Sept. 21, 2011

Richerson named the Roy J. Carver Chair in Neuroscience

Leaders of the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust of Muscatine, Iowa, University of Iowa Health Care and the UI Foundation have announced a $2 million gift from the Carver Charitable Trust that will establish the Roy J. Carver Chair in Neuroscience.

George Richerson, M.D., Ph.D., professor and head of neurology, will serve as the Roy J. Carver Chair in Neuroscience.

Richerson is an internationally recognized neurologist whose research efforts include projects to better understand sudden infant death syndrome and sudden death in epilepsy, as well as to develop new treatments for Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. He joined the UI faculty in 2010 as head of the Department of Neurology.

"I am honored to receive the Roy J. Carver Chair in Neuroscience," said Richerson. "This position provides me with a tremendous opportunity to help advance Mr. Carver's legacy of visionary support for research at the University of Iowa."

Richerson received a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering with honors and distinction from Iowa State University in 1980, and a medical degree and a doctoral degree in physiology and biophysics in 1987 from the UI.

He completed a residency in neurology at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 1991, and served as chief resident from 1990 to 1991. He completed an internship at Waterbury Hospital Health Center in Waterbury, Conn., in 1988. He also served as an emergency room physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Haven, Conn., from 1988 to 1991.

The UI Foundation is the preferred channel of support for private contributions to all areas of the UI. Foundation staff work with alumni and friends to provide funds for facilities improvements, scholarships, professorships and other forms of support for the UI.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Health Care Media Relations, 200 Hawkins Drive, Room W319 GH, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1009

MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Brown, 319-356-7124, jennifer-l-brown@uiowa.edu