By Anna Shavers
In October 2022, six of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health’s leading clinicians and researchers received recognition as endowed chairs and professors for their dedication to medical education, research and leadership.
Clinicians and researchers honored at the University of Florida College of Medicine 2022 Celebrating Distinction ceremony included Chris Butson, Ph.D., Ayşegül Gündüz, Ph.D., Christopher Hess, M.D., Matthew LaVoie, Ph.D., Torge Rempe, M.D. and Malú Gámez Tansey, Ph.D.
These recently appointed, endowed chairs and professors embody the Fixel institute core value that collaboration fuels possibility and discovery as each clinician and researcher represents various departments across the University of Florida, including the McKnight Brain Institute, the Department of Neurology (Movement Disorders and Multiple Sclerosis), the Department of Neuroscience, the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease and the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering.
“We have the potential to impact more lives by leaning in and developing the top talent in the field. By providing robust resources and promoting creativity as well as innovation we can have true impact,” said Michael Okun, M.D., executive director of the Fixel Institute and chair and professor of neurology at the University of Florida. “We are proud to present these professorships and chairs to this incredibly talented group of 6 faculty who are changing lives while pushing the horizons of science and discovery.”
Below is a comprehensive list of the endowed chairs and professors honored at the 2022 Celebrating Distinction ceremony. Orange text denotes the endowed chair or professorship received during the event.
Lee Fixel Chair for Neurotherapeutics
Christopher Butson, Ph.D.
Professor of Neurology
Fixel Brain Mapping Professor
Ayşegül Gündüz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
The Jill F. and Richard W. Cope Professorship
Christopher Hess, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Movement Disorders Fellowship Director and Medical Director
Director of Neurotechnology Program for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration
Fixel Family Chair
Matthew LaVoie, Ph.D.
Co-Director of Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease
Associate Chair for Research-Neurology
The William T. and Janice M. Neely Professorship for Research in Multiple Sclerosis
Torge Rempe, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Norman and Susan Fixel Chair
Malú Gámez Tansey, Ph.D.
Co-Director of Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease
