Leadership Bios

Bruce Sigsbee, MD, FAAN

President, American Academy of Neurology

Bruce Sigsbee, MD, FAAN, is the 32nd president of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). Sigsbee is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School. He completed his neurology residency at New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center. Sigsbee completed a master's degree in business at Husson College in Bangor, Maine. Sigsbee is currently in private practice with Penobscot Bay Neurology in Rockport, Maine, and has served as medical director for a 36–physician multispecialty practice. He has represented the American Academy of Neurology on the Relative Value System Update Committee (RUC) of the American Medical Association (AMA) and served in numerous leadership roles with the AAN, including chairing the Medical Economics and Management Committee and serving as the organization's treasurer.

Catherine M. Rydell, CAE

Executive Director and CEO, American Academy of Neurology, American Brain Foundation

Catherine M. Rydell has been the American Academy of Neurology's Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer since February 1999. Currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with offices in Washington, DC, and Rochester, New York, the AAN is a worldwide professional association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. Under Rydell's leadership, membership to the AAN has grown from 16,000 to more than 26,000 members.

In 2006, Rydell's duties expanded to include Executive Director of the AAN Foundation (rebranded the American Brain Foundation in April 2012), which supports education and research in neurology.

Since joining the AAN, Rydell has focused on strengthening advocacy and coalition-building efforts, increasing staff development, improving communication with members and implementing the strategic plan. Under her leadership, the Academy increased educational offerings, expanded the scientific program for the AAN Annual Meeting, and established a for-profit subsidiary to help support new member services.

Rydell has also helped the AAN shape the future of the specialty through the creation of the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS). The AAN, along with four other parent organizations, incorporated the UCNS in 2003 to provide program accreditation and physician certification in subspecialty fields of neurology.

In 2007, the AAN formed a companion organization—the AAN Professional Association—that would go on to establish a political action committee, BrainPAC. BrainPAC extends the Academy's ability to generate effective positive change for neurologic patients and the profession through partnership with federal legislators.

Rydell is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), the highest professional credential in the association industry. Less than five percent of all association professionals have earned a CAE designation.

Rydell serves on the Board of Directors of the Child Neurology Foundation, and the University of North Dakota Foundation and Alumni Association. She also serves as an ex-officio member of the Neurology Residency Review Committee (RRC) and the United Council of Neurological Subspecialties (UCNS).

Prior to joining the AAN, Ms. Rydell served as Executive Director of the North Dakota Medical Association. From 1984 through 1996, Ms. Rydell served as a state representative in the North Dakota State Legislature where she chaired the House Human Services Committee and the House Education Committee. She also sponsored key health legislation, including the North Dakota Clean Indoor Air Act.