Contact: Will Sansom, (210) 567-2579

Robin L. Brey, M.D., who occupies the Edna Smith Dielmann Distinguished University Chair, joined the Health Science Center faculty in 1989.
Printer Friendly Format

SAN ANTONIO (June 16, 2009) — Robin L. Brey, M.D., associate dean for research in the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, has been named founding chairwoman of the Department of Neurology and holder of the Edna Smith Dielmann Distinguished University Chair, announced Glenn Halff, M.D., acting dean of the School of Medicine.

Dr. Brey, professor of neurology, sees patients at UT Medicine San Antonio, the multispecialty practice of School of Medicine physicians. She also treats patients at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie Murphy Division. The Department of Neurology for many years was a division of the Department of Medicine.

Research focuses are stokes, blood clots and lupus
Dr. Brey is known for studies of the relationship between stroke and a set of proteins called antiphospholipid antibodies. These antibodies hinder the normal function of blood vessels, resulting in anomalies such as thromboses (blood clots).

Dr. Brey also has helped document the neuropsychiatric manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Commonly known as lupus, this is a chronic disease in which the body’s immune system goes on the offensive against its own tissues and organs. Antiphospholipid antibodies play a key role in lupus.

National leader in neurology
Dr. Brey actively serves her profession. She was a member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Board of Directors from 2003 to 2007, and is editor-in-chief of Neurology Now, the AAN publication for neurology patients, their families and the lay public.

“Dr. Robin Brey is an exemplary and compassionate physician and researcher,” Dr. Halff said. “It is a pleasure to announce her appointment to lead the Health Science Center’s initiatives in the field of neurology and to occupy an endowed chair.”

Department of Neurology initiatives
The Department of Neurology encompasses many initiatives, including:

• The South Texas Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, a Level IV epilepsy program accredited by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers
  
  
• A stroke and cerebrovascular disorders program that conducts clinical research studies geared toward stroke prevention and treatment
  
  
• A neuromuscular disorders program that conducts clinical research studies in a variety of neuromuscular diseases, including muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease, myasthenia gravis and peripheral neuropathy.

Professional education and training
Dr. Brey received her M.D. from the University of Arizona in 1981, completed her internship in internal medicine at Providence Hospital in Portland, Ore., in 1982, and her residency in neurology from Oregon Health & Science University in 1985. She also completed a fellowship in “Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine” in 2007.

From 1985 to 1989, Dr. Brey was a staff neurologist in the U.S. Air Force at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio. She joined the Health Science Center faculty in 1989 in the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, and was appointed in 2005 to lead the research efforts in the School of Medicine.

Major increase in medical research under Dr. Brey’s leadership
“Under her stewardship, the funding of research in the School of Medicine has increased 56 percent over the last two years,” Dr. Halff said. “Additionally, she has spearheaded the effort that resulted in the school offering the M.D. with Distinction in Research degree, and she has increased the number of students who have enrolled in the Summer Mentored Research Program.”

In recognition of Dr. Brey’s new responsibilities, Dr. Halff announced that Merry L. Lindsey, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine, Division of Cardiology, was appointed as interim assistant dean for medical student research programs.

# # #
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is the leading research institution in South Texas and one of the major health sciences universities in the world. With an operating budget of $668 million, the Health Science Center is the chief catalyst for the $16.3 billion biosciences and health care sector in San Antonio’s economy. The Health Science Center has had an estimated $36 billion impact on the region since inception and has expanded to six campuses in San Antonio, Laredo, Harlingen and Edinburg. More than 26,400 graduates (physicians, dentists, nurses, scientists and other health professionals) serve in their fields, including many in Texas. Health Science Center faculty are international leaders in cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, aging, stroke prevention, kidney disease, orthopaedics, research imaging, transplant surgery, psychiatry and clinical neurosciences, pain management, genetics, nursing, dentistry and many other fields. For more information, visit www.uthscsa.edu.