Hernán Dario Gonorazky is the Chair of our Education and Development Opportunities Committee. Having first become involved with the WMS when he attended the WMS Congress in Brighton in 2015 during his paediatric neuromuscular fellowship under the mentorship of current Executive Board Member, Jim Dowling, Hernán has been instrumental in extending the Society’s reach in previously underrepresented regions. In this interview, Hernán talks about his professional career and his passion for regional development in neuromuscular education.

Hernán’s journey into neuromuscular disorders began during medical school in Argentina, when he took a research position studying patients with myasthenia gravis. That opportunity led him to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Argentina, where he met his first mentors in the field - Dr Claudio Maiza, Dr Marcelo Rugiero and Dr Marcela Garcia Erro. Hernán describes their passion and guidance as being “instrumental” in shaping his early interest.

Hernán describes the next steps in his career: “After completing my residency, I pursued an adult neuromuscular fellowship at Hospital Italiano in Buenos Aires. During that time, I became increasingly interested in paediatric neuromuscular care, which led me to train at Garrahan Hospital under Dr Soledad Monges. There, I also had the privilege of learning neuropathology from Dr Analia Taratuto, which deepened my understanding of the field.

“These early experiences were foundational, and I was fortunate to be surrounded by many inspiring mentors.”

Hernán’s main professional interest still lies in paediatric neuromuscular disorders, with a particular focus on clinical trials and the development of in vivo gene therapies.  He says: “I’ve dedicated much of my career to building the infrastructure and multidisciplinary teams necessary to support these trials, from early-phase safety studies to long-term follow-up protocols. This includes work on therapies for conditions such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and X-linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM).

“Beyond the clinical trial space, I’m also deeply engaged in integrating advanced diagnostic tools - such as artificial intelligence in muscle MRI - into clinical practice. My goal is to bridge the gap between innovation and patient care, ensuring that children with rare neuromuscular diseases have access to the most advanced and effective treatments available.”

It was when Hernán started working on his paediatric neuromuscular fellowship at SickKids, where he was mentored by Dr Jim Dowling that he first came into contact with the World Muscle Society. Hernán says it was Jim that encouraged him to engage with international networks like the WMS to broaden his academic and collaborative horizons. That initial push led him to attend his first WMS Congress and gradually become more involved in the society’s initiatives.

In describing his involvement with the WMS, Hernán says: “Education has always been a central interest of mine and I’ve worked extensively on shaping neuromuscular training programmes. As part of the Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada (NMD4C), I helped develop a national curriculum for neuromuscular centres across the country. When I was invited to join the WMS Education and Development Opportunities Committee, it felt like a natural extension of that work.

“My passion for regional development in neuromuscular education was also inspired by the efforts of leaders like Andoni Uztiberrea and Norma Romero, whose work through the Summer School of Myology in Paris and the EVELAM program in Latin America has been transformative. These initiatives showed me the power of education to build networks, foster mentorship and elevate care standards globally - principles that continue to guide my involvement with the WMS.”

“The World Muscle Society plays a unique and essential role in the neuromuscular field by fostering a truly global and collaborative community. It brings together clinicians, researchers, and allied health professionals from diverse backgrounds and regions, creating a space where knowledge is shared, partnerships are formed and innovation is accelerated.

“What makes the WMS particularly important is its commitment to inclusivity and education. It doesn’t just focus on high-income countries or established centres - it actively supports the development of neuromuscular care and research in under-resourced regions. Through its Congresses, working groups, and educational initiatives, the WMS helps ensure that advances in diagnostics, therapies and care models are accessible to professionals and patients worldwide.

“Its emphasis on mentorship, regional development and capacity-building makes it not only a scientific society but also a driver of equity and progress in neuromuscular medicine.”

As the Chair of the WMS Education and Development Opportunities Committee, Hernán is responsible for determining the direction of the Committee and its priorities. Under his leadership, the Committee is dedicated to expanding access to high-quality education and training in neuromuscular medicine. Its mission is to identify educational gaps across regions, support the development of structured learning opportunities, and promote mentorship and professional growth at all levels of training.

