Like all Australian neurologists, I trained in general neurology. My hospital practice still includes
general neurology ward service. My involvement in headache medicine began in the days of triptan
trials when I led the involvement of the Alfred hospital in a number of phase 2 and phase 3 triptan
trials. As this involvement and interest became more widely known, I began to see more and more
complex headache patients. Membership of international advisory committees as part of those trials
brought me into contact with many of the global leaders in headache medicine from the 1990s onwards.
Some of these committees focused on Asia and I developed close relationships with many Asian
headache experts. Thus, although my major area of clinical interest has been headache, I retain an
active interest in general neurology.

I am passionate about teaching. My commitment to education and training is reflected in my previous
membership of the RACP committee for examinations (which supervised clinical examinations for all
candidates wishing to specialize in an area of internal medicine), chairmanship of the WCN
Tournament Committee (which runs the very popular Tournament of the Minds sessions at the World
Congress of Neurology) and of ANZAN Grand Rounds sessions.
As part of my hospital and university appointment, I am involved in undergraduate teaching as well as
the post-graduate training of basic trainees in internal medicine, advanced trainees in neurology and
budding headache specialists. I have also been very active in teaching headache medicine to general
practitioners / family physicians through oral presentations and a series of articles on practical
management of headache.

I graduated from Monash University and trained in Neurology at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne under Dr Bernard Gilligan, then in London at The London Hospital under Dr Ronald Henson and at The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases (Queen Square & Maida Vale) under many famous names including Dr William Gooddy and Professor Ian McDonald. I was then appointed Visiting Neurologist at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and later Adjunct Clinical Professor Monash University.

I am Past President of the Australia New Zealand Headache Society and I have completed two terms as
Treasurer and Trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), which, like IHS, is a charity
incorporated in the UK. I was previously Treasurer and Secretary of ANZAN. I have been an active
participant in ARCH almost from its start.
I have previously been acting head of the Neurology Department at the Alfred Hospital, but currently
have no administrative duties at the hospital which would deflect my attention from the IHS.

My grandson James, when aged 13, drew a pencil drawing of the brain as a Christmas present for me. I
was delighted with it. Here is the original drawing.
We have stylisedBrain drawing for logo it a little to produce the logo.

Here is a link to my publication list.

http://pn.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/practneurol-2020-002659v1?ct

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2022.120337

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2023.120645
As you would expect, many relate to headache but there are some in other areas.
For, example a paper that our general neurology trainees seem to find helpful is:
Stark RJ. Tips for Trainees: Some Practical Tips on Clinical examination. Practical Neurology 2020;
20:489-493 
Papers relating to WFN initiatives in brain health and involvement with the WHO IGAP on
neurological diseases:
Grisold W, Karlshoej K, Freedman M, Gouider R, Guekht A, Lewis SL, Medina MT, Meshram C,
Rouleau G, Stark RJ. Brain health as a global priority, view from WHO: Editorial from the World
Federation of Neurology, Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2022;

Grisold W, Freedman M, Gouider R, Guekht A, Lewis S, Medina M, Meshram C, Rouleau G, Stark R,
on behalf of the Trustees of the World Federation of Neurology. The Intersectoral Global Action Plan
(IGAP): A unique opportunity for neurology across the globe. Journal of the Neurological Sciences,
2023; 
Papers published in Medicine Today or Pain Management Today are largely for GP education.

When I was younger, I played a lot of cricket at club level. The club I played for in Australia was the Melbourne Cricket Club and in those days, when there was no inter-state or international cricket scheduled, we would get to play on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a huge stadium with capacity of 100,000 spectators. It looked very empty with only a few friends and relatives watching a club game but it was still a great thrill to play on such a famous ground. While in England I played cricket for a team in the Middlesex league. I have now stopped playing cricket but still enjoy playing tennis and golf. I also play bridge in partnership with my wife Janet: it is sometimes said that playing bridge with your spouse can strain the relationship, but we have had no such problems and continue to enjoy it!