Service Award recipients
Congratulations to the President’s Award recipient and the winners of the 2026 American Academy of Neurology Service Awards. Browse recipients below.
AAN President's Award
This award is given by the American Academy of Neurology President for outstanding service to the AAN and the profession of neurology.
Walter J. Koroshetz, MD, FAAN
Why the recipient was chosen: I chose Dr. Koroshetz as the 2026 AAN President’s Award recipient because his career exemplifies principled leadership in service of brain health for all. Through steadfast advocacy, scientific rigor, and an unwavering commitment to patient care, he has advanced neurology at a national and global level and served as head of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) for more than a decade. He was at the helm of many key advancements in neuroscience research and its funding, and his contributions to our field are countless.
Dr. Koroshetz is a celebrated clinician, educator, and a mentor to generations of neurologists. He has also been a member of the AAN for nearly 40 years. I am beyond grateful for his service to our community over the years and the generous giving of his time to committees, work groups, and more—including his term on the Board of Directors. He has made the world a better place for neurology, and I am honored to recognize him with the AAN President’s Award. – AAN President Natalia S. Rost, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAHA
Thank you statement: What an honor! I accept the award in the context of the achievements and help of so many. Serving in academia, government, and in the AAN, I got to ride the wave. From “diagnose and adios” we’re now cresting, attacking the major medical scourges with some amazing successes. But we’re just at the beachhead: We can, we must advance more effective treatments for our patients. None of us should ever give up; never surrender to the status quo.
2025 recipient: Janis M. Miyasaki, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FAAN
Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA) Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by the Association of Indian Neurologists in America Fund of the American Brain Foundation.
Dileep R. Yavagal, MD, FSVIN, FAHA, FAAN
University of Miami
2025 recipient: Jai Kumar, MD, FACP, FAAN
Advanced Practice Provider Volunteer Service Award
Susan Kreiner, ACNP-BC
Columbia University
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Changemaker Award
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Alexis N. Simpkins, MD, PhD, MSCR, FAHA, FANA, FAAN
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
2025 recipient: Charles C. Flippen II, MD, FAAN
Creative Expression Award
Vishank A. Shah, MD
Johns Hopkins University
Miriam Quinlan, MD, MPH
Johns Hopkins University
General Neurology Award
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Anil Neelakantan, MD, FAAN
Gould Medical Group, Sutter Health
2025 recipient: Richard Cuneo, MD
Health Care Equity Program
Aisha Abdulrazaq, MBBS
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Kapil Arya, MBBS, DA, FAAP, FACNS, FAAN
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Ankita Brahmaroutu, MD
Columbia University
Camilo Diaz-Cruz, MD
Einstein Medical Center
Anlys Olivera, MD, PhD
New York University
Chiamaka C. Onuigbo, MD
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Karina A. Gonzalez Otarula, MD
University of South Dakota – Sanford Health
Divya Palanisamy, MD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Rani Priyanka Vasireddy, MBBS
University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler
Derek Yuan, MD
New York University
2025 recipients: Omar Al-Janabi, MD, PhD, MSc; Miya Asato, MD, FAAN; Fazila Aseem, MD, MPH; Sana Aslam, DO; Nan Cheng, MD; Shannon DiCarlo, MD, FAAN; Qihua Fan, MD; Alexander Jonokuchi, MD; Laveena Singla, MD; Muhammad Yousaf, MD
Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD, Patient Advocate of the Year Award
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by gifts from Dr. Viste’s colleagues, friends, and patients.
Tshibambe Nathanael Tshimbombu, MD, MBA
Barrow Neurological Institute
2025 recipient: Kapil Arya, MBBS, DA, FAAP, FACNS, FAAN
Mridha Spirit of Neurology Award
Sponsored by the American Brain Foundation and the philanthropy of Dr. and Mrs. Mridha, and endowed by gifts to the Dr. Debasish and Chinu Mridha Endowment Fund.
David B. Clifford, MD, FAAN
Washington University in St. Louis
Archana A. Patel, MD, MPH, MSc
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Lakshmi N. Ranganathan, MD, PhD, FAAN
Sri Ramachandra Medical College
Clio A. Rubinos, MD, MSCR
University of North Carolina
2025 recipients: Monica Diaz, MD, MS; Melissa Elafros, MD, PhD; Rajesh Shankar Iyer, MD, DM
Neurologist-in-training Clinical Ethics Elective (NITCEE) Program
Sunanjay Bajaj, MD
University of Texas Health Houston
Lilian Maria Godeiro Coelho, MD
University of Miami, Jackson Health System
James Giarraputo, MD
Yale University
Tori Greaves, MD
McGaw Medical Center
Carmen R. Holmes, MD
Morton Plant, Baycare
Omalara D. Kolawole, MD
University of Texas Health Science Center
David Zheng, MD
New York University
Neurology Advanced Practice Provider Award
Joan Miravite, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, DAAN
Mount Sinai
Neurology Practice Award
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
London Neurology Clinic
2025 recipient: Neurology One
Outstanding Early Career Neurology Advanced Practice Provider Award
Matti Matheson, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
University of Minnesota
QI Innovation Award
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Sanaea Z. Bhagwagar
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Carlee I. Oakley, MD, MS
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
2025 recipients: Rohit Bhatia, MD, MBBS, DM; Jacob Pellinen, MD
Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Award
Sponsored by the Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Award Fund of the American Brain Foundation.
Alison L. Christy, MD, PhD, FAAN
Providence Health & Services
2025 recipient: Mehari Gebreyohanns, MD, FAHA, FAAN
Volunteer Service Award
Lakshya J. Basumatary, MD, DM, FAAN
Apollo Excelcare Hospital
2025 recipient: Nirmal Surya, MD, DNB, FAAN