Describing the work of the Committee, Hernán says: “We work to ensure that clinicians, researchers and allied health professionals - regardless of geographic location - have access to the tools and knowledge they need to deliver excellent care and contribute to the field. This includes supporting regional initiatives, developing educational content and fostering collaboration between established centres and emerging programmes.

“My ambition is to help the Education and Development Opportunities Committee build a globally connected and sustainable educational framework that supports the growth of neuromuscular expertise in every region. A key part of this vision is the creation of an educational roadmap – a curated, multilingual library of talks and resources from experts around the world. This roadmap would be hosted on the WMS website and searchable by topic, language, and level of expertise, making it a dynamic and inclusive tool for learners at all stages.

“To bring this to life, I believe WMS should collaborate closely with regional and international networks such as Euro-NMD, EVELAM, SOLANE, and the Asian Oceanian Myology Center, among others. These organisations have already laid important groundwork in regional education and capacity-building. By aligning efforts and sharing resources, we can create a truly global platform that reflects the diversity of our field and ensures equitable access to high-quality neuromuscular education.”

“I believe the World Muscle Society should serve as a global leader in shaping and coordinating neuromuscular education. Its role should go beyond organising scientific meetings—it should actively support the development of structured, accessible, and multilingual educational resources that reflect the diversity of our global community.

The Education and Development Opportunities Committee welcomes contributions from clinicians, researchers and trainees who are passionate about education and equity in neuromuscular care. People can participate by helping identify regional educational needs, contributing to the development of content, or serving as mentors and speakers.

Hernán goes on to say: “We’re also looking to collaborate with regional networks and institutions to co-create educational materials that reflect local realities while aligning with global standards. Whether it’s through sharing expertise, translating content, or helping us build the educational roadmap, there’s a role for anyone who wants to support the growth of neuromuscular education worldwide.”

Hernán is also involved in the work of the Myology Developments around the World Committee, which focuses on identifying and addressing disparities in neuromuscular care and education across different regions. Describing the role of this committee, Hernán says: “We aim to understand the unique challenges faced by clinicians and researchers in under-resourced settings and support the development of strategies that are both locally relevant and globally informed.

“This includes mapping existing resources, fostering regional leadership, and promoting collaboration between established centres and emerging programmes. We also work closely with other WMS committees to ensure that educational and research initiatives are aligned and accessible. The ultimate goal is to build sustainable, regionally driven models that elevate standards of care and training in neuromuscular medicine worldwide.

Global variances in research and care mean that patients with neuromuscular disorders have very different experiences depending on where they are in the world. Hernán describes the kind of variances the WMS is trying to reduce: “We’re working to reduce significant global disparities in neuromuscular disease research, diagnosis and care. These variances include unequal access to diagnostic tools like genetic testing and muscle imaging, limited availability of therapies, especially advanced treatments like gene therap and a lack of structured training programmes in many regions.

“By supporting regional education, promoting collaborative research and advocating for equitable access to care, the WMS aims to close these gaps. The goal is to ensure that patients, regardless of where they live, can benefit from the latest advances in neuromuscular medicine and that professionals everywhere are equipped with the knowledge and tools to deliver high-quality care.”

Finally, we asked Hernán to describe his first experience of a WMS Congress. He said: “My first WMS Congress was in 2015 in Brighton, UK. I attended with my mentor, Dr. James Dowling - Jim, as many know him - and it was a pivotal moment in my career. He introduced me to the value of networking and showed me how the WMS serves not only as a space for scientific exchange but also as a true community of collaboration and knowledge sharing.

“What stood out to me was the energy of the meeting - how approachable everyone was, how open people were to sharing ideas, and yes, how much fun it was too! Since then, I’ve attended every WMS Congress. Two of my favourites have been Mendoza, because it was held in my home country of Argentina, and Granada, where the science was excellent and the food was unforgettable.”

If you would like to get involved with the work of the Education and Development Opportunities Committee or the Myology Developments Across the World Committee, please email [email protected].