David Dennison

Dr. David Dennison is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine. A retired U.S. Army Colonel with extensive clinical, teaching, and research experience in neurology and military medicine, he currently serves as the Neurology Student Clerkship Site Director at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. His career includes leadership roles such as Director of the DOD Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office (BIRCO) and Chief of the Department of Neurology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), the largest DOD Neurology Department. He has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, addressing neurologic care in combat zones.

Education: BS in Biological Chemistry (Tulane University, 1992–1996), MD (Uniformed Services University, 1996–2000), followed by neurology residency and child neurology fellowship training at Madigan Army Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He served as the Program Director of the National Capital Consortium Child Neurology Fellowship from 2013–2020 before becoming WRNMMC Neurology Chief.

Research interests focus on traumatic brain injury (TBI), military operational resilience, pediatric neurology, and epilepsy. He coordinates DOD research on blast injury prevention and treatment, and his work emphasizes neurotrauma in combat contexts. Dr. Dennison has authored peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters on topics ranging from Dopa-responsive dystonia to neuroborreliosis.

Scientific Awards: Recipient of the Army Medical Department’s “A” Proficiency Designator (2018), Order of Military Medical Merit (2021), and numerous military commendations including the Legion of Merit and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Advising & Grants: Led the DOD’s largest Neurology Residency program and coordinated multi-institutional research through BIRCO. His grants and collaborations focus on TBI and neurotrauma research, including roles in the Neuroscience, Neurotrauma, and Neurorehabilitation Working Group at US Army Medical Research and Development Command.

Labs/Teams: Active in the DOD Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office, Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence Advisory Committee, and WRNMMC Neurology Department’s diverse subspecialties, including Neurocritical Care and Neuro-Oncology.