Christopher J. Boes

Christopher J. Boes, M.D., is a Professor of History of Medicine and Neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He serves as Consultant in the Department of Neurology and Associate Chair of Education. His primary affiliations include Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he leads educational initiatives and historical research programs.

• Education: MD from University of Nebraska Medical Center (1996), BS from Creighton University (1992). Completed Neurology residency and Headache fellowship at Mayo Clinic and the National Hospital for Neurology in London.
• Research Focus: History of neurology and medicine, Mayo Clinic’s graduate medical education origins, and headache disorder diagnosis/treatment.
• Roles: Chair of Neurologic Education (Department of Neurology), Medical Director of the W. Bruce Fye Center for the History of Medicine, and former Residency Program Director.

His research integrates primary historical sources to explore figures like William Osler and William Gowers, while advancing headache disorder understanding. He has published extensively on migraine history, medical education evolution, and neurology’s historical milestones.

Awards: Multiple accolades including the Lawrence C. McHenry Award (2014, 2017), Herbert Rosenbaum Lecturer (2020), and McGovern History of Medicine Lecturer (2016). Recognized for educational excellence through awards from the American Academy of Neurology and Mayo Clinic.

Leadership: Serves on accreditation committees (e.g., Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education), chairs educational committees, and holds leadership roles in the American Osler Society and American Academy of Neurology.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Mayo Center for the History of Medicine and collaborates on headache classification initiatives with international groups.