Neurology Awards & Recognitions – Spring 2026

FAAN Designations

Lewis Headache Center Director Kerry Knievel, DO, and Neuro-Oncology Division Chief Yoshie Umemura, MD, have been elected fellows of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN). This designation recognizes their valuable contributions to the AAN and the neurology community at large.

Creighton School of Medicine Appointment

Barrow neurologist and Moreno Family Chair of Alzheimer’s Research Marwan Sabbagh, MD, FAAN, has been appointed Vice Chair of Clinical Research and Public Health for Creighton University School of Medicine‘s Phoenix campus, effective Jan. 1. Creighton selected Dr. Sabbagh based on his extensive experience as a clinician, a researcher, and an educator. In addition to his clinical work at Barrow, Dr. Sabbagh is working with Creighton to elevate the clinical research infrastructure at their Phoenix campus, grow their clinical research portfolio, and support the development of research curricula and educational offerings.

Barrow Neurology Vice Chair of Research Appointment

Chia-Ling Phuah, MD, MMSc, has been selected to serve as Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Neurology at Barrow, effective Feb. 1. Dr. Phuah is highly regarded nationally and internationally for her work in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias as well as acute brain injury. She has received two National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grants since joining our faculty, one centered on the intersection of traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s and the other focused on demystifying white matter hyperintensities on imaging. Additionally, as co-director of the Barrow Neuro Analytics Center, Dr. Phuah has been instrumental in bringing the first high-performance computer network to Barrow. As Vice Chair of Research, Dr. Phuah will play a key role in expanding the Department’s research portfolio.

ILAE Task Force Leader

Ryan Wagner, MD, a neurology resident at Barrow, has been selected by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) to lead the Cost-Effective Care Task Force of its Epidemiology Commission. During his four-year term, Dr. Wagner will continue the work he has led for ILAE to measure the economic cost of epilepsy and redefine the global epilepsy treatment gap. These efforts underscore his commitment to addressing the health care needs of underserved populations worldwide—the core mission of the Barrow Global initiative and an important pillar of the Barrow Neurology Residency Program.