2015 Outstanding Alumnus Award Winner
Herndon always knew he would pursue a career in the physical sciences as a child in Buffalo, New York and East Tennessee, but he acknowledges his brother for providing the focus for the rest of professional life. “While in my second year of college [at the University of Chicago], my brother gave me a book on the brain and from that time on, I wanted to study the brain,” he said.
Herndon received his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Chicago. He credits Mary Todd, a family friend and nurse, with his interest in pursuing medical school to get a foundation in neuroanatomy, biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology.
Although Herndon graduated from medical school with honors, he had no intention of practicing medicine, but he decided to finish rather than just take the first two years, before going for a PhD in neurophysiology at the University of Chicago. As fate would have it, he got drafted. With the idea of being able to continue his study of the brain, Herndon applied for the Berry Plan, which deferred him for specialty training and guaranteed they would use him in his specialty.
Herndon did his internship and residency in neurology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, a research fellowship in neurology at the Montreal Neurological Institute and a research fellowship in anatomy at Harvard Medical School. During his service in the United States Air Force, Herndon served as a neurologist, eventually becoming chief of neurology, at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California.
Before joining the neurology department at University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jackson, Herndon held faculty and clinical appointments at Veteran’s Administration Hospital and Stanford University in Palo Alto, California; Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine; University of Rochester; and Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center and The Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland.
An expert in the field of neurology, Herndon has participated in grand rounds cross the country. He has also authored or co-authored almost 200 peer reviewed publications, books, book chapters, journal review articles, editorials, abstracts and commentaries.
Herndon’s participation in clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis is very impressive as well. In fact, his proudest accomplishment is related to his multiple sclerosis (MS) research. “Probably it [my proudest accomplishment] is my role in designing the original intra-spinal trial of interferon for multiple sclerosis; insisting that it be a controlled trial. This led to the development of interferon as the first treatment for MS,” Herndon explained.
Having never finished high school, Herndon has definitely made his mark in the field of neurology and helped improve the quality of life for people battling diseases of the brain. He hopes to venture to Australia and New Zealand on a wildlife photography trip — with classical music playing in the background.
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