Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor joins
Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation Board of Directors as Honorary Member

Sandra Day O'Connor, retired Supreme Court Justice and Eric Reiman, MD, medical director of Banner Alzheimer's Institute

Board provides platform for continued advocacy of Alzheimer’s research.

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 16, 2010) – The Board of Directors of the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation, the philanthropic resource for Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, part of Phoenix-based nonprofit Banner Health, welcomes retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor as an honorary member. A vocal supporter of the need to speed up Alzheimer’s research efforts, O’Connor has been motivated by a personal tie to the devastating disease. 

The first female member of the Supreme Court, O’Connor retired in 2006 after serving 25 years in the nation’s highest court of law. Upon announcing her retirement, she cited the need to care for her husband as a reason for leaving the bench. John J. O’Connor III, her husband of nearly 57 years, suffered the effects of Alzheimer’s for almost 20 years prior to dying of complications from the disease in November 2009.

Since her retirement, O’Connor has pressed Congress to speed up Alzheimer’s research and to protect the rights of those who may present genetic links to the condition.

In October 2006, O’Connor took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the newly established Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. Her recent addition to the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation Board underscores the import and impact of the work being done at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute to research new disease-slowing therapies and provide the highest level of care for patients and families.

“Counting Justice O’Connor as an advocate is a true testament to the value of what we’re doing,” said Eric Reiman, MD, executive director of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. “Having someone of her caliber express such confidence is immensely rewarding.” 

To learn more or to inquire about supporting Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation, please call (602) 839-3851 or visit www.BannerHealth.org/AlzFoundation 

About Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation
Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation, a partner to Banner Health Foundation, secures and stewards charitable contributions to advance Banner Health’s mission to make a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care. Specifically, contributions secured through Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation support the nonprofit Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in its mission to end Alzheimer’s disease without losing a generation while setting a new standard of care for patients and families. Donations made to the Foundation support a wide range of research initiatives and help fund patient and family services so vital to caring for those with the disease. Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation is supported by the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.org/AlzFoundation

About Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
Banner Alzheimer’s Institute is a comprehensive treatment and research facility dedicated to helping those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory and cognitive functioning challenges. It offers clinical care for patients; provides education, referral and support services for families and caregivers; and conducts leading-edge research in clinical trials, brain imaging and genetics studies. The Institute is devoted to finding effective Alzheimer’s disease-slowing and prevention treatments in the shortest time possible. Banner Alzheimer’s Institute is owned and operated by Phoenix-based Banner Health, a nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.BannerAlz.org.