Awards and Scholarships

Medical Student Prize for Excellence

The UES sponsors The AAN Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology to recognize graduating medical students for excellence in clinical neurology. This prize, in the amount of $200, is awarded, based on nominations by programs, to one graduating medical student from each medical school. The check and a certificate will be sent to you to present to the student on behalf of the AAN during your institution's graduation/awards ceremony.

Medical Student Scholarship to the Annual Meeting

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the Association of University Professors of Neurology (AUPN) sponsor the Medical Student Scholarship to the AAN Annual Meeting each year. The AAN offers 40 $1,000 scholarships to medical students to attend the AAN Annual Meeting. SIGN chapter presidents or a designated SIGN representatives receive preference for the receiving the scholarship. The AAN and AUPN hope that by helping students attend the SIGN chapter meeting and other events at the AAN Annual Meeting, their interest in neurology will be stimulated, ultimately benefiting the field of neurology.

In order to apply for these funds, the following requirements must be met:

• The applicant must be a member of the AAN
• Applicants must be active SIGN members
• Applicants must include CV, Letter of Interest outlining SIGN leadership and activities, and Letter of Support from their SIGN Chapter Faculty Advisor
• The student must be from a school outside of the AAN Annual Meeting location area (the funds are intended for transportation/lodging and similar expenses)
• The student must attend the SIGN meeting at the Annual Meeting in order to receive the scholarship

Medical Student Summer Research Scholarship

Sponsored by the AAN's Undergraduate Education Subcommittee and an Educational Grant by Teva Neuroscience, the Medical Student Summer Research Scholarship program offers members of the AAN's Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) program a summer stipend of $3,000 to conduct a project in either an institutional, clinical or laboratory setting where there are ongoing programs of research, service or training, or a private practice. Only applicants from schools with established SIGN chapters are eligible to apply. The AAN will award up to 20 scholarships to first- or second-year medical students who have a supporting preceptor and a project with clearly defined goals. The project is to be conducted through a U.S. or Canadian institution of the student's choice and jointly designed by the student and sponsoring institution. More than one student from an institution may apply, but only one student will be selected from an institution. The scholarship program was established to stimulate individuals to pursue careers in neurology in either research or practice settings.

Medical Student Essay Award – Extended Neuroscience Award

This program seeks to stimulate interest in the field of neurology as an exciting and challenging profession by offering a highly competitive award for the best essay in neuroscience.

Medical Student Essay Award – G. Milton Shy Award

This program seeks to stimulate interest in the field of neurology as an exciting and challenging profession by offering a highly competitive award for the best essay in clinical neurology.

Medical Student Essay Award – Roland P. Mackay Award

This program seeks to stimulate interest in the field of neurology as an exciting and challenging profession by offering a highly competitive award for the best essay in historical aspects.

Medical Student Essay Award - Saul R. Korey Award

This program seeks to stimulate interest in the field of neurology as an exciting and challenging profession by offering a highly competitive award for the best essay in experimental neurology.

Minority Scholars Program

The Minority Scholars Program was established in 1993 to promote diversity in the field of neurology. The program provides medical students the opportunity to learn more about careers in neurology and neuroscience.

Resident Scholarship to the Annual Meeting

The resident scholarship if offered as an effort to recognize the importance of resident attendance at the AAN Annual Meeting. In order to receive one of the scholarships, residents need to be nominated for one by their Program Director. The $1,000 scholarship is used to reimburse resident expenses associated with attendance at the Annual Meeting. If a program is located in the immediate vicinity of the Annual Meeting, the scholarship will be $500.The scholarship will be given as an unrestricted educational grant to the resident's institution and mailed to the Program Director 8-12 weeks following the Annual Meeting.

Alliance Awards: Founders

This award is designed to encourage clinical and translational research in neuroscience by physicians in clinical neurology training programs.

Alliance Awards: S. Weir Mitchell

This award is designed to encourage basic research in neuroscience by physicians in clinical neurology training programs.

Resident Research Travel Scholarship

The Resident Research Travel Scholarship will provide up to 25 individuals with $1,000 in travel support to attend the AAN Annual Meeting.

Neurology on the Hill

Neurology on the Hill is an annual, two-day event hosted by the American Academy of Neurology that takes place in the spring. Participants are flown to Washington, DC, to put a face on the challenges of people with neurologic disorders and the physicians who treat them. The AAN's top advocacy priority is to seek payment reform to more accurately value cognitive care services. The current Medicare fee-for-service model disproportionately values procedures over non-procedural care.

If you participate in NOH, you will be part of the effort to educate Congress about the value of neurologic care and the need for reform to ensure that this expertise continues to be available to the patients who need it.

Palatucci Leadership Forum

The Donald M. Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum trains AAN members to advocate for their patients and the profession of neurology. Forum graduates go on to use their skills at the state, local, and national levels and have applied their advocacy action plans to: Promote state and federal legislation, work with the media, obtain financial support for research, develop coalitions, organize state neurological societies, lobby for fair reimbursement, and help draft position statements that affect future legislation.

Kenneth Viste, Jr., MD Public Policy Fellowship

The Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD, Neurology Public Policy Fellowship offers an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in federal policy and develop the kind of political relationships that help promote neurological interests. You'll work in Washington, DC, for up to a year, as part of a Congressional staff, committee of Congress, or in the Executive branch.

Viste Patient Advocate of the Year Award

Each year the Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD Patient Advocacy Award recognizes one neurologist who exemplifies Dr. Viste's leadership and commitment to advocating for the patient community. The recipient of this award will have demonstrated a sincere interest and investment in working on behalf of patients with neurologic conditions.

Nominate your colleagues today for their commitment to patient advocacy!

Resident Authorship Program

Resident and faculty mentor teams are encouraged to apply for the AAN Resident Authorship Program. The program allows a resident to help write a guideline, along with a faculty mentor and experts in the field, under the guidance of the AAN's guideline development experts.