Where Hope Lives
Inspiring stories of compassion, innovation, and transformation at Barrow Neurological Institute made possible by philanthropy.
Your Impact In Action
View real stories of how Barrow Neurological Foundation creates a lasting impact for patients and families.
Narratives of Help and Healing
Hear from the brave patients who have found hope and healing at Barrow while battling the most debilitating neurological conditions.
“It gave me hope knowing that they were willing to try anything and reached out to all their networks local and abroad to find a solution.”
-Kara May
Mother of grateful patient, Brielle May. Neurocritical Care
“My team at Barrow has never given up on me; I am better thanks to their care, and that means absolutely everything to me. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today. For that, I am incredibly grateful.”
-Alison Coombs
Grateful patient at the Lewis Headache Center
“The things my mom is doing for this trial have not only paid substantial dividends for her health but are also paving the way for someone else to have an easier journey. It feels good knowing that we are playing a part in the long-term fight against this disease, and we are grateful to Barrow for giving us this opportunity.”
– Ivan Jones, caretaker
Courageous Hearts
Life-Changers
Share Your Story
Every experience at Barrow is unique and powerful. Whether you’re a patient, family member, or donor, we invite you to share your story and inspire others on their journey.
//Repost @barrowneuro // Congratulations to the following physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute, who are among @phxmagazine`s 2026 Top Docs!
Kerry Knievel, DO - Neurology
Christina Kwasnica, MD - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Bryan Lee, MD - Neurosurgery
Joyce Lee-Iannotti, MD - Sleep Medicine
Matthias Linke, DO - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Andrew Little, MD - Neurosurgery
Marc McLawhorn, MD - Anesthesiology
Rory Murphy, MD - Neurosurgery
Griffin Santarelli, MD - Otolaryngology
Laura Snyder, MD - Neurosurgery
Each year, the magazine invites all physicians in the Phoenix metropolitan area to nominate their peers across dozens of specialties.
Dr. Kwasnica, a Top Doc of more than 20 years, made the 2026 list in PM&R for both pediatrics and adults. In the pediatric PM&R category, she earned more votes than any other doctor. Drs. Murphy and Lee-Iannotti were also top vote-getters in their categories, and Drs. Knievel and Santarelli were selected by the magazine for Q&A features.
Additionally, PHOENIX magazine polled its Instagram audience to determine Arizona`s most famous celebrity doctor of all time. Of the four contenders, Barrow Emeritus Chair of Neurosurgery Robert F. Spetzler, MD, was declared the winner with 54% of the vote.
Finally, the magazine gave a special shoutout to Terry Fife, MD, in its "in absentia" section. Dr. Fife, who established the Neuro-Otology Program at Barrow, recently retired after more than 30 years on our faculty. He was named a PHOENIX Top Doc in 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2015, and 2016.
View the full 2026 list and read the Q&As at bar.rw/phxtopdocs26. Link in bio.
Attention football fans! 🏈 Thanks to the generosity of the Arizona Rattlers, discount tickets are available for our Barrow community! Join us for #WorldParkinsonsDay on April 11th at Desert Diamond Arena where the Arizona Rattlers will go against the San Antonio Gunslingers! Click the 🔗 in our bio to get your tickets. https://bar.rw/4l94BxU
$5 from every ticket purchased through the link will support outreach programs at the #MuhammadAliParkinsonCenter at Barrow Neurological Institute.
🩺 On March 30th each year, we celebrate #NationalDoctorsDay - a day dedicated to honoring physicians for their dedication and service to patients. This year, we invite you to share a message of gratitude for a Barrow team member who made a difference in your life or a loved one`s.
Share your gratitude and hear more about what it means to our team at the link in our bio! ⬆️ https://bar.rw/46zQ9t4
Miles for Migraine is coming up! This event is a fundraiser for #migraine & #headache awareness, treatment & research. The Lewis Headache Center at Barrow Neurological Institute is proud to be a beneficiary of this event.
Come join the Lewis Headache Center team! We cannot wait to see you there. Sign up today at the link in our bio. 👆 https://bar.rw/miles4migraine2026. You can also support the cause as a virtual participant.
🗓️: Saturday, March 14, 2026
⏰: 9 a.m.
