Dear Friends & Colleagues,

A milestone has the power to delight and captivate. By definition, it’s an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development. Whether it’s your child’s first word, graduating from residency or seeing a patient’s improvement after surgery, these moments are meaningful and worthy of reflection.

When the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF) launched the Honor Your Mentor (HYM) Fund program, we could not have predicted its growth and impact. It started in 2014 with six funds and pledges of $177,000 from 37 donors.

Last month, the HYM program reached a significant milestone when it launched its 70th fund, and the honoree could not be more worthy of recognition: Deborah Benzil, MD, FAANS, FACS. Dr. Benzil has made an enormous impact on the professional lives of neurosurgeons through her work in spine stereotactic radiosurgery, innovation in resident education, diversity advocacy, socioeconomic expertise and as a founding member and the first president of WINS. She is also the first female HYM honoree from the AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves (DSPN).

Fittingly, the Deborah L. Benzil Honor Your Mentor Fund will promote and support trailblazers whose work is changing the paradigm of how spine surgeons think, work and collaborate improving their quality of life with recognition of the value of diversity, equity and inclusion. Also, to support truly innovative approaches that optimize safe and effective delivery of spine care.

As for the Honor Your Mentor program as a whole, the early kindling has been nurtured into a roaring bonfire. Today, the funds have total pledges of $7,067,324.84 from 2,459 donors, and they have provided more than $575,000 in funding for projects and awards to date.

A debt of gratitude is due to past NREF Chairs, Jon H. Robertson, MD, FAANS and Regis W. Haid, Jr., MD, FAANS, for their vision in starting the program, to fund managers, to the donors whose generosity plays a pivotal role in the program’s success, and to the mentors themselves who advance neurosurgery through their dedication and commitment to our profession.

My personal thanks to all those that have contributed to the HYM program.

Please celebrate this milestone by making a donation to NREF in honor of one of our 70 recognized mentors or start a new fund in honor of someone who has made a significant impact on your career. To make a tax-deductible donation, visit our secure online Donate page. Your gift will help to advance neurosurgery and improve neurosurgical care for our patients.

Thank you for your continued support of the NREF!