Walsh History

History of The Walsh Meeting

The Frank Walsh Society’s origins began in 1969 when the first Neuro-Ophthalmic Pathology Symposium was a held at the Wilmer Eye Institute. In 1979, the group adopted the name Frank B. Walsh Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. In 1992 the Walsh Society merged with NANOS and the Walsh meeting became a one-day event occurring on the Sunday immediately preceding the annual NANOS meeting.

The format has always been and continues to be case presentations with requisite pathology and genetic diagnostic tests have been permitted to replace pathologic material when appropriate.  An invited Neuro-radiologist and Neuro-pathologist review the cases in advance and provide commentary on each case during the meeting. The complete listing and abstracts from all Walsh meetings dating to 1969 can be found on the NANOS website on the members home page, "Novel." You will also find recordings of some of the Walsh Presentations. 

In the past the Walsh meeting was hosted by volunteers who held the meeting at their institution. With the merger of the Walsh Society and NANOS, the Walsh meeting now takes place in the same venue as the NANOS meeting. The Walsh Meeting hosts are volunteers from the NANOS membership. The hosts review and select the cases to be presented in addition to selecting the neuro-radiologist and neuro-pathologist who participate.  We encourage everyone to consider becoming part of the Walsh Meeting legacy by hosting a meeting!