James P. Kelly Named Director of National Intrepid Center of Excellence

March 2, 2009

Dr. James P. Kelly, a neurologist who is one of America’s top experts on treating concussions, has been appointed director of a new Department of Defense center that will conduct research, diagnosis and treatment planning to help members of the military with psychological health problems and traumatic brain injury.

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), which is scheduled to open in spring 2010, is a component center of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE).

NICoE will be a 72,000-square-foot, two-story facility located on the Navy campus in Bethesda, Md., adjacent to what will be the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. It will have close access to the Uniformed Services University and the National Institutes of Health.

The new center is being built and equipped through the philanthropy of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Fisher Foundation and other individuals and groups. When construction is completed, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund will turn NICoE over to the Department of Defense. DCoE will then operate the center.

“We are bringing Dr. Kelly to NICoE now to assemble a world-class team and plan landmark programs and research so the new center can begin benefiting our warriors as soon as its doors open,” said Brig. Gen. Loree K. Sutton, DCoE director and the highest ranking psychiatrist in the Army. “Thanks to the generosity of donors who are raising money to build NICoE and the talented staff we will assemble, we’re looking forward to making major strides to help build better lives for the brave men and women we serve.”

The announcement of Kelly’s appointment comes at the beginning of March, which is Brain Injury Awareness Month.

Kelly is on a leave of absence from his position as professor of neurosurgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. His past positions include assistant dean for graduate medical education at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and the neurology residency program director at Northwestern University medical school.

The new NICoE director has also served as director of the Brain Injury Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He was the neurologist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League and is consulted frequently by professional, elite amateur and youth athletes who have sustained concussions.

Kelly co-authored the sports concussion guidelines of the American Academy of Neurology and the Standardized Assessment of Concussion that is widely used in athletic and military settings.

In addition, Kelly is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; immediate past-president of the Colorado Society of Clinical Neurologists; and a consulting neurologist to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center – another DCoE component center. He was the first chairman of the Defense Health Board’s Traumatic Brain Injury External Advisory Subcommittee for Military Clinical Care, Research and Education.

After graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Western Michigan University, Kelly graduated from medical school at Northwestern University and completed his neurology residency and behavioral neurology fellowship at the University of Colorado.