Advancing Neuroscience Research

Advancing neuroscience research—a key goal at Saint Luke's has received a generous boost thanks to Kansas City, Missouri, resident Pat Brinker. Working through the Saint Luke's Foundation, earlier this year, Pat established the Gerald Joseph "Joe" Brinker Neuroscience Research Endowed Fund in honor of her late husband, who passed away in 2008 from a ruptured brain aneurysm. 

Pat had already been a contributor to Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and was looking for additional ways to help. When her sister, who volunteers for Saint Luke's, suggested an endowment fund in Joe's name, Pat liked the idea. In 2024, she met with Coleman Martin, MD, the neurologist who cared for Joe during his time at Saint Luke's. Dr. Martin brought her up to date on Saint Luke's neurology care and research, and Pat made the decision to donate. "I wanted Saint Luke's to have the best research possible, and to be able to give the best care possible," she says. 

Aneurysms are often called "silent killers," because patients often have few, if any, symptoms. Joe, who was 57, had a family history of strokes, but he was in good health apart from high blood pressure. Helping other people benefit from increased knowledge was one of Pat's goals. 

Dr. Martin says that Pat's donation comes at an important time for neuroscience research. "We very much want to participate in research both to advance the field and to continue our standing as a leading neuroscience center. Support such as hers lets us participate in trials and studies that we wouldn't otherwise be able to, and that will ideally lead to improved patient outcomes." 

Some recent neuroscience research studies at Saint Luke's include improved data analysis to identify patients who need neurointervention and treat them quickly, as well as projects through the National Institutes of Health's StrokeNet, which conducts clinical trials to study strokes and improve treatment. 

Both Pat and Joe grew up in Kansas and met in 1970 on their first day on the job at Bendix (later Honeywell). They married in 1973, settled in the Longview Lake area, and enjoyed 35 years together. "Since we can't use our retirement money together, this is the next best thing," Pat says. "I wanted it to go to something worthwhile, and this can hopefully help somebody else."