Dr. Fayad: ‘Time is right’ to step down as neurological sciences chair

After nearly 10 years as chairman of the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences, Pierre Fayad, M.D., will step down at end of the year.

Pierre Fayad, M.D.

Daniel Murman, M.D.

He will continue as a professor in the department, pursuing his clinical and academic activities.

“Dr. Fayad did an incredible job as chairman,” said Rod Markin, M.D., Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Medicine. “He literally created the department and built it into one of the College of Medicine’s jewels.”

Dr. Fayad also will:

• Continue as director of The Nebraska Medical Center’s Stroke Center;
  
• Assume the directorship of the neurology residency program; and
  
• Pursue the development of a telestroke and teleneurology program.

Dr. Fayad, who founded the neurological sciences department in 2001 after serving on the Yale University School of Medicine faculty for 12 years, said the time was right for a change.

Dr. Murman file Hometown: Hastings Education: M.D., UNMC, 1989 Expertise: Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and geriatric neurology Previous position: Seven years on the faculty at Michigan State University

“I’m proud of all the things we’ve accomplished,” he said. “The challenges were great and the successes speak for themselves.”

Dan Murman, M.D., has been named interim chairman for neurological sciences effective Jan. 1.

As chairman, Dr. Fayad helped:

• Develop clinical and academic regional neurology subspecialty programs for several diseases including stroke, movement disorders and peripheral nerve and neuromuscular diseases, many of which received the highest levels of certification nationally;
  
• Establish a stroke center at The Nebraska Medical Center — the first nationally certified primary stroke center in Nebraska and the region;
  
• Build a neurology and neurosurgery program at the hospital that ranked in the top 50 nationally;
  
• Restore and achieve continued reaccredition for the neurology residency program; and
  
• Expand the program from six to nine residents.

Dr. Murman joined the department’s faculty seven years ago as associate professor, and built and directed the memory disorders and behavioral neurology program. He also is medical director for the UNMC Physicians Outpatient Neurosciences Center.

“Dr. Fayad has done an outstanding job,” Dr. Murman said. “I hope to continue his successes and keep building the department through recruitment and development.”