Honor Your Mentor Funds

Training with the best leads to success, which benefits patients. Now you can show your gratitude through the NREF by honoring a mentor who helped you succeed.

Honor Your Mentor Funds recognize the incredible people who have advanced neurosurgery. Each mentor fund has a specific purpose. Your gift will fund a chosen research or educational endeavor in their name.

Don't see your mentor on the list? Review the fund guidelines, call 888.566.2267 or email info@nref.org to get started.

Awards to Date

See a list of awards made from Honor Your Mentor Funds.

Mentor & Interest

Purpose

A. Leland Albright Fund
Pediatric Neurological Surgery

To support neurosurgery resident and fellow education in Africa.

Albert L. Rhoton Fund
Neuroanatomical Research

To support the maintenance and future development of The Rhoton Collection® and provide funding for grants restricted for microneuroanatomical research fellowships.

Allan H. Friedman Fund
RUNN Course

To honor Dr. Allan Friedman and the RUNN Course.

Andrew T. Parsa Fund
Tumor

To fund a fellowship or research grant for brain tumor research in Dr. Parsa’s name.

Anthony Marmarou Fund
Neurotrauma and Critical Care

To fund TBI registry research and/or young investigator research in ICP and brain edema as well as to support the Marmarou Lecture on ICP, cerebral edema and/or TBI related topics at the Trauma Section session of the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting.

Carl B. Heilman Fund
Skull Base

To support neurosurgery resident research into the treatment of skull base pathology, and to promote excellence among the residents in skull base surgical techniques through anatomical dissections.

Charles B. Wilson Fund
Tumor

To fund brain tumor research.

Charles Kuntz IV Fund
Spine

To fund awards for residents and fellows to present research at the Annual Meeting of the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves.

Charles L. Branch Sr. Fund
Spine

To support clinical outcomes research for lumbar interbody fusion and cervical fusion using registry data.

Charles H. Tator Fund
Spine

To be utilized for basic science research in spinal cord injury.

Christopher I. Shaffrey Fund
Spine

To support an international surgeon scholar to attend the AANS/CNS Spine Section Meeting to present a paper.

David L. Kelly, Jr. Fund
Wake Forest University

To support Resident Education and Research within department of neurosurgery at Wake Forest University.

David Kline Fund
Peripheral Nerve

To be used for education and clinical or basic science research of peripheral nerves.

Deborah L. Benzil Fund
Spine

To promote and support trailblazers whose work is changing the paradigm of how spine surgeons think, work and collaborate improving their quality of life with recognition of the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Also, to support truly innovative approaches that optimize safe and effective delivery of spine care.

Donald O. Quest Fund
Quest Research Awards

To fund the Quest Research Awards.

Ed Benzel Fund
Spine

To fund clinical outcomes studies to analyze posture and deformity in cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients.

Edward H. Oldfield Fund
Research Training

To support innovative clinical and translational research performed by neurosurgical residents and fellows.

Edward R. Laws Fund
Brigham & Women's Hospital

To support resident education and research within the department of neurosurgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and at the discretion of the department chair.

Edward S. Connolly Fund
Spine

To be utilized for clinical outcome studies, clinical or basic science research and fellowships in spine.

Eugene S Flamm Fund
New York University

To support the ongoing running of the New York University Langone Health Department of Neurosurgery annual Eugene S. Flamm lecture series. The fund will help support cost of organizing the lectures and hosting speakers in New York.

Fred Gentili Fund
Skull Base

The award is to recognize and honor a mentor in neurosurgery, in the area of skull base surgery that provides engagement, guidance and support of learners. A mentor that fosters positive academic skills and behaviors. A mentor that provides compassionate leadership for the cultivation of competent, compassionate generations of neurosurgeons who deliver exceptional care to patients and their families.

Harbaugh-Drake Fund
Cerebrovascular

To support the annual Harbaugh - Drake Neurovascular Outcomes Research Scholar who will present at the CV section at the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting

Henry G. Schwartz Fund
Washington University

To support staff and resident education and research within the department of Neurosurgery training program at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis.

Hoi Sang U Fund
Tumor / Neurotrauma and Critical Care

To support research into the molecular mechanisms of neurosurgical diseases, with a focus on neurotrauma, neuro-oncology or aging.

Howard J. Silberstein Fund
University of Rochester

To promote resident attendance at national meetings and continued development of the University of Rochester Neurosurgery Cranial and Spine Lab.

Howard M. Eisenberg Fund
University of Maryland

To support resident education, training, and research within the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Maryland at the discretion of the department chair.

Jack P. Rock Fund
Henry Ford Hospital

To promote resident educational activities including the development of cranial and spinal laboratories and the International Program at Henry Ford Hospital Department of Neurosurgery.

James T. Goodrich and I. Rick Abbott Fund
Pediatric

To introduce an experience in international pediatric neurosurgery to trainees in neurosurgery. The award will support a platform presentation at a conference or a rotation at a pediatric neurosurgical center outside of the applicant’s country.

James T. Rutka Fund
Tumor

To support the Tumor Section in their area of greatest need.

John A. Jane, Sr. Fund
University of Virginia

To be utilized for NREF-funded resident education and resident education at the University of Virginia.

John C. Oakley Fund
Pain

To support pain education and research.

Joseph C. Maroon Fund/Chuck Noll Foundation
Neurotrauma & Critical Care

To fund research in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of brain injury in sports.

