NER Foundation


Dear Colleague:

This is a call for support of your specialty; I ask that you take a few minutes from your busy day to read this message.

These are extraordinary times, and it will require extraordinary vision from all of us to fulfill our mission.  The Neuroradiology Education and Research Foundation (NERF) was founded to help educate the future leaders of neuroradiology, support research to improve patient care, and support initiatives that define and contribute to the value of neuroradiology, and our practices. When it is increasingly difficult to recruit corporate donations in these trying times, we individually must step up to the plate. Despite the generous support of many of you over the years, far too few of us have chosen to provide such support, and now is the time we must broaden our reach.

We all have greatly benefited from innovations in neuroradiology, and we all have an obligation to support the research that has led to these advances. I believe that no organizations are better focused on supporting our specialty than ASNR and the NERF.

For those who question “where will my money go,” Dr. Jim Barkovich, past chair of NERF, outlined this in a commentary in the AJNR in January 2006. “It goes toward the development of new imaging techniques and therapies and documents the efficacy of these methods and outcomes for patients so that neuroradiologists can be fairly reimbursed for their work. It goes toward training new neuroradiologists who will keep up the high standards originally set by the pioneers of our specialty.” He went on to write that “A recent poll of former winners of research awards from ASNR and NERF showed that of the 47 contacted, 41 were still in academic practice. This group included 9 chiefs of neuroradiology sections, 3 department chairs and one hospital vice president. All of those polled stated unequivocally that their award gave a much needed boost to their confidence and their careers.”

In summary, NERF sponsors:

  1. The continuing education of practicing neuroradiologists.
  2. The training of neuroradiology fellows.
  3. The NER Foundation Annual Symposium at the Annual Meeting of the ASNR, most recently dedicated to “Emergency Neuroradiology’ in 2008.
  4. The development and application of neuroradiologic techniques. NERF support of the activities of the ASNR Clinical Practice Committee has also been a critical link in supporting reimbursement for these new technologies (e.g. coding for fMRI).
  5. Research grants for Neuroradiology investigators. NERF support is particularly critical today for the development of young investigators in Neuroradiology. Last month, more than 30 applications were received for consideration of foundation grant support.
  6. Collaborative meetings with the NIH on critical topics important for developing new neuroradiologic techniques.
  7. Online eCME, including SAM modules to support MOC requirements.
  8. Neurographics, a web-based educational forum that includes highlights from the annual meeting of the ASNR (www.neurographics.org). 

These are all key elements in the health of our specialty. If you believe that our practices and profession can continue to prosper without our own investment in education and R&D, please remember what my friend Dr. Jerry Petasnick said, in his 2001 RSNA presidential address: “Unless we make significant contributions to support our investigators, new modalities will be assumed by those who do.”

Supporting these efforts should not be thought of so much as philanthropy, but as a critical investment in our future. Your generous donation is needed to ensure the future of our specialty. For those of you in private and academic groups, I ask that you consider a global contribution from your practice. Listed below are the contribution categories that the NER Foundation has established for 2009.

DIAMOND – contribute $10,000 or more

  • Receive a handsome diamond chip compass pin

THE JUAN TAVERAS FUND – a contribution
 in memory of Dr. JuanTaveras.

VISIONARY – a $1,000 contribution plus
contributions totaling $3,000 over the past five years  

  • Receive a handsome compass pin

PLATINUM – contribute $1,000 
GOLD – contribute $500 
SILVER – contribute $250 
CENTURY – contribute $100 
CONTRIBUTOR – contribute under $100  

Please make your contribution today; I assure you that your tax-deductible donation will be leveraged many times over, to the benefit of all of us, for years to come. Donations may be made at http://foundation.asnr.org/contributions.



Eric J. Russell, MD
Chairman
Board of Directors, NERF