May 2023

Dear ANA Members,

 

The month of May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. We honor individuals from these communities who have made an impact on neurology and neuroscience. It is a pleasure to recognize Jun Li, MD, PhD, FANA, who is my peer on the ANA Board of Directors.

May is also Better Sleep Month designed to raise awareness about the impact of good sleep on overall health and wellness. I am thrilled to be offering Exploring Sleep Disturbance in CNS Disorders for the Presidential Symposium at the ANA Annual Meeting in September in my hometown of Philadelphia! I hope you are making plans to attend ANA2023, and you can begin by registering. Registration is now open!

Membership has its Benefits

We are excited to report that 79% of ANA members in 2022 have renewed membership for 2023. Additionally, we have 430 new members that have joined the ANA this year! We are growing, and we are excited to welcome new insight, knowledge, experience, and perspective that we all can share. If you have not yet renewed for 2023, please don’t delay. The registration rates have been designed to benefit our members. The cost of registration and membership for the year is less expensive than registering as a non-member in every category of registration. Join or renew today to enjoy the best registration rates for ANA2023. 

Record Number of Abstract for ANA2023 Meeting!

I want to thank everyone for an outstanding response to the call for abstracts and late breaking abstracts this year. ANA2023 will include amazing posters, presentations, and information for all attendees to enjoy. We had a record-breaking number of abstracts – 467 – and late breaking abstracts – 47 – this year! We are thrilled with response from our members and look forward to sharing the research and discovery at ANA2023. We hope to have a record number of attendees this year as well to provide great networking and engagement.

ANA Committee Service Opportunities | Call Open June 1 – 30, 2023

We are happy to be launching the Call for Committee service on June 1. We will have the call open for the entire month of June. I encourage you to review the committees of the ANA to determine if one would be a good fit for you. The ANA Membership Committee and Governance Council are working hard to match people optimally to committees that fit their skill set. We have expanded the application process to allow more time for members to consider what committees would be a good fit and to complete a committee service interest form.  It is our 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. Committee service begins each year after the Annual Meeting. 

ANA Highlights Launches Neurogenetics Course

I am so glad for a new ANA Highlights program on neurogenetics. I appreciate my friend and colleague, Dr. M. Elizabeth Ross, President-Elect for the ANA, for helping to create this program. She is featured in Neurogenetic Testing 101: Everything You Need to Know. If you need help staying up to date on the fast-paced world of genetic testing, this bit-sized learning opportunity is just for you. The course will guide you through the different types of neurogenetic testing, the research and future needs, how to advise patients, and the legal and ethical issues of genetic testing. It is free for ANA members. Take advantage of this Highlights offering today. 

May is a time to celebrate the rays of sunshine in our lives, the time of year when remnants of spring bring whispers of summer. Take in a deep breath of fresh air, feel a sunbeam on your face, and look forward to sunny days ahead. We are enjoying growth, member engagement, and all that goes into planning an amazing 148th Annual Meeting for our members. It is truly a bright time for the ANA. I am glad you are part of it, 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