An award-winning researcher and trailblazer, Pam Duncan’s recent accomplishments demonstrate her prolific career.
And it’s a career that shifted more than 30 years ago after a devastating loss. Her mother died following a stroke, and the experience ignited a passion. Duncan, who was a physical therapist at the time, went on to get her doctorate in epidemiology. Today, she’s a professor of neurology for the School of Medicine, and she dedicates her clinical and research efforts to improving outcomes for stroke survivors.
Duncan was instrumental in creating the Stroke Impact Scale, a patient-centered metric of stroke outcomes, and an assessment called the eCare Plan, an individualized care plan for patients to reduce reoccurrence.
Because of her outstanding contributions to the investigation, management, mentorship and community service in the stroke field, Duncan is a 2020 recipient of the American Stroke Association’s David G. Sherman Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the first woman to ever be awarded this honor.
Duncan also recently received the Byrum Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award, which recognizes our faculty for the mentoring of students, residents, fellows and junior faculty.