History

The history of neurology at the University of Florida College of Medicine began soon after the medical school itself was established in 1956, when the institution became the first state-supported medical school in Florida. From the start, the college emphasized interdisciplinary biomedical science and clinical innovation, which helped lay the groundwork for neurological research and training programs.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, neurology began to grow into a recognized academic discipline at UF. Influential neurologists—including leaders such as Kenneth M. Heilman—helped establish internationally recognized work in behavioral neurology, cognition, and brain–behavior relationships. Heilman joined the UF faculty in 1970 and helped train generations of neurologists while advancing research on attention, language, and motor control.

At the same time, UF strengthened its basic science foundation by creating the Department of Neuroscience in 1970, one of the first interdisciplinary neuroscience departments in the United States. This department worked closely with neurology clinicians to integrate laboratory science with patient care and education.

In the following decades, UF neurology expanded its clinical services and subspecialty expertise. Programs developed in areas such as Stroke and cerebrovascular diseases, Epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology, Neuromuscular disorders, Behavioral neurology and neuropsychology, Movement disorders and Parkinson’s disease.

UF became particularly well known for behavioral neurology and cognitive neuroscience, partly through the work of Heilman and colleagues who trained many specialists that later spread throughout the world.

During this period, UF also invested heavily in neuroscience infrastructure, including the creation of the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida, which brought together neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroscientists, and rehabilitation specialists to collaborate on research and patient care.

In the early 21st century, UF neurology gained national recognition for research in Parkinson’s disease, deep brain stimulation, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Two major milestones were the opening of the Neuromedicine Hospital facility at UF Health in 2017, and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, in 2019.

The Neuromedicine Hospital strengthened the department’s ability to provide comprehensive care for patients with all neurological illnesses. The facility supports advanced stroke evaluation, acute treatment, and post-stroke management, integrating neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and critical care teams. This expansion significantly enhanced the department’s capacity to deliver rapid, specialized neurovascular care and to support clinical research.

The development of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases grew out of UF’s movement disorders and neurorestoration programs. The institute became a major hub for multidisciplinary treatment and research on Parkinson’s disease and related conditions.

Under the leadership of Michael S. Okun, who served as chair of neurology from 2015 to 2023, the department underwent significant expansion. During this time:
Research funding more than doubled, the faculty size doubled and numerous new programs were created, including neurocritical care, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, headache, and ALS programs. Training opportunities expanded significantly with the addition of new fellowships and research initiatives across multiple subspecialties.

In 2023, Dr. Michael S. Jaffee became chair of the department. Under his leadership, the department has continued to expand its faculty and grow its research enterprise, with Neurology and Neuroscience becoming the #2 best funded programs in NIH grants, according to the Blue Ridge rankings. His leadership emphasizes multidisciplinary neurological care while advancing programs in brain injury, sleep medicine, and neuroresilience, and continuing to strengthen the department’s mission in clinical care, research, and education. Additional highlights include launching and expanding one of the largest fleets of Mobile Stroke Units in the state, actively supporting Team USA as a national medical center by helping treat athletes and train Team USA medical personnel, and partnering with state government to develop policy for acquired brain injuries as well as innovative collaborations to advance brain health initiatives.

Today, the UF Department of Neurology is a large academic department with more than 60 faculty members and numerous subspecialty programs, collaborating closely with the McKnight Brain Institute and the Fixel Institute. Its mission centers on three core areas:

Patient care across the full spectrum of neurological diseases
Research in neurodegenerative disease, brain injury, stroke, and acquired neurological conditions
Education and training of students, residents, fellows, and neuroscientists.