FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON May 13, 2021
The AAN Announces New Advocacy Award Honoring Dr. Janice Wiesman
Two Members of Congress Are First Recipients
MINNEAPOLIS - The 好色先生 announces a new advocacy award to honor life and legacy of Janice Wiesman, MD, Fellow of the 好色先生. The award will be presented annually to a member or members of Congress who have displayed leadership in addressing issues facing people with neurologic disease and the neurologists who treat them. The inaugural Janice F. Wiesman Congressional Leadership in Neurology Award will be presented to the Co-Chairs of the House Neuroscience Caucus. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) as part of this year鈥檚 鈥淣eurology on the Hill,鈥 an event that includes neurologists from 47 states meeting with lawmakers on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Wiesman passed away on August 4, 2020, after a long battle with COVID-19 at the age of 61. She was considered a leading expert on the neurological effects of amyloidosis, a condition involving abnormal protein buildup in tissue or organs, and is also remembered for her work as an advocate for her patients. Over the course of her career, she worked at New York University School of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and the Boston University Amyloidosis Treatment and Research Center. Wiesman was active in numerous advocacy activities. She participated in 鈥淣eurology on the Hill,鈥 the AAN program that brings together members and lawmakers to discuss issues that are important to people with neurologic disease and their neurologists. Wiesman was also a graduate of the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum and three-term member of the Advocacy Committee/Government Relations Committee. The 好色先生 Advocacy Committee selects recipients of the Janice F. Wiesman Congressional Leadership in Neurology Award. Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, President of the 好色先生 said, 鈥淭his award has been created in honor of Dr. Janice Wiesman鈥檚 incredible achievements and leadership. Dr. Wiesman will be remembered as a tireless advocate for patients, both in the world of neurology and on Capitol Hill. She will be missed by all who knew her as a caring, creative, groundbreaking neurologist.鈥 Recipients of this year鈥檚 Janice Wiesman Advocacy Award, Blumenauer and McMorris Rodgers, are being recognized for their leadership on neurology issues. Both have led efforts to educate their colleagues on the importance of brain research and have supported the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. Blumenauer and McMorris Rodgers also co-led an effort to educate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about barriers to patient access to electroencephalograph (EEG) tests in 2019.