Stroke Expert from Yale University Named Chairman
of UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences
Pierre Fayad, M.D., an expert in stroke and neurovascular disease at
Yale University, has been named Reynolds Centennial Professor and Chairman
of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Neurological
Sciences.
The appointment, which is effective April 1, is subject to approval
of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Dr. Fayad, 44, is director
of the Yale Vascular Neurology Program and co-director of the Yale Cerebrovascular
Center.
A native of Lebanon, Dr. Fayad can write and speak fluently in four
languages. He earned his medical degree from the University of Rome in
1983, then completed his internship and neurology residency training at
the State University of New York at Buffalo.
From 1989 to 1991, Dr. Fayad did a fellowship in vascular neurology
and stroke at the Yale University School of Medicine. He was named an instructor
in the Neurology Department at Yale in 1991 and was elevated to assistant
professor in 1992 and associate professor in 1997.
In coming to UNMC, Dr. Fayad takes over a newly structured department
that will allow UNMC to better meet the increased neurological needs of
the state and region, said James Armitage, M.D., dean of the UNMC College
of Medicine. The department has been expanded to encompass neurophysiology,
neuropharmacology and other related areas of the neurosciences.
“Nebraska is one of the leading states in terms of the aging population.
Since many neurological diseases are associated with older age, it’s important
that we provide Omaha and Nebraska with the type of neurological care that
is needed,” Dr. Fayad said. “My goal is to build a stroke program that
will be the jewel of the department, UNMC and the region. With the many
advances in care and research taking place nationally and internationally,
UNMC should be a significant contributor in the advancement of the acute
treatments of stroke and in its prevention.”
In addition to stroke, Dr. Fayad also hopes to elevate the level of
care that UNMC provides for other neurologic ailments, such as epilepsy,
neuromuscular disease, movement disorders, and degenerative brain disorders
like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s dementia.
An active researcher, Dr. Fayad continues to be a leading investigator
in numerous studies investigating newer treatments of acute stroke. He
has been an active investigator in several trials studying medical, interventional
and surgical treatments for the acute treatment of stroke and its prevention,
including several funded through the National Institutes of Health. He
has more than 50 articles and chapters published in journals and books.
He chairs or serves on several monitoring boards for national and international
multicenter research studies, and he is a committed educator and a frequent
national and international lecturer.
Dr Fayad is an active member of several professional organizations and
is a fellow on the Stroke Council of the American Stroke Association. He
also served as co-chairman for the national media campaign, “Stroke in
America,” through the National Stroke Association.