April 2023

Dear ANA Members,

The signs of spring are beginning to bloom, and we are excited for more sunshine and warmth. With spring comes renewal and inspiration, and we are grateful for this time as we plan for the ANA. After last year's very successful Annual Meeting which allowed us to be together in person, we are inspired to plan and host another outstanding Annual Meeting in 2023. Additionally, we are looking forward to ANA members connecting and engaging with us through committee work, volunteer leadership, and engagement with ANA education, resources, and benefits. Some areas of focus now include the Call for Nominations for officers and directors on the ANA Board of Directors, the upcoming call for Late Breaking Abstracts, the launch of registration for ANA2023, and the upcoming call for committee service.

Another exciting element of spring is growth and development, and we are thrilled to share that the ANA is growing. Our current membership renewal rate is at 67% - that is ahead of our renewal rate at this time last year, and we are also glad to note that the ANA has gained more than 250 new members this year! The ANA is being recognized as the home for academic neurology, and we are pleased to welcome new members as well as grateful to those who continue to renew membership year after year. If you have not renewed for 2023, now is a great time to do so. Click here to renew your membership today. Membership has its benefits, and we want you to enjoy all of them.

ANA2023 IS A MUST-ATTEND EVENT!

ANA2023 will be filled with outstanding research, discovery, and connection. With a record-breaking number of abstracts submitted, we look forward to learning and sharing while in Philadelphia from September 9 - 12, 2023. The ANA2023 website has all the details and information to make your meeting experience outstanding. I encourage you to visit the site often for updates, information, and resources to assist you in planning to attend ANA2023.

ANA2023 Call for Late Breaking Abstracts

The call for late breaking abstracts will open on Monday, April 24, and remain open through Friday, May 12. Late breaking abstracts demonstrate ongoing clinical or basic research that is new and of sufficient scientific importance to merit expedited presentation and publication. The details and information for late breaking abstracts will be sent to all ANA members on Monday, April 24. Get ready to share your latest research.

The ANA Annual Meeting offers a global audience that promotes interinstitutional and interdisciplinary collaboration. Late breaking abstracts will be considered for:

  • Poster Presentations
  • Poster Awards
  • Emerging Scholar Awards
  • Oral Presentations During SIG Session

All accepted late breaking abstracts will be published in the Annals of Neurology, the official journal of the ANA. In preparation to submit your late breaking abstract, please ensure your ANA membership is current by clicking here to join or renew so you can take advantage of the discounted rate.

Research Careers Reimagined is Back for ANA2023 | September 9, 2023

Without a doubt, the Research Careers Reimagine (RCR) Course was incredibly successful in 2022, so I worked with leadership to bring this course back again year after year. Developed by the RCR Course Planning Subcommittee, the 2023 RCR Course explores a variety of funding pathways for researchers in neurology from traditional mechanisms for funding from NIH to pharma. The course is open to instructors, assistant professors, trainees, residents, and postdoc fellows only. I am excited we will be able to offer the RCR Course again this year, and I would like to thank the team at Wiley for their generous sponsorship to help us provide it. 

K-Awardees Have the Opportunity to Connect and Learn at ANA2023

The ANA-NINDS Career Development Symposium will be held September 8 – 9, 2023 in Philadelphia in conjunction with ANA2023. This is an unparalleled opportunity to meet as a group and to connect on an individual basis with leaders in the neurology research community. The symposium is designed for clinician-scientists with NIH career development awards (KO8 and K23) and will include several lectures along with small group discussions with faculty and chairs. Financial support for attendance is provided through NINDS adding funds to K awards specifically to cover the cost of attending. There are travel dollars available to those who opt to present their poster at ANA2023. We look forward to working with the K awardees at ANA2023. 

Get Ready to Register!

Registration for ANA2023 will be open soon, and we cannot wait to begin the process. As an ANA member, you will enjoy discounted registration rates for the Annual Meeting. Did you know the cost to register as a non-member is higher than the cost of membership and the membership registration rate in every category? The registration rates are designed to ensure ANA members get the best pricing and value for their membership. If you are not currently a member, or if you have not renewed for 2023, now is a good time to join or renew so you can take advantage of lower registration rates as soon as ANA2023 registration launches. Watch your email box for information in the days ahead.

Today is the Final Day to Nominate Yourself or a Colleague to Serve on the ANA Board of Directors

The ANA Board of Directors leads the organization through oversight and strategic planning. If you are interested in serving as an officer or a director on the ANA Board of Directors, the call for nominations is open through the end of the day today. You may self-nominate or work with a colleague to nominate you. If you know of someone who would be a great addition to the ANA Board, please consider nominating them. This year, the office of President-Elect and the office of Secretary are open. As well, there are four director seats on the board that will be filled. 

The ANA has sent information on the Call for Nominations for officers and directors on the ANA Board of Directors. Please refer to the ANA bylaws to learn more about the various offices, the requirements, roles, and responsibilities for service. For additional information, please visit the ANA website or email ANA CEO Brenda Orffer. 

ANA Committee Service Opportunities

Over the past year, the ANA Governance Council worked with board to achieve incredible results for the ANA committee structure and participation. With a goal to ensure ANA committees cover the scope of work necessary to support the ANA’s strategic plan and goals, have a diverse representation of ANA members participating, and elevate engagement for ANA members, the Governance Council and Board of Directors successfully updated the number and names of committees as well as increasing diversity in committee service.

This year, ANA members will once again have an opportunity to apply to participate on an ANA committee. The call for committee members will go out on May 1 and will be open for the entire month of May. Please visit the ANA website to learn more about the committees and consider applying to serve on an ANA committee for 2023 – 2024. Committee service begins each year after the Annual Meeting.

We look forward to the weeks and months ahead as we plan and prepare for ANA2023. Get ready to submit late breaking abstracts, get ready to register and take advantage of early bird rates, and consider applying to serve on an ANA committee to help the ANA navigate into the future and achieve our strategic goals and objectives. Our membership represents a broad spectrum of knowledge, research, culture, and sub-specialties, and we have room for everyone to make a difference at the ANA. I am truly glad you are part of the ANA, and I hope you are taking advantage of everything there is available to support you in your work, professional growth, and personal success.

Frances E. Jensen, MD, FANA, FACP

President, American Neurological Association

Arthur Knight Asbury, Md Professor of Neurology

Chair of the Department of Neurology

Co-Director Penn Medicine Translational Neuroscience Center

Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania