Andrea Boon, MB ChB, Receives 2025 AANEM Distinguished Physician Award
Published July 28, 2025
News
Andrea Boon, MB ChB, a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has been awarded the 2025 Distinguished Physician Award in recognition of a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and advancement in NM and EDX medicine. “It is unexpected and really humbling to receive this recognition from my peers, and I wholly attribute it to the amazing mentors I have had throughout my academic career,” she said.
Dr. Boon has specialized in MSK medicine and CNP for nearly 3 decades as a physiatrist at the Mayo Clinic. Her path to the field began with a passion for sports medicine and biomechanics, but it was during her PM&R residency that she discovered CNP. “I loved the logic (and the need to sometimes think outside the box) involved in diagnosing nerve and muscle disease using the pattern of findings and our knowledge of anatomy and physiology,” said Dr. Boon.
Her journey from medical school in New Zealand to a distinguished role at Mayo was shaped by influential mentors and pivotal opportunities. Working alongside orthopedic surgeon Peter Janes, MD, during post-graduation travels led her to the Mayo Clinic, where the multidisciplinary approach to patient care and extensive learning opportunities left a lasting impression. That environment, combined with the mentorship of Mike Harper, MD, led her to pursue an EMG fellowship and ultimately her career at Mayo.
Though Dr. Boon has contributed to the field through lectures around the world and frequent scientific journal publications, perhaps one of her most significant contributions to NM and EDX medicine has been her leadership in integrating NMUS into CNP practice. She championed its introduction into the Mayo EMG lab, where over 12,000 patients undergo EDX testing annually, after recognizing the diagnostic potential of US during an AANEM workshop in the mid-2000s.
“We started by looking at the diaphragm, as we frequently needle that muscle, and it made a lot of sense to see the muscle before putting a needle in it, given the risk of pneumothorax,” she noted. “Gradually, we built up our skills and experience so that we could also use ultrasound to add diagnostic information in other areas including entrapment neuropathies, CIDP, and muscle disease.”
Dr. Boon has been an active member of AANEM since 1999 and has spoken at the annual meeting 34 times, most recently in 2024. She credits the organization with providing educational opportunities and a collaborative professional network. “What stands out most to me are the multitude of educational opportunities and, in particular, the network of amazing colleagues and friends you develop once you get involved in AANEM,” who she says offer their expertise and collaboration to learn from. “We have some world-class educators, clinicians, and researchers within our ranks,” she adds.
Dr. Boon is the principal investigator for her current research, which includes a promising first-in-human safety study involving purified platelet exosomes for joint injection, a potential breakthrough in regenerative medicine. “These exosomes act as cell messengers, decreasing inflammation and stimulating cell repair,” she said. “Our hope is to bring this to clinical practice, offering a much better alternative to cortisone.” She is also working with other AANEM members to develop normal values for quantitative muscle US, aiming to improve non-invasive diagnosis of nerve and muscle diseases.
Looking ahead, Dr. Boon is optimistic about the future of NM medicine, pointing to gene therapy, regenerative techniques, and advances such as direct current electrical stimulation as promising areas for improving patient care. Her focus, however, remains grounded in the daily realities of clinical practice. “My primary drive is improving patient care and outcomes,” she said. “Almost all my research has stemmed from trying to provide a better treatment than what we have now or to improve the way we do things to increase safety or decrease discomfort.”
Dr. Boon’s work reflects her dedication, commitment to excellence, and vision for a more effective and compassionate approach to NM medicine, from innovation in diagnostic tools to mentorship of the next generation of physicians.