Newswise — (Honolulu, HI) – William M. Fowler, Jr., MD, was honored with the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine’s (AANEM) 2015 Honorary Membership Award at the AANEM 2015 Annual Meeting in Honolulu, HI. The AANEM grants Honorary Membership to nonmember physicians or scientific investigators who are major contributors to the fields of electrodiagnosis, neurophysiology, or neuromuscular disease (NMD) through teaching, research, and/or scholarly publications.
“This honor means a great deal to me, as it represents the major accomplishments of my career through my contributions to neuromuscular disease research and treatment,” said Dr. Fowler.
Dr. Fowler received his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education degrees from Springfield College in Massachusetts, with majors in physical education and kinesiology. He received his medical degree from the University of Southern California, then completed a residency in pediatrics, a fellowship in neurology and pediatric neurology, and a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), all at the University of California, Las Angeles (UCLA). “In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, there were very few practitioners or institutions interested in neuromuscular disease medicine,” recalls Dr. Fowler. It was while completing his fellowships and residencies that he met Carl Pearson, MD, a Rheumatologist who established a large program including the study of NMD, that he became interested in the field.
Dr. Fowler began his academic career in 1963 at UCLA. In 1967, he accepted the position of Chairman of the PM&R Department at the University of California Davis, where he stayed for the remainder of his career.
His research included seminal articles on the natural history of NMDs, the role of creatine kinase for diagnosis and screening in muscular dystrophy, contraction-induced muscle injury and overwork weakness in muscular dystrophy, physical activity and exercise in NMDs, manual muscle testing and quantitative strength testing, progressive resistance exercise and aerobic exercise in NMD, quantification of muscle contractility, management of contractures, natural history of scoliosis, cognitive assessment, and the psychosocial issues of employment and quality of life in persons with NMD. His contributions have been documented in an extensive bibliography in clinical and basic science journals including Muscle & Nerve.
About AANEMFounded in 1953, the AANEM is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and electrodiagnostic medicine. Nearly 5000 physician members—primarily neurologists and physiatrists—are now joined by allied health professionals and PhD researchers working to improve the quality of medical care provided to patients with muscle and nerve disorders. AANEM programs are guided by its five pillars: education, professional standards, advocacy, communications, and research. Its administrative office is located in Rochester, MN. More information about AANEM Achievement Awards and Dr. Fowler’s credentials is available at www.aanem.org/awards.
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