The American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) has awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award to Janice Massey, MD, Professor of Neurology and Senior Vice Chair of the Duke Neurology Department. This award, the highest the AANEM offers, recognizes Dr. Massey’s three decades of service to patient care and the field of neurology.
Dr. Massey is the second woman in the AANEM’s history to receive this award and an international leader in both providing neurological care and mentoring generations of women neurologists.
Dr. Massey graduated with her Bachelors of Science with a double major in mathematics and science from Abilene Christian University (ACU) in 1968. She taught mathematics for three years while her husband, E. Wayne Massey, MD, attended medical school at the University of Texas. She then began medical school at Georgetown University, receiving her medical degree in 1978.
The Masseys experienced a unique situation in their early years of practice as they both practiced neurology. “My husband has always been a great partner and a mentor,” said Dr. Massey. “Fortunately, we successfully navigated being married and both pursuing neurology careers at the same institution. Policy would not always allow for a married couple to be in the same department.” Massey was able to complete her residency in neurology at Duke University Medical Center while her husband remained on faculty. She also completed her fellowship in electromyography and neuromuscular disease at Duke as well. In 2016 the Duke University School of Medicine honored both Masseys with the Janice M. and E. Wayne Massey Conference Room.
Dr. Massey has been awarded numerous honors over the course of her career. Being named the first female Professor of Neurology, with tenure, at Duke University is her proudest career moment. There were obstacles to overcome for her in this role. When she first started, Duke had no maternity leave. After the adoption of their first child, her husband elected to take a two-week vacation while Dr. Massey continued to work.
She then took the next two-week vacation before they were both back to a full-time rotation. Finding childcare for two newly-trained doctors with hectic schedules was no easy task, but they made it work. By the time their next child was in the picture, Duke had established a maternity/paternity leave policy.
Dr. Massey has been cited as an author or co-author on close to 200 abstracts, articles, and invited reviews. She has presented to colleagues across the country and around the world, traveling to places like China, Japan, and Poland to name a few. In 2013, Dr. Massey was named the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation Association’s Doctor of the Year. She was also named AANEM’s Distinguished Physician in the same year.
She was the founding director of the ALS/MDA Clinic where she was able to implement new treatments for diseases like myasthenia gravis and cervical dystonia. In a nonprofessional capacity, Dr. Massey has participated in unique challenges such as attending a rattlesnake round-up in Texas to collect venom to make anti-venom and running with the bulls in the south of France at Feria d’Arles.
“I have always enjoyed the hands-on patient care aspect of this field,” Dr. Massey said. “The anatomy and the necessity of logical thinking, in particular, really drove me to pick neurology as my specialty.” The most rewarding part for Dr. Massey has been the opportunity to treat and change patient disease courses.
In honor of her numerous achievements in the field of neurology, many of Dr. Massey’s current and former colleagues offered their personal reflections on how she has influenced their careers. The following quotations represent a small, condensed portion of those responses.
“Everyone knows that Janice is a bright and talented neurologist with a warm and engaging personality. What may not be so obvious, however, is how steadfast and fearless she can be when under fire. Janice is a warm, engaging, and talented neurologist, but she is also a person you want on your side in a conflict and she has always remained true to her roots. In my book, there is not much better you can say about a person than that."
Larry R. Faulkner, MD, President and CEO
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
“In addition to being a superb educator, Dr. Massey has served as a formal and informal career mentor to numerous neurologists from training programs at Duke and through her national and international teaching and leadership activities. At national meetings she is often surrounded by the many people she has trained and mentored who reach out to her in gratitude. Dr. Massey has been exceedingly supportive of my own career and family. Those who work with Dr. Massey know that she brings warmth, clarity, and steady leadership to the many groups and organizations she is involved with. She is thoughtful, deliberate and a joy to work and collaborate with. Dr. Massey is a valued and trusted colleague and friend, and most well-deserving of this recognition by our department.”
Vern Juel, MD
Professor and Division Chief of Neuromuscular Disorders
Duke University School of Medicine
“I very much appreciate Janice’s excellent care of patients and interest in teaching. Not all of the teaching was around the topic of neuromuscular disease. I enjoyed rounding with her when I was chief resident and seeing patients with a variety of neurological issues. It was a lot of fun. She has been dedicated to teaching residents and fellows throughout her career and we are all thankful.”
Joel Morgenlander, MD
Professor of Neurology
Duke University School of Medicine
“Dr. Massey represents the epitome of what every physician would hope to strive to achieve and aspire to in their career in medicine all while working with such approachable elegance and poise. I am happy to be both a colleague and a mentee as she is an inspiration.”
Karissa Gable, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Duke University School of Medicine
“Dr. Massey is such an effective clinician because of the combination of her expertise and the fact that her patients feel that she has their best interests in mind. This establishes therapeutic alliances which weather the decades. Her professional accomplishments are too many to list. However, the expertise she provides to patients and organizations is matched only by her kindness, humility, volunteerism, common-sense-know-how and wit. Dr Massey is an outstanding mentor for many of these same reasons. No what the clinical challenge or the professional question, she has relevant experience or insight. Working with her was such an integral part of my Duke experience, and continues to have a tremendous impact on me and my career. I am so appreciative.”
Amanda Guidon MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
“Dr. Massey is a legend in neuromuscular medicine. She is well known not only for being an accomplished leader, respected researcher and highly skilled physician, but as a role model to women in the field. She blazed a trail in a subspecialty dominated by men, creating opportunities for the women who followed. In my time working with Dr. Massey as a fellow and colleague, she certainly exceeded her international reputation. She taught me to always listen to the patient and learn who they are as a person, not just a disease. Her attention to detail in the EMG Lab was a source of learning and some stress for me. However, more than anything, I appreciate that she consistently promoted my career and I thank her for where I am today. She continues to be an exceptional mentor, colleague and friend.”
Lisa Hobson-Webb, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Duke University School of Medicine
“My first memory of Janice was rounding with the house staff, when she went out of her way to make me, as a newcomer to Duke, feel welcome. She was and remains at the forefront in supporting the role of women in medicine, becoming a role model and mentor not only for our trainees but for women in neurology throughout the U.S. On top of all that, Janice is the consummate physician – caring, insightful, attentive and compassionate. You have only to look at the numerous patient-awarded stars on her name tag to appreciate how much her patients love and revere her. She is also a great friend, always ready to listen and offer her special insight into problems great and small.”
Don Sanders, MD
Professor of Neurology
Duke University School of Medicine