[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H5117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATING DR. ALLISON BRASHEAR

  (Mr. Kennedy of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. KENNEDY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride 
to celebrate a dear friend and pillar of our community upon her 
election to the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Allison Brashear, 
dean of the University of Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and 
Biomedical Sciences.
  This prestigious honor is reserved for those who have truly advanced 
the field of medicine, which is exactly what Dr. Brashear has done for 
over three decades as a neurologist, researcher, professor, and a 
leader shaping the next generation of medical professionals.
  Her journey started at the Indiana University School of Medicine 
where she completed medical school and her residency before joining the 
faculty in 1991.
  She later became an endowed professor and chair of neurology at Wake 
Forest School of Medicine, served as dean at the UC Davis School of 
Medicine, and now in western New York, she is the dean of the Jacobs 
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of 
Buffalo.
  Over her distinguished career, she has received numerous awards and 
accolades, led more than 40 clinical trials, and earned continuous NIH 
funding since 2008.
  Her early breakthrough, using botulinum toxin to treat spasticity in 
stroke survivors, opened the door to multiple FDA-approved therapies 
that patients across the country now rely on.
  She also identified rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism, advancing our 
understanding of rare neurological diseases, and she remains one of the 
Nation's leading experts on neurological disorders.
  However, what truly sets Dr. Brashear apart is her commitment to 
connecting healthcare to the communities that need it most.
  As dean of the Jacobs School, she serves on boards of the Western New 
York Women's Foundation, the Great Lakes Health System, and the Buffalo 
Niagara Medical Campus, strengthening the links between cutting-edge 
research, accessible care, and the everyday health needs of families in 
western New York and beyond.
  Dr. Brashear's life's work reminds us of a simple truth: Our 
healthcare system is only as strong as the people who choose to serve 
in it. Dr. Brashear shows us what is possible when we invest in talent 
and when we open doors for smart, compassionate people to pursue 
careers in medicine. Her success is a testament to what happens when 
opportunity meets dedication.
  Mr. Speaker, may we honor Dr. Brashear's extraordinary career by 
ensuring the next generation of healthcare practitioners have the 
chance to follow in her footsteps. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Dr. Allison Brashear. Western New York and our entire 
Nation are stronger because of her, her leadership, and her commitment 
to our Nation and to future generations in healthcare.

                          ____________________