FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON April 12, 2010

AAN Awards Kentucky Neurologist the Viste Patient Advocate of the Year Award

TORONTO -

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has named Enawgaw Mehari, MD, of Morehead, Kentucky, as the recipient of the Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD, Patient Advocate of the Year Award. Mehari received the award for his work to improve the access to and quality of neurologic care provided to HIV/AIDS patients in his native Ethiopia. The award was presented at the 2010 AAN Annual Meeting in Toronto, which runs through April 17, 2010. Mehari founded People to People, a non-profit organization that allowed him to develop a neurology training program for Ethiopia’s physicians, at a time when Ethiopia had only eight neurologists and two neurosurgeons serving a population of 80 million. “Dr. Mehari is being recognized for his passion, dedication, and enthusiasm for patient advocacy on behalf of the people of Ethiopia,” said selection committee chair Glenn Graham, MD, PhD, with the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “Through his organization, Dr. Mehari has touched the lives of many Ethiopians by providing the education and infrastructure necessary for change.” Mehari’s organization also worked on a number of other health care efforts, including the publication of the first-ever regional, peer-reviewed scientific journal devoted to HIV/AIDS in East Africa (offered free to health care professionals in the region) as well as several other HIV/AIDS programs that provide medicine and health education to local health professionals. Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD, was a distinguished neurologist and tireless advocate for his patients. His dedication to improving the lives of others was lauded by his peers and inspired his community. Each year the Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD Patient Advocacy Award recognizes a neurologist who exemplifies Dr. Viste's leadership and commitment to advocating for the patient community. The 62nd Annual Meeting of the AAN takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 22,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, migraine, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and multiple sclerosis. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com.