Dear Members of the PNS,

It is with great sorrow that we inform you of the passing of Austin J. Sumner, our esteemed colleague and father of our Past-President, Charlotte Sumner. He was a participant in the original Peripheral Nerve Study Group and was an active member of the PNS since its inception. Among his many leadership roles, he was Chair of Neurology at Louisiana State University in New Orleans, President of the AANEM, and Chair of the AAN Brain Foundation.

Those of us who trained, worked, collaborated with him and enjoyed his company will remember a wonderful teacher and mentor, a superlative clinician, a true master of electrodiagnosis and a man of widespread interests. His many contributions to our field have been foundational.

Austin is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jane, his daughter Charlotte and son Austin and four grandchildren.

Dr. Richard Lewis

Dr. David Cornblath

We will honor and remember Dr. Sumner as a remarkable man, physician, and mentor at the upcoming Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS) Meeting in Maastricht in 2026.