Mridha Spirit of Neurology Humanitarian Award – 2021

2021 recipient

Deanna Saylor, MD, MHS

Sponsored by the American Brain Foundation and endowed by gifts to Dr. Debasish and Chinu Mridha Endowment Fund. Debasish Mridha, MD, and his wife, Chinu, are dedicated to improving the lives of others and recognizing others, through this award, who do the same.

For selfless and compassionate leadership which has led to the transformation of neurological care in Zambia, a country of 18 million people which had no neurological resources for local people when Dr. Saylor moved there in 2018. She established the first in patient neurology service at the University Teaching Hospital and launched Zambia’s first post-graduate neurology training program. Today 15 neurologists have graduated from the program and are providing local neurological care. Moreover, Dr. Saylor leads a research consortium that has uplifted residents in the training program and from other African countries.