ROCHESTER, MN – September 23, 2021 – AANEM is pleased to announce Michael S. Cartwright, MD, MS is the winner of the 2021 Jun Kimura Outstanding Educator Award. This award is characterized by a member’s significant contributions relating to neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic medicine education, whether that be serving as a faculty member at the annual meetings or providing educational opportunities outside of AANEM.
Dr. Cartwright is currently a Professor of Neurology, Neuromuscular Fellowship Director, and MDA Clinic Director. He has been a member of AANEM since 2004. Dr. Cartwright has been a practicing neurologist/physiatrist for more than 15 years and has made many significant contributions, including helping with more than 85 peer-reviewed papers, reviewing more than 25 journals, and editing two textbooks. Dr. Cartwright has also helped organize Wake Forest’s NM US Workshop, typically held in June of each year.
Dr. Cartwright enjoys educating and working in this subspecialty because of the variety. “I enjoy doing clinic, EMG sessions, educational events, research, and patient advocacy,” he says. Through the years, patient stories have impacted Dr. Cartwright. One development, in particular, has changed his outlook on how he practices medicine. “In the past several years,” Dr. Cartwright begins, “the development of genetic therapies has been absolutely incredible. We can now effectively treat spinal muscular atrophy, a condition that had no medications fewer than five years ago. In May 2021, we began universal newborn screening for SMA in all children born in North Carolina. In early June 2021 the first positive test occurred. I was able to prescribe gene therapy for this child within weeks of birth, which has the potential to completely alter her clinical course.”
For Dr. Cartwright, there are two aspects of educating he finds most rewarding. “I really enjoy it when a medical student has an ‘aha!’ moment, especially when it pertains to neurology,” he states. “And it is great to hear from previous fellows. They sometimes call with tough cases, but after talking through the case with them, it is clear they have a very deep understanding of their patient and really did not need my assistance. That is quite rewarding to an educator.”
Dr. Cartwright will be awarded with the Jun Kimura Outstanding Educator Award on Friday, October 15, 2021, at the AANEM Annual Meeting in Aurora, Colorado. His academic interests include running EMG sessions, educational events, and participating in research and patient advocacy.
He adds that this award is particularly meaningful to him as his mentor, Dr. Francis O. Walker, was trained directly under Jun Kimura, MD, for who this award is named.
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About AANEM
The American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of neuromuscular (NM), musculoskeletal (MSK), and electrodiagnostic (EDX) medicine. For more information about AANEM, visit www.aanem.org or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
