AINA Lifetime Achievement Award 

The AINA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a leader in neurology by her/his peers. The recipient will be a North American neurologist chosen based on her/his dedication in advancing the training of North American neurologists of Indian origin and promoting innovation and research in the field of neurology. The recipient will have supported Indian neurologists over a significant period of time in achieving meaningful progress toward expressed goals.

View all past award recipients

Recipient will receive:

• $1,000 prize
• Recognition plaque
• Recognition in AAN's 70th Annual Meeting material

Eligibility

• Open to AAN members
• Must be nominated by an AAN member
• Nominee must be a North American neurologist

The application deadline has now passed. 

AINA 2020 Lifetime Achievement Winner

PRAKASH KOTAGAL, M.D., FAAN, FAES

I am indeed very grateful to be chosen for the AINA Lifetime Achievement Award.  More than any one individual, this award highlights the work of AINA members in advancing patient care, teaching and research by neurologists of Indian origin in the United States, India and elsewhere. 

Prakash Kotagal received his medical degree from the University of Madras, India. He trained in Pediatrics at St. Louis University, Pediatric Neurology at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, followed by fellowship training in Clinical Neurophysiology & Epilepsy at the Cleveland Clinic as well as Sleep Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. He is Professor of Neurology at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Staff Physician at Cleveland Clinic in the Pediatric Epilepsy Section.

Dr. Kotagal is an author on 122 papers, 17 editorials/letters and 41 book chapters. He also edited the textbook: The Epilepsies: Etiologies & Prevention. His research interests include: Pediatric Epilepsy and Epilepsy Surgery, Seizure Semiology, Neurostimulation, New Antiepileptic Drugs and the Relationship between Sleep & Epilepsy.

Dr. Kotagal served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology and is on the editorial boards of several journals. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. He is President-elect of the Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA).

AINA extends sincere congratulations to Dr. Kotagal for his lifetime of great work! Dr. Kotagal will be recognized at the 37th Annual AINA Dinner Meeting in conjunction with AAN's annual meeting.

AINA 2019 Lifetime Achievement Winner

Ram Ayyar, M.D., is Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami. He had his postgraduate training in Neurology in India and subsequently went to England to work under the renowned neurologist Lord Walton at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His further training was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Ram had the good fortune of training under Dr. Edward H. Lambert, the pioneer in the field of Electromyograph “the father of EMG”.  After a short stint at Wayne State University, Ram joined the faculty at the department of Neurology University of Miami in 1976. He became a Tenured Professor of Neurology and was Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs for several years. He was also Director of the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship Program and Director of EMG Laboratory from 1976 until his partial retirement in 2018.

AINA 2018 Lifetime Achievement Winner

Dr. Chaudhry is Professor of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he is the co-director of EMG laboratory and was Vice‐Chair of Clinical Affairs and Director of the Neurology Outpatient Center. He is internationally recognized as a clinician, teacher, researcher, and a leader in field of neuromuscular medicine and electrophysiology. Dr. Chaudhry’s areas of research include Wallerian degeneration in human nerves, multifocal motor neuropathy, toxic neuropathies, and electrophysiological aspects of neuromuscular diseases.  Dr. Chaudhry has over 130 publications and has participated in numerous clinical trials in motor neuron disease, peripheral neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, and myotonic muscular dystrophy. He has been on the editorial board of Muscle Nerve, Neurologist, and Science AAN.com.  He has served on the board of directors of AAN and American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Dr. Chaudhry was the chair of Neuromuscular section of AAN (2001-05) and it was under his leadership that Neuromuscular Medicine Board was created.  Dr. Chaudhry was President of the AINA from 2001-2003 and President of Aiimsonians of America (2002-4), his alumni group, which also awarded him with a distinguished alumnus award in 2006.  

AINA extends sincere congratulations to Dr. Chaudhry for his lifetime of great work! Dr. Chaudhry will be recognized at the 35th Annual AINA Dinner Meeting in conjunction with AAN's annual meeting. Final details will be announced shortly! 

In 2007, the AAN Foundation partnered with the Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA) to create an award recognizing those who have been committed to advancing the Indian neurologic community. The AINA presented the AAN Foundation Chair Austin Sumner, MD, with a $50,000 check to endow the award.

The AINA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a leader in neurology by her/his peers. The recipient will be a North American neurologist chosen based on her/his dedication in advancing the training of North American neurologists of Indian origin and promoting innovation and research in the field of neurology. The recipient will have supported Indian neurologists over a significant period of time in achieving meaningful progress toward expressed goals.

 

View all past award recipients

For more information, please contact Jane Ransom at jransom@americanbrainfoundation.org or (612) 928-6317.

2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner:  

Kapil D Sethi, MD, FRCP, FAAN

Dr. Sethi is Director of the Movement Disorders Program and Professor of Neurology at Georgia Regents University where he has worked since 1985. He is recognized in US, India and internationally as a leader in field of movement disorders. He has been a great supporter of Indian neurologists, both in India and in the United States, making CME presentations throughout India, and training residents and fellows in the U.S. Dr. Sethi has published 160 original papers and close to 30 book chapters; participated in numerous clinical trials in Parkinson’s; and served as Associate Editor of the journal Movement Disorders. He has served on the board of directors of AAN. Dr. Sethi was President of the AINA from 1999-2001 and is well known to all members of the AAN because of his role in development and then leadership in NeuroBowl as “judge”.