Susan S. Spencer Clinical Research Circle

In 1996, the American Brain Foundation provided the first Clinical Research Training Fellowship to Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSC. For the next several years, the Foundation along with the tireless efforts of Susan S. Spencer, MD, Chair, AAN Clinical Research Subcommittee, sought funding for these critically important fellowships. When external funding could not be found, Dr. Spencer asked the AAN Board of Directors for $40,000 to fund the first year of a two year clinical research training fellowship. The Board approved the request and thus the American Brain Foundation Clinical Research Fellowship program was launched. Since this humble beginning, the program has grown to include over 25 active fellows in 2011!

To honor the legacy of Susan S. Spencer, MD, FAAN, the American Brain Foundation has created the Susan S. Spencer Clinical Research Circle. Please consider helping continue her legacy.

Membership in the Susan S. Spencer Clinical Research Circle requires a $5,000 gift or pledge over 5 years to either of the two funds listed below:

• The Fund for Brain Research - This fund supports clinical research training fellowships for promising young, innovative neurologists across the country hoping to improve patient care.
• Susan S. Spencer Epilepsy Research Endowment - This Endowment will provide annual support for a two-year Susan S. Spencer Clinical Research Training Fellowship (CRTF) in Epilepsy. Funding this CRTF every other year would require $1.3 million, or, if funds sufficient for that purpose are not obtained by December 21, 2020, the payout from the fund shall be used to support a portion of clinical research training fellowship(s) in the field of epilepsy for the years a clinical research training fellowship in epilepsy is awarded. The Fund will be recognized as providing support after the fellowship(s) is awarded.