Newswise — ST. PAUL, Minn. – The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Academy of Neurology Foundation (AAN Foundation) have announced that Thomas Sherak, Hollywood executive and current president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is the recipient of the 2011 Public Leadership in Neurology Award. He is being recognized for his strong commitment to raising awareness of multiple sclerosis, a disabling disorder that attacks the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
The Public Leadership in Neurology Award honors an individual or group outside of the medical profession. Honorees are known for advancing public understanding and awareness of neurologic disease, being effective advocates for neuroscience research, and making significant contributions to improve patient care. Sherak, a 40-year veteran of Hollywood film production and distribution, will be honored at the 2011 AAN and AAN Foundation Annual Meeting Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, April 13, at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
Sherak has helped raise nearly $43 million for multiple sclerosis research and programs as chair for the MS Dinner of Champions gala event for the past 18 years. He is an active board member of the Southern California Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Fulfillment Fund of Southern California. He is a former Chairman of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and formerly on the Board of Directors for the Motion Picture and Television Fund as well as the Southern California Variety – the Children’s Charity. Last year, Sherak and his wife, Madeleine, received the 2010 Visionary Honor from the Lighthouse International Board of Directors for their philanthropic work. The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation recently gave Sherak the 2011 Dave Winfield Humanitarian Award.
“I am honored to have been chosen to receive the 2011 Public Leadership in Neurology Award,” said Sherak. “My hope is that my small contribution will help in the areas of furthering medical research and providing programs and services so that people who live with MS will someday have more treatment options and a better quality of life.”
Sherak oversaw the release of such films as Romancing the Stone, Commando, Aliens, The Fly, Broadcast News, Predator, Wall Street, Die Hard, Working Girl, The War of the Roses, Die Hard 2, Home Alone, Edward Scissorhands, and Die Hard: With a Vengeance. In 1990, Sherak was named Executive Vice President of Twentieth Century Fox and oversaw the distribution and post-production of such films as Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition, Mrs. Doubtfire, True Lies, Speed, Independence Day, Broken Arrow, Dr. Dolittle, The X-Files, and Star Wars: Episode 1–The Phantom Menace. Sherak rose through the executive ranks to become Chairman of Twentieth Century Fox Domestic Film Group.
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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