Kirk R. Daffner, MD ’84, chief of the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology and director of the Center for Brain/Mind Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), has been installed as the first incumbent of the J. David and Virginia Wimberly Professorship in Neurology at HMS. Established by J. David Wimberly—a generous philanthropic partner and advocate for neurodegenerative research across HMS—the professorship recognizes the stellar care his late wife received at BWH. Daffner’s research focuses on the changes associated with normal aging and neurological disease. By founding the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology at BWH, he built a world-class center to ensure that patients are accurately diagnosed and offered appropriate treatment strategies.

Daffner’s work has spurred the development of clinical centers and research laboratories investigating memory, successful cognitive aging, and dementia.