Announcing Nerissa Ko, MD, MAS, as Interim Chair of the UCSF Department of Neurology

We are pleased to announce that, effective today, Nerissa Ko, MD, MAS, has been appointed Interim Chair of the UCSF Department of Neurology.

The Department of Neurology is recognized internationally for excellence in research, patient care, education, and global and public health. Its faculty, staff, learners, and leaders have built one of the nation's premier academic neurology programs, advancing discoveries that improve the lives of patients while educating the next generation of scientists and physicians. I am so grateful to everyone in the department whose dedication continues to strengthen these missions.

Dr. Ko is exceptionally well positioned to lead the department during this transition. She currently serves as Vice Chair for Outreach and Community Building, where she has spent more than a decade leading initiatives that have strengthened faculty development, staff engagement, education, mentorship, and community partnerships. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a collaborative leadership style, a deep commitment to advancing health equity, and a steadfast focus on supporting the people who make our missions possible.

In addition to her leadership roles, Dr. Ko is an accomplished clinician and investigator specializing in neurocritical care and vascular neurology. She is program director of our neurocritical care fellowship and leads nationally-recognized clinical research focused on improving outcomes for patients with cerebrovascular disease and vascular malformations. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and excellence in patient care.

We have every confidence that the Department of Neurology will continue to thrive under Dr. Ko's leadership. She brings the vision, experience, and dedication needed to guide the department while maintaining its remarkable momentum across all its missions.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ko on her appointment and thanking her for her willingness to serve in this important leadership role.