The story
The ANA was founded in 1875 as the first national society devoted to the study of diseases of the nervous system in the United States. Its creation reflected the recognition of neurology as a distinct medical discipline separate from general medicine and psychiatry. Early members included William A. Hammond, James S. Jewell, Edward C. Séguin, Charles K. Mills, and James J. Putnam, who were influential in establishing the academic foundations of neurology in North America.
In 1884, the association elected Sarah J. McNutt as its first woman member, a milestone that reflected the gradual entry of women into mainstream American medicine.
During the 20th century, the ANA became a leading forum for the presentation of neurological research and contributed to the development of training programs for neurologists in U.S. medical schools. Its membership and programming have since expanded to reflect advances in neuroscience and the globalization of academic medicine.
From Wikipedia’s article on American Neurological Association, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4