The Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at UAB annual invited lecture was initiated by Ronald Lazar, Ph.D., FAAN, after he joined UAB and became director of the UAB Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute in June 2017.
For each lecture, an invitation is extended to a nationally-renowned investigator to share their research on age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.
Past Lectures
2026
“Maximizing Brain Health in Women: The Power of Prevention Across the Lifespan” Cheryl Bushnell, MD, MHS, Professor of Neurology, Director, Center for Transformative Stroke Care, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Chair, AHA Stroke Council
2025
“From Heart Health to Brain Health: The American Heart Association at 100 Years”
Mitchell Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, Chief Clinical Science Officer, Past President of the AHA
2024
“Creating Municipal Momentum for Brain Health”
Walter N. Kernan, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Senior Research Scientist, Yale School of Medicine
2022
“Racism and Stroke Disparities: Centering the Margins”
Olajide A. Williams, MD, MS, Professor and Chief of Staff, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, Vagelas College of Physicians and Surgeons
2021
“Modifiable midlife risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia”
Rebecca Gottesman, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology, Director of Research, Hopkins Bayview Neurology, JHU
2020
“Blood Pressure Control: The first Randomized trial proof that MCI and Dementia can be prevented—updated findings and recent thoughts”
Jeff D. Williamson, MD, Geriatric Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
2019
“Prevention of Cognitive Aging: The Role of Modifiable Risk Factors”
Kristine Yaffe, MD, Roy and Marie Scola Endowed Chair, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, UCSF