📍: Kiwanis Park, Tempe, AZ
Barrow President and CEO, Michael T. Lawton, MD, and Tomoki Hashimoto, MD, have co-authored a new article revealing critical links between microplastics and neurologic health. Published in the Congress Quarterly, the newsmagazine of the Congress of Neurosurgical Surgeons, this highlights the concerning presence of microplastics in our environment and its profound implications, including worse stroke outcomes.
This work is now further supported by a research grant from the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. This success directly demonstrates the power of early-stage funding generated by donors like you, which allows our scientists to test novel ideas, generate preliminary data, and ultimately secure larger, highly competitive grants.
Read the full article here: https://bar.rw/4sbc7dU. Link in bio.
#TBT - We cannot believe that this was ONE year ago today! ⛳ On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, we raised an incredible $1 million through the inaugural golf tournament, The Barrow Open! This tournament was in support of a key initiative: to help athletes safely return to their game after a spine injury.
This initiative aims to establish a first-of-its-kind research lab, the Barrow Sports Biomechanics Spine Laboratory at @barrowneuro. Thanks to your support, Barrow experts are equipped to lead vital research into effective treatments and science-backed return-to-play guidelines, starting with the complex biomechanics of the golf swing. Read more about our progress: https://bar.rw/4sftmuN. Link in bio. ⬆️
The Barrow Open was graciously presented by @pxg with special support from @wedealinhope and took place at the iconic TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. We are incredibly grateful for their support!
Michael T. Lawton, MD, Barrow President and CEO, in collaboration with the Barrow Neuroscience Publications department, after five years of planning, have released the highly anticipated "Seven Cavernomas" textbook - AND it is currently No. 1 on Amazon`s Best Sellers list for neurosurgery textbooks! 👏
"Seven Cavernomas" is the fourth textbook in Dr. Lawton`s "Seven Series" - providing anatomical & surgical insights from a world-renowned vascular neurosurgeon. This latest edition is almost all artwork, created by the certified medical illustrators in the Neuroscience Publications Department at Barrow. Generous support through the Robert F. Spetzler Endowed Chair for Neuroscience enabled the team to finalize the textbook manuscript and art for publication. Please join us in congratulation Dr. Lawton and the Barrow team for this outstanding accomplishment!
What a great event! 👏 This past Saturday, the Arizona Cardinals Foundation hosted the inaugural Cardinals Climb, a community fundraiser organized to support Arizona`s special needs community. The climb raised an incredible $2 million+ through over 8,000 donors and 3,500 participants. A huge thank you to the Arizona Cardinals Foundation and our Barrow community for supporting this important cause!
Today, 6.5 million Americans live with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs). A portion of funding from the Arizona Cardinals Foundation`s will provide Barrow Neurological Institute the resources to create a comprehensive neurological care platform, improving lifelong health outcomes for individuals with IDDs aged 16 and older.
Although the Climb is over, you still have time to make an impact! The fundraising window extends through March 10th. To contribute, please visit https://bar.rw/40pR2R9. Link in bio.
The inaugural Cardinals Climb fundraising event is tomorrow, February 21st, 2026 at State Farm Stadium! ✨ This marquee event is more than a fundraiser - it`s a movement to champion inclusion, elevate care, and create lasting change in the community to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A portion of the proceeds benefits Barrow. Register TODAY! ➡️ https://bar.rw/4tK3BnW
With Barrow, there is hope. 💙 Read Sarah`s full story here: https://bar.rw/4qF8prV
If you have a Barrow story of your own you would like to share, visit us online: https://bar.rw/4kRh6yg
Did you know....last year, your support advanced initiatives within the Sonntag Spine Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, facilitating over 70 abstract presentations at scientific conferences, 13 active Spine Biomechanics Lab projects, and 6 active VR Lab spine projects! These efforts continually push the boundaries of science and medicine, dedicated to enabling patients to achieve a healthy and fulfilling life after surgery. Read more about your impact: https://bar.rw/4kEa3Zr. Link in bio!
#ICYMI - Make sure you read Nicholas` inspirational comeback story! Link in bio.
// Repost @barrowneuro // From pain to the fairway, Nicholas` endoscopic spine surgery success story embodies the comeback spirit we love to see at the WM Phoenix Open.
Read the story here: https://bar.rw/nicholas
Share Your Story
Whether you’re a current of former patient, family member, staff member, or generous donor, we want to hear how Barrow has impacted your life. Your story will help inspire, education and provide hope to all.
