Autumn M. Klein

The Guest Editor of this issue of Seminars in Neurology on Neurological Issues in Pregnancy is Autumn M. Klein, M.D., Ph.D. Autumn did her undergraduate work at Amherst College and obtained her M.D. and Ph.D. from Boston University School of Medicine. She did her internship in internal medicine at Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, and her Neurology Residency in the Partners Neurology Program-Harvard-Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Following her year as Chief Resident, she did a Clinical Neurophysiology/Epilepsy Fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She is now on the Faculty there and is Director of the Program in Women's Neurology. She is an exceptional teacher, clinician, and scientist. Although still very early in her career, she has already been the recipient of an Excellence in Teaching award from Harvard Medical School. She has research support from the Epilepsy Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study obstetrical and neurological complications in women with epilepsy.

I met Autumn when she was Chief Resident. I was so impressed by her. She is such a joy to be with. She is one of those people you meet in your lifetime who is unforgettable. I have never invited such a young person to be a Guest Editor of Seminars in Neurology, but it was clear to me that this young person is a rising star and I had no doubt she could get this done and do it well. In the process of putting this together, she told me that she not only wanted to provide an issue on the neurological issues of pregnancy, but also to put together a monograph that included manuscripts from her colleagues that have been her mentors. This issue of Seminars in Neurology is unique in that it is the collaborative work of the teachers of the Guest Editor.

But this issue of Seminars in Neurology is also unique in another way. Autumn was pregnant while putting together this issue of Seminars in Neurology, and finished editing the manuscripts while in labor. I told her that I could finish up, but she wouldn't hear of it. I considered getting on a plane and flying to Boston and taking them away from her but I didn't know if I could get there in time. In the photo, Autumn is holding her beautiful baby daughter, Cianna.

We often take care of pregnant women with neurological disorders. Even when we are comfortable with our understanding of the neurology, we always worry about management. We are caring for not only the patient, but also her unborn child. We are terribly grateful to Autumn and to all of the contributors of this issue of Seminars in Neurology for enhancing our understanding of the neurological disorders of pregnancy, for the care they give to their patients, and for their inspiration that results in the commitment and passion of young people like Autumn.