Jaya Trivedi, M.D., and Padraig O’Suilleabhain, M.D., both Professors of Neurology, are joint recipients of the Loehr Lifetime Achievement Award from Woven Health Clinic, a Dallas-area community clinic where they have volunteered for more than a decade. The Loehr Award honors medical professionals who have made a lasting impact in medical research, high-quality patient care, and inspirational leadership.

“As our volunteer neurology team, your commitment to excellence, compassion for patients, and dedication to advancing care have been nothing short of extraordinary,” their award notification letter reads. “Your service has brought hope, healing, and improved quality of life to countless individuals in our community.”

The award was presented at the Oct. 4 Woven Together: Celebrating Community Champions fundraiser.

Volunteering at Woven Health Clinic one evening each month, Drs. O’Suilleabhain and Trivedi evaluate and recommend treatment options for patients who have been referred by a primary care provider for neurological complaints.

“The most common problems are seizures, neuropathy, tremors, and declines in cognition or mobility,” said Dr. O’Suilleabhain, who has been volunteering with the clinic for about 18 years.

“In each visit, you try to help one person who otherwise would not get neurologist care. Regardless of whether this leads to symptom resolution, we have an interpersonal, trusting, caring encounter to address fears or concerns. In macro terms, that interaction has a small impact, but for this one doctor and that one patient, it matters,” he added.

Dr. Trivedi began volunteering with the clinic in 2014 after hearing about the opportunity from her colleague.

“I thought it was the right thing to do – to help those who didn’t have the means to receive care from a specialist,” said Dr. Trivedi, who is also Vice Chair of Ambulatory Operations and External Relations in the Department of Neurology, Medical Director of Ambulatory Neurology, and Program Director of the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship at UTSW.

Recognized by the National Commission of Quality Assurance for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care, Woven Health Clinic is a 501(c)(3) charitable clinic that provides free and low-cost health care services for Dallas-area residents.

“At its core, Woven continues to offer an open-arms welcome to anybody asking for help,” Dr. O’Suilleabhain noted. “That is why I volunteer there.”