Joseph S. Cheng Fund
Spine

To support clinical and basic science research in spine and training in spine.

Karin M. Muraszko Fund
Leadership

To help develop leaders in Neurosurgery by providing mentoring and didactic education.

Katie O. Orrico Fund
Advocacy

To support education on health policy, socioeconomics and public and private sector advocacy.

Kent C. New Fund
Spine

To support research and the clinical treatment of spinal cord injury.

Kevin O. Lillehei Fund
Tumor

To Fund Brain Tumor Research.

Kim J. Burchiel Fund
Pain

For education and research in the Neurosurgical treatment of pain.

L. Dade Lunsford
Image-guided Neurosurgery

To support research, education, and clinical outcomes with image-guided neurosurgery that includes stereotactic radiosurgery.

Lyal G. Leibrock Fund
Socio-Economic Education

To contribute funds for medical students, residents and young neurosurgeons for socio-economic education.

Lynda Yang Fund
Peripheral Nerve

To support clinical research in peripheral nerve surgery, especially pediatric brachial plexus injuries.

Margie Shreve - JNSPG Development Fund
Publishing

To create and/or enhance publishing opportunities and programs within the JNSPG.

Marion L. “Jack” Walker Fund
Pediatrics

To support clinical and translational research and fellow education in pediatric neurosurgery.

Martin H. Weiss Fund
Research Training

To support basic science or clinical research performed by neurosurgery residents.

Michael G. Fehlings Fund
Spine

To support translational spinal cord research

Michael T. Lawton Fund
Cerebrovascular

To support clinical and basic science research, training, and education in cerebrovascular neurosurgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute.

Nelson M Oyesiku Fund
Education

To fund neurosurgical educational programs in underserved nations of the world.

Peter J. Jannetta Fund
University of Pittsburgh

To honor the memory of the late Dr. Peter J. Jannetta and support research, education and innovation within the department of neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh.

Philip E. Stieg Fund
Weill Cornell

To fund a skull base research fellowship at the Weill Cornell Medical College Department of Neurological Surgery.

R. Michael Scott Fund
Boston Children's Hospital

To support the R. Michael Scott Lectureship and related educational efforts at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Ralph G. Dacey Fund
Cerebrovascular

To fund the Ralph Dacey Cerebrovascular Research Lectureship at the AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section Annual Meeting.

Raymond Sawaya Fund

To support an annual award for the most successful Neurosurgical Oncology Fellow.

Regis W. Haid, Jr. Fund
Spine

To be utilized for support of spinal clinical outcomes studies and fellowship research projects.

Richard G. Fessler Fund
Spine

To support basic or clinical research directed toward developing or evaluating new spinal surgical techniques or the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Robert F. Heary Fund
Mentorship

To support mentorship of medical students and residents as well as facilitate involvement in organized neurosurgery.

Roberto C. Heros Fund
Research Training

To support clinical or bench research by a neurosurgical resident, awarded purely on scientific merit, on any topic. The research should be completely original, conducted and expected to be completed during protected research time, with the expectation of publication with the resident as first author and significant contributors as co-authors.

Robertson Brothers Fund
University of Tennessee

To support education and research within the University of Tennessee neurosurgery resident program.

Roy Bakay Fund
Stereotactic and Functional

To support research in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery.

Sanford J. Larson Fund
Spine

To fund an award for best spine research paper at the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting.

Sanjiv Bhatia Fund
Pediatric Neurological Surgery

To fund an international pediatric neurosurgery, pediatric epilepsy surgery traveling fellowship, a Bhatia lectureship and pediatric neurosurgery medical missions.

Shelly D. Timmons Fund
Leadership

To support leadership development for all young neurosurgeons.

Stewart Dunsker Fund
Spine

To be utilized for clinical or basic science research and fellowships in spine.

Thoralf M. Sundt, Jr. Fund
Mayo Clinic

To fund neurosurgical education and research within the Mayo Clinic Residency Program.

Todd-Albert-Fund
Spine & Peripheral Nerve

To increase the involvement of orthopedic spine surgeons in training or early career to participate in the educational activities of the Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerve (DSPN) academic program.

Ulrich Batzdorf Fund
Spine

To support basic science research in spinal cord injury.

Volker K. H. Sonntag Fund
Spine

To be utilized for clinical outcome studies, fellowships in spine and clinical or basic science research.

Warren C. Boop Jr. Fund
University of Arkansas

To support resident education and research within the department of neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and at the discretion of the department chairman.

Warren R. Selman Fund
Cerebrovascular

To support clinical and basic science research and training in cerebrovascular neurosurgery.

W. Jerry Oakes Fund

To advance the art of and science of pediatric neurosurgery at Children’s of Alabama and around the world.

Global Humanitarian Fund

To support global neurosurgical programmatic efforts.

Military Heroes Fund
Military Neurosurgeons

To honor the men and women who have served selflessly through military service to our country, with funds raised to be utilized for military surgeons and surgeons-in-training.

NSA Neurosurgical Founders Fund
NSA Neurosurgical Founders

To fund education for the NSA Annual Meeting.

YNC - Chris A. Philips Fund

To advance medical student mentorship, research, education and participation in organized neurosurgery, particularly students who would otherwise lack access.

NREF is the Philanthropic Arm of the AANS

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