the diagnosis, treatment and research of patients with neuromuscular disorders.
Dr. Eman Tawfik accepted the role of the ISNMI Outreach Program Leader
The President and the Board of the IFCN Society of Neuromuscular Imaging (ISNMI) recently invited Dr. Eman Tawfik to serve a 2-year term as the Outreach Program Leader.
Dr. Eman Tawfik is a Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. She specializes in Electrodiagnosis & Neuromuscular Ultrasound (NMUS). She has 13 years of experience in NMUS and is certified in neuromuscular ultrasound by the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, USA.
Dr. Tawfik is a national and international neuromuscular ultrasound instructor/speaker and has many publications in the field including the guidelines for neuromuscular ultrasound training & standardized neuromuscular ultrasound protocols. She has also contributed to the development of the recently approved IFCN Neuromuscular Ultrasound Training Program.
It was our pleasure that Dr. Tawfik accepted the invitation. She shared with us the following thoughts:
"I am truly honored to join the board of the IFCN Society of Neuromuscular Imaging and delighted to serve as the Society’s Outreach Program Leader.
In this role, my focus will be on promoting the global dissemination of neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) as an essential diagnostic tool. This includes contributing to the organization of meetings and training courses, as well as helping in the implementation of the newly approved IFCN NMUS training program.
One of the missions of the society is to make NMUS education accessible to anyone seeking training around the world, and I look forward to helping build the connections needed to achieve this mission."
Eman Tawfik, MD, PhD
Professor of PM&R
Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
AAPM&R-certified Neuromuscular Sonographer
Founder & President of the Egyptian Neuromuscular Ultrasound Society
President: Nens van Alfen, MD, PhD
Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology
Clinical Neuromuscular Imaging Group,
Radboudumc Center of Expertise for Neuromuscular Disorders
Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour
Radboud University Medical Center
Nijmegen, the Netherlands
nens.vanalfen@radboudumc.nl
Founding President: Luca Padua, MD, PhD
Department of Geriatrics and Orthopedics
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
High Intensity Neurorehabilitation Unit
Department of Neuroscience, Head and Neck,
Ophtalmology and Thoracic Diseases
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
Rome, Italy
luca.padua@policlinicogemelli.it
Past President: Simon Podnar, MD, DSc
Medical Director, Division of Neurology
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
simon.podnar@kclj.si
2023 Meeting Organizer – General secretary: Ana Lucila Moreira, MD
Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP - University of São Paulo,
Department of Neuromuscular Diseases and
Department of Peripheral Nerve Surgery
CENEC - Clinical Neurophysiology, Campinas - SP
Neurolum Institute - São Paulo – SP
ana.lucila.moreira@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Michael Cartwright, MD
Wake Forest School of Medicine,
Department of Neurology,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
mcartwri@wakehealth.edu
Education Program Leader: David Preston, MD
Neurological Institute,
University Hospitals - Cleveland Medical Center
Case Western Reserve University,
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
david.preston@uhhospitals.org
Research Program Leader: Lisa Hobson-Webb, MD
Duke University School of Medicine,
Department of Neurology
Durham, North Carolina, USA
lisa.hobsonwebb@duke.edu
Communications Leader: Monika Krzesniak-Swinarska, MD
Professor of PM&R, Electrodiagnostic and Neuromuscular Medicine
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora,Colorado, USA
monika.swinarska@cuanschutz.edu
Communications Leader: Eman Tawfik, MD,PhD
Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.Certified in neuromuscular ultrasound by the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, USA.
eman_tawfik@med.asu.edu.eg
It is with regret to share that we recently lost one of our esteemed colleagues, Professor Jeremy Bland of Kent.He made an extraordinary contribution to neurophysiology in east Kent, London and nationally. Colleagues described him as ‘the heart and soul of the neurophysiology department’. He developed an internationally recognised expertise in carpal tunnel syndrome and had many publications in this area. He pioneered the use of ultrasound in the investigation of peripheral nerve conditions. Doctors from all over the world visited the Kent and Canterbury Hospital to study ultrasound with Jeremy. He developed more care in the community, taking carpal tunnel clinics to primary care. He was awarded the Distinguished Researcher Award by the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine in 2021, and founded a website for carpal tunnel syndrome. More recently, Jeremy worked closely with NHS England to improve neurophysiology services across England.
Past Annual Meetings:
2025 Ottawa, Canada,ISNMI Ultrasound Course
2024 Jakarta, Indonesia- ICCN 2024
2023 Campinas, Brazil – ICCNMI 2023
2021 Virtual Meeting, Netherlands – ICCNMI 2021
2019 Trieste, Italy – ICCNU 2019
2018 Washington, DC, USA – ICCNU 2018
2017 Seoul, South Korea – ICCNU 2017
2016 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2015 Palermo, Italy
2014 Vienna, Austria
2013 Charleston, South Carolina, USA
2012 Rome, Italy
ISPNI (International Society of Peripheral Neurophysiological Imaging) began as the project of Dr. Carlo Martinoli, an esteemed radiologist from Genoa, Italy, and Dr. Luca Padua, an internationally renowned neurophysiologist from Rome, Italy. They conceived the organization and began planning next steps. Inviting Dr. Lisa Hobson-Webb, a neuromuscular specialist from Duke University in the United States, they founded ISPNI and chartered the organization in Rome, where the first meeting occurred in 2012.
Since 2012, ISPNI has offered an annual course and conference with sites in Europe, North America and Asia. The group has grown each year, and we were excited to take part as a satellite meeting with the 2018 International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology in Washington, D.C.
Watch Professor Nens van Alfen's IFCN Masterclass on Neuralgic Amyotrophy- a clinical and EDx update- Watch Recording
ISNMI (International Society of Neuromuscular Imaging) is the former ISPNI (International Society of Peripheral Neurophysiological Imaging). The name was changed in October 2021 to include more people interested in neuromuscular ultrasound. In February 2024 the ISNMI became a IFCN Society of Neuromuscular Imaging (ISNMI), forming a new SIG (Special Interest Group) of IFCN (International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology).