Welcome to the Department of Neurology at the University of Chicago! Embedded in one of the premier universities in the world our department has a long and storied history that dates back to the late 19th century and early 20th century with Henry H. Donaldson, former president of the American Neurological Association, to Charles Herrick, a famous neuro-anatomist, Douglas Buchanan, the father of pediatric neurology and Paul Bucy, Sean Mullan, and Bryce Weir, renowned neurosurgeons.
The modern Department of Neurology was formed by Barry Arnason in 1976. Besides being a pioneer in multiple sclerosis and neuro-inflammation, Dr. Arnason’s legacy includes training many residents and faculty who would become chairs of Neurology around the world. It remains a central mission of the department of neurology at the University of Chicago to train the next generation of scientists, educators, and clinicians. Our residency is the keystone of our department with 7 residents per year and multiple accredited fellowship programs.
Today, the field of neurology has seen the advent of immunotherapies for multiple sclerosis, the targeted treatments for epilepsy and movement disorders, and acute therapies for stroke which has made for even more exciting times for the field of neurology with much to offer our patients. Now stem cell and gene therapies as well as brain-machine interface technologies, once only imagined, are within reach. With collaborative partnerships with the Departments of Neurosurgery, Radiology, Neurobiology, the Neuroscience Institute, the Argonne National Laboratory, and many other University of Chicago department and affiliates, our department is at the forefront of neurosciences.
My goal as chair of the Department of Neurology is to continue to expand this legacy from its basic neuroscience roots to clinical and translational neurology. Our department is leading trials in multiple sclerosis, cerebellar ataxias, stroke, ALS, multiple systems atrophy, and many other areas. With one of the first neuro-ICUs in the United States and the first comprehensive stroke center in Chicago, our neurologists are dedicated to serving our community and reducing the burden of acute neurologic disease. Our centers for ataxias and ALS see patients from around the world, while our epilepsy, movement, and multiple sclerosis centers have achieved centers of excellence recognition.
We are in an exciting time at the University of Chicago and for the Department of Neurology. With the growth of neurosciences and neurology on campus, new tests and treatments to offer, and expansion of the health system into the South Side of Chicago and Northwest Indiana, we are poised to make a major difference in the lives of our patients and their families.
Shyam Prabhakaran, MD
Chair, Department of Neurology