University of Iowa neurologist, Matthew Rizzo, M.D., has been selected as the Frances and Edgar Reynolds Professor and Chair of the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences. He also will be named the co-director of the Nebraska Neuroscience Alliance (NNA) joining Howard Gendelman, M.D., chair of the UNMC Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, in that role.
The appointment, which was announced today by Bradley Britigan, M.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, is effective April 1.
See sidebar at right: Meet Dr. Rizzo
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Rizzo join us,” Dr. Britigan said. “He’s an outstanding clinician, teacher, and investigator who will bring a wealth of experience and leadership in a wide range of neurological disorders to UNMC. He also has an exceptional track record of interdisciplinary program development which makes him the ideal individual to lead the department and partner with Dr. Gendelman to lead neuroscience at UNMC to the next level.”
Dr. Rizzo said the key subspecialties in the department – stroke, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders and behavioral neurology – provide a promising nucleus on which to build.
“I am honored to be joining UNMC, a growing institution with progressive leadership and collaborators committed to world-class research, education and neurological care,” Dr. Rizzo said. “We have resources to strengthen existing programs and create new ones with connections across departmental and collegiate silos, institutions and industry.”
He is especially intrigued by the collaborative opportunities that can take place with neurosurgery, psychiatry, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, nanomedicine and regenerative medicine.
In conjunction with the NNA and other colleagues, Dr. Rizzo plans to bring a number of new faculty to UNMC to expand the area of mind brain health. Formed in 2011, the NNA brings together UNMC’s three top neuroscience programs — the departments of neurological sciences and pharmacology and experimental neuroscience and the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
Joining Dr. Rizzo at UNMC will be Toby Warden, Ph.D., currently in an administrative role with the National Academy of Sciences. She will serve as scientific administrator for neurological sciences and help facilitate neuroscience research growth in the department, the NNA, and throughout UNMC.
As an MD with strong interest in both developmental and adult-aging neuroscience, and now as an MPH student in the College of Public Health, I would would be very interested in knowing if Dr. Rizzo plans to initiate something like the ABMI here at UNMC.
Matthew Bosley, M.D.
Dr. Bosely, Thanks for your interest. The short answer is yes, with collaboration from other thought leaders and interested parties around campus, as well as from the administration and the Omaha community. I look forward to working with the CPH and would be glad to hear your smart ideas. Matt