Ram Ayyar, M.D., is Emeritus Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami. He had his postgraduate training in Neurology in India and subsequently went to England to work under the renowned neurologist Lord Walton at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His further training was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Ram had the good fortune of training under Dr. Edward H. Lambert, the pioneer in the field of Electromyograph “the father of EMG”.  After a short stint at Wayne State University, Ram joined the faculty at the department of Neurology University of Miami in 1976. He became a Tenured Professor of Neurology and was Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs for several years. He was also Director of the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship Program and Director of EMG Laboratory from 1976 until his partial retirement in 2018.

During his tenure of directorship of the fellowship program he had the opportunity to train more than 70 fellows. They were from USA, India, Pakistan, Europe, Japan and South America. Many of them now occupy prestigious positions in different parts of the world. Ram maintains a close relationship with his former fellows. He is held in high esteem by the residents, fellows and faculty members for his clinical expertise and teaching ability. He has been invited to many countries as a visiting professor.

He has published over 100 papers in peer reviewed journals and has been given outstanding teacher of the year award many times. In addition to his expertise in neuromuscular diseases in the last 3 decades he has developed a special interest in ciguatera fish poisoning. His close work with the Rosensteil Marine School at the University of Miami has been productive and has resulted in several papers.  Ciguatera is one of the most common food poisoning that is seen. Ciguatoxin interferes with sodium channel function. Ram is well known to the members of AINA and was actively involved in the early stages of the formation of the association.

AINA extends sincere congratulations to Dr. Ayyar for his lifetime of great work! Dr. Ayyar will be recognized at the 36th Annual AINA Dinner Meeting in conjunction with AAN's annual meeting.

In 2007, the AAN Foundation partnered with the Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA) to create an award recognizing those who have been committed to advancing the Indian neurologic community. The AINA presented the AAN Foundation Chair Austin Sumner, MD, with a $50,000 check to endow the award.

The AINA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a leader in neurology by her/his peers. The recipient will be a North American neurologist chosen based on her/his dedication in advancing the training of North American neurologists of Indian origin and promoting innovation and research in the field of neurology. The recipient will have supported Indian neurologists over a significant period of time in achieving meaningful progress toward expressed goals.