Eelco F.M. Wijdicks, MD, PhD

The Guest Editor of this issue of Seminars in Neurology is Dr. Eelco F.M. Wijdicks.

Dr. Wijdicks is a Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, which he joined in 1992. He is Chair of the Division of Critical Care Neurology and an attending physician in the Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit at Saint Mary's Hospital (Mayo Clinic, Rochester). He is the founding editor of the journal Neurocritical Care, the official journal of the Neurocritical Care Society.

Dr. Wijdicks is considered one of the “fathers” of neurocritical care, and is the world's foremost authority on the subject of brain death. One would be hard pressed to think of an individual who has had more of an impact on the field of brain death; Dr. Wijdicks has been the voice of reason, and has led the charge in establishing the integrity of brain death diagnosis and its associated ethical, legal, and medical principles. He has single or co-authored over two dozen textbooks on neurocritical care, and has over 750 research papers, book chapters, topic reviews, and editorials to his credit.

We greatly appreciate the efforts of Dr. Wijdicks, as well as all of the contributing authors, for their great work in this issue of Seminars. The issue provides a comprehensive review of brain death, including the medical, ethical, and legal issues, as well as the international progress in the field. I am personally indebted to Dr. Wijdicks for his mentorship over the years, and for his continued guidance and friendship. We hope that you enjoy this truly superb issue!