Whether it’s destiny or not, Dr. Annie He is following in her father’s footsteps to become a neurologist. She has been interested in that field from a young age, especially the similarities between the brain and computers. Her mission: to improve the quality of life for those with neurological diseases.

Annie He, M.D.

What this award means: This award is a reflection of the strong mentorship I have received from the Department of Neurology through my clinical rotations and research over the years. I am immensely grateful for their support toward my academic growth.

Mentor comment: Annie He is recognized as an exceptional student who excels both in research and as a clinician. She provided excellent and compassionate clinical care to her patients while also collaborating with team members. – Meredith Bryarly, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurology

Background and family: I was born in New York City and lived in Buffalo, New York, and in Dallas over the course of my childhood. For high school, I attended the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, an early entrance college program in Denton. My parents are first-generation emigrants from China, and my father is a neurologist.

What led to your career path: My father’s career sparked my interest in medicine from a young age. Studying computational biology in college, I focused on the neurobiology track within this major. This is when I truly became fascinated with the similarities between the brain and the computer. Through my neurology rotation and subinternship, I appreciated the complexities behind neurological diseases while realizing the significance of improving the quality of life for patients and their families. I’m excited to continue my training in neurology.

College: I graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a Bachelor of Science in computational biology and a specialization in neurobiology. I was actively involved in Brown Emergency Medical Services as an EMT, serving the Brown community and teaching CPR/first aid. I was also an undergraduate teaching assistant for multiple computer science courses and introduced students to the applications of technology in STEM fields.

UTSW activities: I have been actively involved with student-run free clinics, serving as the Vaccine Education Chair at Brother Bill’s Helping Hand. I was also one of the social chairs of my class and a committee member for the UTSW Pre-Registration Education Orientation Program (PRE+OP), welcoming the Class of 2025. I am passionate about medical education and enjoyed being a peer mentor to first- and second-year medical students. Lastly, I co-led the Women in Neurology Collaborative Study, a cross-sectional study on diversity, equity, and inclusion at 19 academic institutions around the nation.

Surprising fact: I love to code! I’m fluent in many programming languages and enjoy challenging myself by tackling new coding projects.

Future plans: I will be completing my neurology residency at Harvard/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. I am currently undecided on subspecialties. My goal is to practice at an academic institution where I can continue being involved with medical education and research to advance the field of neurology.

About the award: The American Academy of Neurology Prize is presented to a graduating medical student who has promising career potential in neurology, as determined by faculty and residents.