Joe Verghese, MBBS, MD, MS, has been appointed chair of the Department of Neurology at the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University. His appointment by Peter Igarashi, MD, Knapp Dean of the RSOM, will begin on October 14.
Dr. Verghese is recognized nationally for his expertise in gait and cognition in aging. He joins RSOM after over two decades at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. At Einstein, he served as professor of neurology and medicine and was the inaugural chief of the Division of Cognitive & Motor Aging in the Department of Neurology. He also held roles such as Murray D. Gross Memorial Faculty Scholar in Gerontology and founding director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for the Aging Brain.
“Our aging society has a great need for medical experts who will advance preventive and treatment strategies for age-related illnesses," said Dr. Igarashi. "The selection of Dr. Verghese as our new Neurology Chair ensures that this area of medicine will thrive within the Renaissance School of Medicine."
Dr. Verghese’s research has focused on non-cognitive features in prodromal stages of dementia and defining Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome to identify older adults at high risk for dementia.
“By harnessing the expertise of our exceptional Neurology team at Stony Brook, I believe we can deepen our understanding of neurological disorders," said Dr. Verghese. "My primary goal as Chair is to cultivate a collaborative environment that not only fosters innovative research and comprehensive patient care but also prioritizes education."
Dr. Verghese graduated from St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, India, completed postgraduate training in internal medicine and neurology in the United Kingdom, followed by a neurology residency at Einstein in 1998.
He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and secured over $200 million in research funding from NIH since 2002.
Dr. Verghese is a member and fellow of several professional organizations including the American Academy of Neurology and has received numerous accolades throughout his career.