Aisha Mahmood, a medical student interested in specializing in neurology and global health equity, has been awarded the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Medical Student Research Award. This honor recognizes her research proposal focused on improving stroke care in underserved regions globally.
“Stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, with disproportionately higher burden in low-income countries due to limited access to specialized care,” said Mahmood.
While specialized stroke units have proven effective in improving patient outcomes, Mahmood says “the existing evidence is predominantly derived from high-income settings.” Her study seeks to address a critical gap through a systematic analysis of stroke unit interventions and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
Driven by her experiences working with immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S. and abroad, Mahmood developed a strong commitment to global health and equity-driven care, which was further inspired by the work of Dr. Deanna Saylor in Zambia, presented through the UNC Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN). This sparked Mahmood’s interest in understanding how to develop and implement sustainable healthcare models in resource-limited settings.
Dr. Saylor is a neuro-infectious diseases and neuro-immunology specialist, and member of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases. She serves as Chair of the American Academy of Neurology.