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<span>Indiana University School of Medicine has named Laurie Gutmann, MD, the new chair for the Department of Neurology. Gutmann also will serve as co-director of the Neuroscience Institute, an umbrella entity designed to facilitate collaboration among neuroscience disciplines at IU School of Medicine and IU Health.</span>

IU School of Medicine names top neurologist to lead Department of Neurology

Laurie Gutmann neurology chair
INDIANAPOLIS– Indiana University School of Medicine has recruited Laurie Gutmann, MD, as chair for the Department of Neurology. Gutmann also will serve as co-director of the Neuroscience Institute, an umbrella entity designed to facilitate collaboration among neuroscience disciplines at IU School of Medicine and IU Health.

Gutmann brings a tremendous amount of clinical, research, education and administrative experience to the role and has demonstrated strong leadership abilities as vice chair of clinical research and director of the Neurology Office of Clinical Trials for the Department of Neurology at the University of Iowa, along with serving as associate director of clinical research for the Iowa Neuroscience Institute.

Her leadership on the national level includes serving eight years as a director for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), including three years as chair of the Neurology Council, and serving on the Neurology Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), chairing the committee for the last three years. Working with a diverse group of colleagues, Gutmann helped revise the Neurology Program requirements for the ACGME, and she has led or participated in several initiatives for the American Academy of Neurology encompassing workforce development, women’s leadership and educational programs.

Previously, Gutmann served as a program officer for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was faculty at West Virginia University and at University of Iowa. Her work helped build a multidisciplinary stroke research program at West Virginia and the multidisciplinary Myotonic Dystrophy Clinic and funded myotonic dystrophy research program at Iowa. She has been co-principal investigator on an NINDS site infrastructure grant for early clinical trials in rare neurological disorders (NeuroNEXT). She also developed the Neurology Office of Clinical Trials at Iowa which is now self-sustaining and supports over 60 clinical trials. Additionally, Gutmann and three collaborators developed an NINDS-funded Clinical Trials Methodology Course which trains up to 30 new clinical trial investigators a year.

“Dr. Gutmann has been recognized as both a top medical provider and top educator and is often invited to lecture for national professional organizations and medical schools across the country,” said IU School of Medicine Dean Jay Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA. “I am confident Dr. Gutmann will be a dynamic leader who will continue to advance the outstanding work being done in neurology at IU School of Medicine.”

Gutmann earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in biology from Oberlin College (Ohio) and her medical degree from West Virginia University Medical School. She completed a transitional year residency at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pennsylvania, and her neurology residency at University of Virginia, where she continued her training as a Neuromuscular Diseases/EMG Fellow.

Gutmann is arriving at time when the Department of Neurology is in an exciting research growth phase and is now 21st in NIH ranking with research studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, neuromuscular disorders, epilepsy, movement disorders, neuropsychology, pediatric neurology and stroke.

“Dr. Gutmann will add momentum to these efforts, bringing a vision for increased collaboration across neuro research areas and departments to enhance clinical care,” Hess said.

As co-director of the Neuroscience Institute, Dr. Gutmann will work alongside leaders in the Department of Neurosurgery and Stark Neurosciences Research Institute to build a collaborative, cross-discipline research program.

“I have strong interest in pursuing collaborative opportunities for improved clinical care, particularly for children with neurological disorders, and addressing continuum of care throughout the lifespan,” Gutmann said. “Building opportunities to improve the delivery of neurologic care across the IU Health network could include a variety of approaches such as teleneurology, educational programs and partnerships with primary care physicians, along with strengthening the current network of community neurologists caring for both adults and children. I believe the Department of Neurology at IU School of Medicine is uniquely positioned to enhance partnerships across the Academic Health Center and the state, to build and grow programs, and to advance neurologic care for the people of Indiana.”

Gutmann will be following Robert Pascuzzi, MD, in the position of chair. Pascuzzi served for 16 years as leader of the department, and will be continuing on as a faculty member.

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IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.