To the Editor:

The Award for Meritorious Contributions to Neuropathology recognizes members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in neuropathology and have provided service to the American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP). This award is the highest recognition of professional achievement that the association bestows upon our exceptional colleagues. To be recognized for this award, one’s influence in neuropathology must be felt beyond colleagues, students, and patients in one’s own hospital, and at the national and international levels. Each recipient of the award is nominated by the president, in conjunction with the nominating committee and with the approval of the executive council. The qualities of outstanding scientific achievement and service are embodied in this year’s recipients, Drs. Barbara J. Crain and Dennis W. Dickson. They join the rich roster of distinguished former award recipients. The American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP) recognizes Barbara Crain with the 2016 Award for Meritorious Contributions to Neuropathology for her research, diagnostic work, teaching, and, especially, her leadership in our profession. Barbara Crain, MD, PhD is a transplanted Californian; she was born and raised in Long Beach and is the oldest of 5 children (3 sisters and a brother). She attended Robert A. Millikan High School and after graduating from the University of California at Irvine with a degree in biological sciences (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) she migrated east and received her PhD (William C. Hall, mentor) and MD (Alpha Omega Alpha) at Duke University as well as residency training in pathology, and in neuropathology with Stephen Vogel. On the faculty at Duke, Barbara variously served as Autopsy Director (including the rapid autopsy program), Parkinson Center Core Director, and Neuropathology Core Director of the Alzheimer Disease Research Center, in addition to shouldering a heavy teaching load. In 1993 she accepted a position at Johns …