Fourth-Year Medical Student Awarded Neurology Prize

By Nate Hinkel

 L. John Greenfield, M.D., left, and Stacy Rudnicki, M.D., right, present Kristoffer Nissinen with the AAN award.

May 9, 2011 | Kristoffer Nissinen, a fourth-year medical student in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine, was awarded the Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology at a presentation May 6.

The award is sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) to recognize graduating medical students for excellence in clinical neurology.

“This is in recognition of the hard work, effort and extreme interest Kristoffer has shown in neurology,” said Stacy Rudnicki, director of the UAMS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) multidisciplinary clinic and professor of neurology in the College of Medicine. “We’re very proud of his dedication and work ethic and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Following graduation, Nissinen will be serving a four-year residency in neurology at the University of California-Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my education at UAMS and feel prepared to move on to the next stage,” said Nissinen, who was presented the award in front of students and faculty prior to neurology grand rounds. “It’s nice to be recognized with this award.”

The award comes with a $200 prize and is given to one graduating medical student from each medical school. Several neurology faculty members at UAMS evaluated the applicants before choosing Nissinen.

The AAN gives the award to honor its commitment to promoting neurology as a specialty and as a potential career among undergraduate medical students.