The Board

Who are you?
I am Annette Vangaa Rasmussen from Denmark. I work as a headache nurse at the neurological clinic at The University Hospital Zealand in Roskilde. I have been in the field of headache since 2006.

How did you become interested in headache?
I heard of the Danish Headache Center and was fascinated; how this specialized clinic worked side by side with the headache research department and I applied for an open position. Through the following 15 years, working in clinic and research with dedicated colleagues has kept the interest growing. 

What do you enjoy the most in your role in the headache field?
The headache field is so broad and it interests me that not all possible headache services are done everywhere, but every nurse with some knowledge of headache can do something to the lift the burden of headache for the patient.

Do you have any tips to other nurses with interest in headache?
Many nurses work alone, so reach out and seek for colleagues nationally and internationally. Together we can share experiences and knowledge to strengthen nursing in the headache field for the benefit of our headache patients.

Who are you?
I am Gøril Bruvik Gravdahl. As a headache research nurse, I work with study participants with different headache diagnoses at a University hospital in Trondheim Norway since 2003.

How did you become interested in headache?
I have a background in neurology, and when the research position opened up I went for it, and I have never looked back. I love it.

What do you enjoy the most in your role in the headache field?
I love talking to the headache sufferers who have decided to do something about their situation. When they enlist to participate in a study and are not eligible to participate, I always take the time to give them information of how they can go about improving their personal situation.

Do you have any tips to other nurses with interest in headache?
There are so many headache sufferers and we can have such an impact on these peoples life by just providing information. Headache disorders is common and disabling, but under recognized, under diagnosed and under treated worldwide, and is finally receiving some of the attention it deserves.

Who are you?
I‘m Jennifer Trouerbach from the Netherlands. I work as a headache nurse at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). I work for the department of neurology/ neurosurgery since 1990, in the headache field since 2008.

How did you become interested in headache?
After years of working as a nurse at the Neuro Medium Care department, I was looking for a new challenge. I started working in the headache field because of an enthusiastic colleague, the fascinating profession of headache care grabbed me quickly.

What do you enjoy the most in your role in the headache field?
The many aspects of the job. The opportunity to contribute to headache care from the organization where I work ( for patients and colleagues).

Do you have any tips to other nurses with interest in headache?
See what you can contribute as an individual nurse to headache care. Nursing leadership is important for development in healthcare.

Who are you?
I’m Susie Lagrata from London, UK. I work as an advanced nurse practitioner at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Queen Square, London. I have been in the field of headache for 14 years.

How did you become interested in headache?
Headache specialty fascinated me since arriving in the UK in 1999. A position for headache nurse specialist opened so I applied and I have never looked back since. Being a headache nurse has been the biggest privilege of my professional life. 

What do you enjoy the most in your role in the headache field?
I love the fact that I am able to make a difference in the lives of people with headaches while at the same time able to innovate that ultimately benefits people with headaches.

Do you have any tips to other nurses with interest in headache?
It has been such an exciting time in world of headache with the dawn of new innovative treatments for migraine and other headaches disorders, so be part of the amazing community of health care professionals who are at the forefront of improving care and quality of life for patients with headache disorders.