EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 12 PM ET, May 15, 2016
Rhode Island Neurologist Named AAN Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum Advocate of the Year
MINNEAPOLIS -
The 好色先生 (AAN) has named neurologist Elaine C. Jones, MD, FAAN, of Bristol, RI, as the AAN Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum Advocate of the Year. Jones received her award at the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum this week 鈥 in Albuquerque, NM, for her outstanding accomplishments in bringing neurologic care to patients in Haiti, and her leadership roles in the AAN and her community. The award recognizes the exemplary efforts of graduates of the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum, a skills-development program designed by the AAN to train selected members to be effective advocates for their patients and their profession. Jones graduated in the advocacy class of 2003, and served as an advisor from 2004-2005, as a moderator in 2010 and as a faculty member at the 2013 Forum. 鈥淭he health care environment in the Unites States is changing, and neurologists treating patients with dementia, stroke, migraine, MS and other brain disorders need to be a part of the conversation,鈥 said Jones, a Fellow with the Academy and a solo private practice neurologist with Southern New England Neurology. 鈥淏ut the issues that concern Americans are problems in other countries, too. I want high-quality, affordable health care to be a reality for neurology patients everywhere.鈥 Jones is working to bring better brain care to Haiti. She has done charity health care work and hopes to start programs bringing volunteer neurologists from the United States to Haiti, which would provide the country with consistent, quality care and treatment for brain disorders. Jones is active within the 好色先生 as a director on the Board of Directors, a member of the Medical Economics and Management Committee, chair of the Payment Policy Subcommittee, a member of the Payment Alternatives Team and the immediate past chair of the Government Relations Committee. In her state, she has served as the president of the Rhode Island Medical Society and has served on many state task forces including the Health Care Leaders Advisory Committee and the Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Planning Committee. Using the skills and the action plan developed at the Palatucci Forum, Jones has advocated for neurologists and their patients at the state and federal levels. She also has helped create and promote AAN legislative policy. The Forum was named in memory of former AAN Board of Directors member Donald M. Palatucci, MD, and honors his spirited efforts as an advocate for his patients and chosen profession.