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December 4, 2001

Rotman neuroscientist Donald Stuss appointed to The Order of Ontario


Toronto, ON - One of the world's experts on the brain's frontal lobes will be invested in The Order of Ontario on October 4, 2001.

Dr. Donald Stuss, Director of The Rotman Research Institute and Vice-President of Research at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, will receive the province's most prestigious honor, along with 26 other outstanding people.

Dr. Stuss receives the honor for attaining thehighest standards of excellence and achievement in the field of neuroscience, which have enriched life in Ontario and beyond.

The clinical psychologist and educator has been studying the frontal lobes and traumatic brain injury for over 30 years. His co-authored book, "The Frontal Lobes", has had world-wide influence on researchers and practitioners in neurology, neuroanatomy and neuropsychology. Dr. Stuss likens his research to the "science of ourselves" because many of the frontal lobes' functions - such as memory, cognition and consciousness - contribute to our self-awareness.

Earlier this fall, Dr. Stuss and fellow Rotman scientists Endel Tulving and Helen Mayberg were featured in the season premiere of CBC's The Nature of Things. The program, Me, My Brain and I, looked at leading neuroscientists who are helping to unravel the mystery of what makes us distinctly human. It won a prestigious award at the Columbus International Film Festival.

In Thomas Homer-Dixon's highly regarded book, "The Ingenuity Gap" (Alfred A. Knopf, 2000), Dr. Stuss engaged the author in a fascinating discussion about the frontal lobes, the interaction of emotion and cognition, and how brain function is affected by the aging process.

Dr. Stuss joined Baycrest in 1989 as founding director of The Rotman Research Institute. Under his leadership, the Institute has become one of the leading brain research centres in the world. He is also a professor of Psychology and Neurology at the University of Toronto and holds the Reva James Leeds Chair in Neuroscience and Research Leadership.