Ann McKee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann McKee
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| Born | 1953 (age 71–72) Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine |
| Known for | Study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Neuropathology |
| Institutions | New England Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VISN-1) Boston University |
Ann McKee was born in 1953. She is a very important doctor who studies the brain. She is a neuropathologist, which means she studies brain diseases. Dr. McKee works at the VA Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She is also a professor at Boston University School of Medicine.
Dr. McKee leads the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. She also directs the Boston University CTE Center. She is famous for her work on Alzheimer's disease. She also studies what happens to the brain after many head injuries. In 2017, she was named "Bostonian of the Year" by The Boston Globe. In 2018, Time magazine said she was one of the 100 most influential people.
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Becoming a Brain Doctor
Dr. McKee studied at the University of Wisconsin for her first degree. She then went to Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine to become a medical doctor. After medical school, she trained in neurology at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital. She also did special training in neuropathology at Massachusetts General Hospital. This training helped her learn how to study brain diseases.
Dr. McKee's Work
Dr. McKee is the main neuropathologist at the VA Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She is also the director of the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. She leads the Boston University CTE Center too.
Dr. McKee manages several brain banks. These banks store brains for scientists to study. Her research mainly focuses on CTE. She also studies the long-term effects of brain injuries.
Understanding CTE
Dr. McKee is a top expert on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a serious brain disease that gets worse over time. It is often found in athletes who play contact sports. This includes sports like boxing, American football, and ice hockey. It is also seen in people who have served in the military.
In 2013, Dr. McKee shared some important findings. She had found signs of CTE in over 70 athletes she studied. These included players from the NHL and NFL. She has talked about her findings with officials from the National Football League. She has also spoken to the United States House Committee on the Judiciary.
Dr. McKee also studies other brain diseases. These include Lewy body disease, Parkinson's disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy. She also researches multiple system atrophy, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and corticobasal degeneration.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. McKee has received many awards for her important work. In 2018, the Alzheimer's Association gave her the Henry Wisniewski Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized her work on Alzheimer's disease. In the same year, Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People.
Chris Borland is a former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. He stopped playing football at age 24 because he was worried about brain injuries. His concerns were sparked by Dr. McKee's research. He said, "She may have saved my life." He also said her work likely saved him from much suffering. In 2019, she received the Paul Volker Career Achievement Medal. This was for her advancements in studying head trauma.
About Dr. McKee's Life
Dr. McKee is married and has three children. She also has two grandchildren. She lives in Massachusetts. She is a big fan of the Green Bay Packers football team.
