For more than three decades, Dr. Jerry Swanson has built a distinguished career in neurology at one of the nation’s premier medical facilities as well as a reputation as one of the nation’s leading headache medicine specialists.

The Mayo Clinic Department of Neurology consultant earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and philosophy at Wartburg and Doctor of Medicine degree from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. Following the completion of a neurology residency at Mayo Clinic, he joined the staff in 1982.

He has presented at more than 50 national and international meetings and published dozens of peer-reviewed articles, numerous editorials, and book chapters as well as edited two books. Swanson also is the neurology editor for MayoClinic.com and headache editor for UpToDate, an electronic resource for health care providers. He is an associate editor of the journal Headache.

In addition to his clinic duties, Swanson has devoted much of his career to medical education at Mayo Medical School, where he is a professor of neurology and director of program evaluation, leading efforts to assess the medical school’s outcomes. Swanson also has served as the neurology residency program director, education vice chair of the Department of Neurology, and headache medicine fellowship director.

“Jerry Swanson’s distinguished career attests to his passion for teaching and research as well as his empathy for his patients and their quality of health care,” wrote Dr. David Hampton, professor emeritus of chemistry. “In the context of Wartburg’s mission, Jerry is truly an alumnus who is ‘living a life of leadership and service as a spirited expression of his faith and learning.’”

Swanson served as a board member of the American Headache Society and in many roles with the American Academy of Neurology. He’s been a member of several committees of the National Board of Medical Examiners and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

He has received the Mayo Medical School Faculty Service Award and Mayo Medical School Dean’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Medical Education.