New Chair, Dr. Daniel Woo Brings Visionary Leadership to UB Neurology

Dear friends and colleagues,

I am excited to announce the appointment of Daniel Woo, MD, as the new Irvin and Rosemary Smith Endowed Chair of the Department of Neurology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, effective December 1. Dr. Woo brings extensive experience, expertise and a passion for advancing neurological care, making him a vital addition to our leadership team.

In addition to this role, Dr. Woo will serve as president and chief executive officer of UBMD Neurology, part of UBMD Physicians’ Group.

Currently serving as a professor and most recently vice chair of clinical research in the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Dr. Woo has been one of the most consistently funded researchers by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) over the last decade. His most cherished accomplishment, however, is the mentorship of emerging scientists. Over the past 10 years, he has guided multiple investigators to independent research awards, developed nine career development awards, and served as a mentor on national platforms such as the NIH/NINDS Clinical Trials Methodology Course and the NeuroNEXT Education Committee. He also currently leads a highly successful T32 fellowship program.

As an internationally recognized leader in stroke research, Dr. Woo is among the top-funded investigators in neurology, with over $70 million as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator in lifetime funding, playing a pivotal role in the University of Cincinnati’s success in securing National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. Additionally, he has published over 491 papers, further advancing the field of neurology and strengthening the university’s research impact.

Dr. Woo earned his medical degree and a master’s degree in molecular genetics from the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine. His distinguished career includes several leadership roles, such as associate director of clinical research for the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and associate director of the UC Center for Environmental Genetics.

With an impressive national reputation, Dr. Woo brings a wide range of leadership experience across our tripartite mission. He has been highly sought after for leadership roles across the country but chose to join UB because of our shared mission, vision and values.

A pioneer in the genetic epidemiology of stroke, particularly intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), Dr. Woo led the first large-scale genome-wide association study that identified a novel genetic risk factor for ICH. His research is groundbreaking, particularly in addressing the disproportionate stroke risk among African Americans and Hispanics, who are not only twice as likely to suffer from ICH but are affected on average 10 years earlier, leading to higher rates of disability. His work has also revealed variations in traditional risk factors based on race/ethnicity and sex.

Expanding his research beyond the acute phase of stroke, Dr. Woo’s studies have uncovered that brain hemorrhage may trigger a chronic, neurodegenerative process in some survivors—a discovery that challenges the traditional view of stroke as a singular event.

Dr. Woo’s commitment to patient care extends beyond his clinical practice. He has been an active member of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky stroke team, providing in-person and telemedicine stroke coverage across 19 hospitals and three states for over two decades. He also founded multiple service lines, including a transcranial doppler monitoring service and a community-wide hypothermia protocol for cardiac arrest patients. Additionally, he co-founded the Santa Maria Price Hill Free Clinic, offering free health care to uninsured individuals in Greater Cincinnati.

In addition to his academic and clinical work, Dr. Woo is dedicated to serving underserved communities. At the Good Samaritan Hospital – Price Hill Free Clinic, he provides neurologic subspecialty care to patients with limited resources. His advocacy for equitable health care is evident in his mentorship philosophy, which emphasizes assessing qualitative traits to address disparities in academic recruitment. Many of his historically underrepresented trainees have achieved notable success under his guidance.

Dr. Woo’s expertise, leadership, and commitment to advancing research and patient care will undoubtedly elevate the Department of Neurology and strengthen our institution’s mission in excellence across patient care, research, and education. Please join us in welcoming and congratulating Dr. Woo in his new roles.

Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to Steven D. Schwaitzberg, MD, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, for his dedicated service as interim chair of neurology following Gil Wolfe, MD’s departure from his chair role in June. A special thanks also to Marc Halterman, MD, PhD, senior associate dean and executive director for the Office of Research,
and the search committee for their diligence and commitment in identifying our new chair.

Best wishes,

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA
Dean, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Vice President for Health Sciences
University at Buffalo