In Memoriam

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Yoichi Sakakihara on March 29, 2025. An internationally respected pediatric neurologist, visionary educator, and cherished mentor, Professor Sakakihara left an enduring legacy in child neurology and child development science.

Dr Charlotte Dravet
(July 14, 1936 – May 10, 2025)

Early Life and Education

• Charlotte Marie Antoinette Dravet was born on July 14, 1936, in Marseille, France.
• She graduated from Aix-Marseille University, earning her MD degree in 1961.
• Her doctoral thesis (1965) was titled "Encéphalopathie épileptique de l'enfant avec pointe-onde lente diffuse ('petit mal variant')" focusing on Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
• Dravet completed her residency in Pediatrics in Marseille (1962–1965) and obtained certification as a psychiatrist in 1971.

In Memoriam: Kenneth Fred Swaiman, MD
(November 19, 1931 – September 18, 2020)

Kenneth “Ken” Swaiman was a visionary physician-scientist whose life’s work laid the modern foundations of child neurology. From establishing three cornerstone professional organizations to editing the discipline’s defining textbook and founding the journal Pediatric Neurology, Dr Swaiman’s influence resonates in every clinic, classroom, and laboratory devoted to the neurological care of children worldwide.

Dr. Yukio Fukuyama, a distinguished figure in pediatric neurology, passed away peacefully at his home on July 17, 2014, at the age of 86. His passing marked the end of an illustrious career dedicated to the advancement of child neurology, particularly in Japan and throughout Asia.