Her scientific leadership in the laboratory studying sex differences in stroke severity and outcomes is among the reasons why Louise McCullough, MD, PhD, received the 2021 C. Miller Fisher, MD Neuroscience Visionary Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA).
McCullough is a professor and the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Chair in the Department of Neurology at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and co-director of UTHealth Neurosciences.
The award is given annually to an individual in the field of neuroscience who has significantly influenced the ASA’s mission, made clear and lasting contributions to neuroscience, and made major contributions to the identification and/or treatment of stroke patients.
In explaining its decision, the award selection committee pointed to several of McCullough’s key contributions to neuroscience: her research on sex differences in stroke; her role as the International Stroke Conference science committee chair; prior leadership of the NorthEast Cerebrovascular Consortium (NECC); mentorship of junior faculty; academic leadership as chair of UTHealth’s Department of Neurology; service to AHA/ASA on multiple committees and writing groups; and her role in continuing to break the glass ceiling for women in academic medicine.
“Dr. McCullough is a superb clinician, researcher and mentor,” said Richard Andrassy, MD, executive dean ad interim and holder of the Jack H. Mayfield, MD, Distinguished University Chair in Surgery; the Denton A. Cooley, MD, Chair in Surgery; and the H. Wayne Hightower Distinguished Professorship in the Medical Sciences at McGovern Medical School. “She demonstrates a vision not only for her growth, but for her faculty, residents and staff. She is a tremendous asset to McGovern Medical School and the field of neuroscience.”
McCullough will receive her award at the 16th Annual NECC Summit, which will be held virtually on Friday, Oct. 22. The summit was founded in 2006 as a way to unify efforts and improve stroke care across the northeastern U.S.
