Newswise — MINNEAPOLIS – The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has named neurologist Donn D. Dexter, MD, FAAN, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, as the AAN Donald M. Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum Advocate of the Year. Dexter received his award at the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum this week, in San Diego, Calif., for his exceptional work in increasing local and national knowledge and interest in legislative affairs.
The award recognizes the exemplary efforts of graduates of the Donald M. 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. Dexter graduated in the advocacy class of 2012, and served as an advisor in 2013 and as faculty at the recent 2014 Forum. He is a member of the AAN who joined in 1988.
“Neurologists need to be heard in Congress as they advocate for health care funding on behalf of their patients, to ensure they get the best care possible when it comes to diseases such as dementia, stroke, epilepsy, migraine, MS and other disorders,” said Dexter, a Fellow with the Academy and a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic Health System.
Dexter is working to increase awareness about important legislative and regulatory issues and the value of legislative advocacy. By using the skills and the Action Plan developed at the Palatucci Forum, he helped to form the Mayo Wisconsin Government Relations Core Team that now meets monthly to review legislative and regulatory issues impacting the region. He is an active advocate, attending the Doctors Day at the Capitol in Madison with the Wisconsin Medical Society, Advocacy Day with the Wisconsin Hospital Association and Neurology on the Hill in Washington, DC, with the AAN.
Dexter recently helped to organize a health care forum in Eau Claire that featured Congressmen Ron Kind (D, WI 3rd) and Sean Duffy (R, WI 7th) that was attended by more than 80 physicians, health care leaders and local politicians. He has met with Congressman Kind in the past to promote a challenge grant proposal and has been a strong supporter for the congressman, hosting two fundraisers in his home.
Dexter is active in the Wisconsin Medical Society, serving on the Council on Legislation and as the President of the tri-county society. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Wisconsin Organ and Tissue Donation Organization representing neurology.
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.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 27,000 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, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.
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