The Department of Neurology is delighted to share that Clio Rubinos, MD, MS, FACNS has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Mridha Spirit of Neurology Humanitarian Award. This recognition, bestowed by the American Academy of Neurology and supported by the American Brain Foundation through the Dr. Debasish and Chinu Mridha Endowment Fund, highlights physicians who demonstrate remarkable dedication to serving individuals in difficult circumstances around the world.
A Record of Service and Leadership
Dr. Rubinos serves as an Associate Professor of Neurology and is widely recognized for her work in neurocritical care, electroencephalography, and seizure management. Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to helping patients who face significant medical and logistical challenges in obtaining neurological care.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Dr. Rubinos established UNC’s Post Acute Symptomatic Seizure (PASS) Clinic, a first-of-its-kind program in North Carolina designed to deliver structured follow-up care for individuals recovering from acute symptomatic seizures. The PASS Clinic provides specialized seizure management while also offering post–intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up, supporting patients recovering from severe neurological illness during a critical phase of recovery.
Dr. Rubinos has also worked to reduce disparities in the care of patients with seizures and status epilepticus across North Carolina, helping strengthen systems of care that improve access to specialized neurological evaluation and monitoring for patients in both rural and urban settings.
Global Collaboration and Educational Impact
Beyond her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Rubinos has worked extensively with partners across Latin America and Africa to strengthen neurological care and training. She has led initiatives to expand access to continuous electroencephalography (cEEG)—a critical technology used to detect seizures and monitor critically ill patients—including work implementing cEEG programs in Peru and ongoing efforts to establish similar capabilities in Zambia.
Dr. Rubinos has also contributed to international education efforts by leading the inclusive and structured translation of the Standardized ICU EEG Terminology into Spanish, improving access to neurocritical care knowledge, supporting research across diverse settings, and fostering clearer communication among clinicians throughout Spanish-speaking regions
As Co-Director of UNC’s Neurology Global Health Elective, she has helped build sustained academic collaborations, led international workshops, and provided education to physicians and trainees across multiple countries, contributing to the growth of neurological expertise in regions with limited specialized resources.
Commitment to Clear Communication and Patient Support
Dr. Rubinos is also an active member of UNC initiatives focused on improving care for Spanish-speaking patients. Working with interdisciplinary teams, she has helped develop Spanish-language educational video resources designed to explain neurological conditions and hospital procedures in a clear and accessible way, helping ensure that patients and families receive critical medical information in their preferred language.
A Well-Deserved Honor
Through her clinical leadership, efforts to improve neurological care across North Carolina, global health engagement, educational initiatives, and dedication to patients facing difficult circumstances, Dr. Rubinos exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the neurological profession. Her selection for the Mridha Spirit of Neurology Humanitarian Award brings well-earned recognition to years of work carried out with dedication, compassion, and a commitment to equitable neurological care.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Clio Rubinos on this outstanding achievement.