Michael McCrea

Dr. Michael McCrea is a tenured Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), serving as the Shekar N. Kurpad Chair in Neurosurgery. He holds roles as Vice Chair of Research, Co-director of the Neurotrauma Research Center, and Director of the Brain Injury Research Program. His research focuses on traumatic brain injury (TBI) in civilians, athletes, and military personnel, with a particular emphasis on mild TBI, post-concussion syndrome, and neurophysiological effects. He earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, followed by postdoctoral training at Northwestern University and an internship at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. McCrea has authored a seminal textbook on mild TBI and serves on key committees, including the United States Department of Defense Health Board and the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee. He leads large-scale studies like the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium and TRACK-TBI, investigating TBI diagnostics, biomarkers, and recovery trajectories. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to improving clinical care and patient outcomes.

Research highlights include examining blood biomarkers (e.g., GFAP, UCH-L1) for TBI diagnosis, hormonal influences on concussion recovery in female athletes, and the long-term neurological impacts of repetitive head trauma. His studies address clinical challenges such as optimal imaging use, return-to-play protocols, and mental health outcomes post-TBI.

Dr. McCrea’s contributions extend to clinical practice as a board-certified neuropsychologist, integrating research insights into patient care through roles at Froedtert Hospital and the Clement Zablocki VA Medical Center.