Newswise — HONOLULU – The American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the world’s largest professional association of neurologists with more than 22,500 members, has elected Bruce Sigsbee, MD, FAAN, as its 32nd president. Sigsbee, president-elect of the AAN and a neurologist from Rockport, Maine, was elected today at the Academy’s 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu, April 9 – 16, 2011. Sigsbee succeeds Robert C. Griggs, MD, FAAN, who has completed his two-year term as president.

“It is a privilege and honor to serve as president of this esteemed group of neurologists with a rich history of promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care,” said Sigsbee. “During my two-year term, we will continue to focus on health care reform, ensuring that patients have adequate access to neurologic expertise and supporting research into the treatment of disorders of the brain.”

Sigsbee, a graduate of Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School, completed his neurology training at New York Hospital/Cornell Medical School. He holds a master’s degree in business from Husson College. Sigsbee is Medical Director for a 36-physician multispecialty practice in Rockport and is on the board of reviewers for Neurology®, the medical journal of the AAN. He currently serves as Chair of the AAN Health Reform Task Force, and is a member of the AAN Medical Economics and Management Subcommittee and AAN Executive Board. Sigsbee also served as President-Elect and Treasurer for the AAN.

“Dr. Sigsbee has made extraordinary contributions to the field of neurology, including his persistence in lobbying for health care reform, benefitting neurology patients and neurologists alike. His strong sense of leadership and his wealth of experience leading AAN committees position him well to lead the organization,” said Catherine M. Rydell, CAE, Executive Director and CEO of the AAN. “The AAN relies on outstanding continued leadership as we look ahead toward furthering our mission of promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care.”

Sigsbee resides in Maine with his wife, Jane.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 22,500 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.

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