Jon VanLeeuwen, PhD
Executive Director, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences
Neurological disorders, including dementia, exert a global burden and necessitate global solutions.
Current Work
Jon is a neuroscientist who works at the intersection of science, medicine and policy. In his current roles at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), he serves as Director, Strategic Initiatives, for the Weill Institute for Neurosciences and is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurology.
Personal Hero
James Baldwin
Words of Strength
Creating possibilities
Vision
Neurological disorders, including dementia, exert a global burden and necessitate global solutions.
Strategy
Jon's work focuses on research strategy, translational science, industry partnerships and using technology to make a global impact. Jon is also Co-Director of UCSF’s Global Teleneurology Service, which strives to advance neurological health and understanding in resource-limited settings.
Motivation
At GBHI, Jon co-leads the health-policy curriculum and is one of the lead organizers of the Global Neurology Forum, a seminar series that aims to enhance understanding of neurological conditions and increase awareness of approaches to care in varied settings.
Education & Experience
Jon holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Northwestern University, where his research investigated the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity in aging and disease. He was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at Northwestern University and received training at the Kellogg School of Management. He first began working in science and health policy at the US Department of State and later at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
