Chair of Neurosurgery, Duke University Health
Dr. Gerald Arthur Grant is Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Duke University. His work focuses on brain tumors, epilepsy, Chiari malformation and concussion, and he is deeply committed to building resilient teams and systems in both clinical and high-stress environments.
With a Bachelor of Science in Neurosciences from Duke University (1989) and his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine (1994), Dr. Grant went on to complete a neurosurgery residency at the University of Washington (1995-2001) and a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital (2001-2002).
From 2002, Dr. Grant served in the U.S. Air Force, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was Chief of Neurosurgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and deployed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (Germany) and Balad Air Base (Iraq) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom—experiences that sharpened his focus on resilience, leadership in austere settings, and high-stakes neurotrauma.
At Duke, Dr. Grant applies the lessons of military leadership and resilience training to his clinical team, emphasizing culture, mission, communication, and performance under pressure. He has authored over 350 peer-reviewed manuscripts, serves on multiple editorial boards, and leads translational research aimed at improving outcomes in neurosurgery and neuro-injury care.