Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Neurology
David C. Anderson, M.D.
Professor and Chairman

Neurology has been an independent department in the Medical School since 1946. Under the leadership of A.B. Baker (chairman from 1946-1974), the Department became world-renowned for excellence in patient care, clinical training, and research. Academic faculty is distributed among four public teaching hospitals: University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview (UMMC), Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital (VAMC), and Regions Medical Center (Regions). These quite different hospitals assure diversity of patients and faculty interests that is one of Minnesota's strengths for clinical programs, training and research.

The University's commitment to neuroscience and strong partnerships with the Departments of Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Neuroscience as well as the Brain Sciences Center, Institute of Human Genetics, and Geriatric Research and Education Clinical Center (GRECC) assure ample resources and opportunities for clinical, educational and scientific collaboration. Outstanding community neurology faculty members provide additional expertise and further expand the University.

Across the public teaching hospitals, the Department cares for more than 1000 neurology inpatients per year, 2000 inpatient consults, and 10,000 outpatient visits. All of the teaching hospitals provide services in general neurology. Subspecialty programs in neuromuscular diseases, epilepsy, stroke, movement disorders, ataxia, pain, cognitive disorders, sleep disorders, and others provide additional focused expertise for our patients and community.

Education is a key academic mission of the department. Academic faculty direct three required undergraduate programs:  Neuropathophysiology, Physician and Patient, and the Neurology Clerkship. The Clerkship is offered at all four of the public teaching hospitals as well as in several community hospitals. Academic faculty members collaborate in required courses sponsored in the Neuroscience and Psychiatry Departments. The Department provides graduate residency training in neurology and fellowships in clinical neurophysiology and multiple sclerosis. With Pediatrics, Neurology offers training in Child Neurology.

Basic, translational and clinical research is the other key academic mission of the Department. Basic and translational research in neurodegeneration and neuroimaging has brought world-wide recognition for the seminal contributions to our faculty members. Clinical research is ongoing in the Clinical Neurosciences Research Unit (CNRU) at the UMMC, the Berman Center at HCMC, the GRECC at the VAMC, and at Regions.

I welcome you to our Department.