Thomas J Grabowski appointed to Endowed Professorship for Brain Health Innovations

Department news | November 30, 2022


Thomas J Grabowski, MD, has been named the inaugural holder of the Tim B. Engle Endowed Professorship for Brain Health Innovations supported by the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions. In this role, Dr. Grabowski will help support the Institute’s efforts in the area of cognitive aging. This work will focus on strategies to promote brain wellness and resilience across the lifespan and to delay the effects of brain aging and degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

“Dr. Grabowski is a leader in the clinical and research efforts around neurodegenerative disease and dementia at the University of Washington,” said Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA, Director of the Garvey Institute and Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “He has an excellent record of bringing people and groups together to advance research and clinical care in cognitive aging and cognitive decline and is a fantastic clinician, mentor and researcher. The Garvey Institute is thrilled to be able to support his work through this endowed position.”

Dr. Grabowski leads innovative multidisciplinary clinical and research programs in cognitive aging, memory loss and dementia as the Director of the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC) which includes the MBWC clinic at Harborview Medical Center, the associated NIH-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and the new Memory Hub. He also served as a member of the Garvey Institute’s faculty advisory group for brain health and cognitive aging that helped launch the initial round of Innovation Grants in 2020, including several projects focused on cognitive aging.

“This endowed professorship offers a unique opportunity to strengthen our interdisciplinary efforts across the University to further work in the cognitive aging space, including multidisciplinary care for brain health,” said Dr. Grabowski, professor of Radiology and Neurology and an adjunct professor of Psychiatry. “I’m excited to coordinate missions and to contribute even more to the transformation of medicine for cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disease.”

Dr. Grabowski will talk about training opportunities in cognitive aging at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions on January 27, 2023 from 8:30 AM-2 PM at South Lake Union. A virtual option will also be available. The event is open to the public.