ANA Ascend
We are excited to announce the launch of our new program, ANA Ascend! This program is designed by the ANA Membership Committee to support medical students with an interest in neurology and research in their academic and career pursuits.
The program will include up to 10 medical students who will be supported by ANA leadership and members through mentorship, networking, and professional development. Throughout the year, ANA Ascend will host a virtual meeting, an in-person meeting (during ANA2026), and follow-up meetings to check in with students and provide ongoing support.
ANA Ascend will connect medical students with leaders and experts in the field of academic neurology and neuroscience enabling them to gain valuable knowledge, experience, and tools to support their professional development and career goals. Participants in ANA Ascend will receive $1,000 in travel support and complimentary ANA2026 Annual Meeting registration.
Participation includes:
- One virtual pre-meeting session
- One in-person meeting at ANA2026
- One annual check-in meeting to provide ongoing support and resources for residency applications and research opportunities
ANA Ascend is for U.S. medical students who meet the following criteria:
- MD (MS1/2/3) & DO students
- MD-PhD students who are within one year of starting clerkships
Applicants for ANA Ascend are required to do the following:
- Submit an abstract to ANA2026 (Call for Abstracts is March 16 – April 20)
- Attend ANA2026 October 17-20, 2026, in San Diego
*Please note that students who are accepted into the ANA Futures program are not eligible to participate in ANA Ascend.
The deadline to apply for ANA Ascend is Monday, May 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT. Members are encouraged to focus on submitting their abstract for ANA2026 first.