It is with profound sadness that we write of the death our distinguished faculty member Dr. Ted Burns. Ted was a Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Neurology and a member of the UVA School of Medicine faculty for 20 years.
Ted obtained his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Kansas. He completed his residency in neurology at the University of Virginia, followed by a fellowship in neuromuscular disease and electromyography. He completed an additional fellowship in peripheral nerve disease at the Mayo Clinic. He returned to UVA to join the faculty in 2002. Ted served as residency program director in the Department of Neurology from 2004 to 2013, director of the Neuromuscular Disorders Division and Electromyography Laboratory, and as vice chair for Clinical Affairs. He published more than 100 manuscripts with a primary interest in patient-centered outcomes for myasthenia gravis and other neuromuscular disorders. Ted was also a fierce patient advocate for drug pricing reform and an innovator in audio media, founding several longstanding podcasts including for the journal Neurology. Among his many accolades, Ted received the 2018 National Distinguished Researcher Award from the American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and was past recipient of the UVA Master Clinician Award, Master Educator Award, and Dean’s Teaching Award of Excellence.
Not only was he a renowned physician, researcher, and educator, Ted was a great colleague and friend to many here in the School of Medicine. Our thoughts are with Ted’s family members and his many friends here at UVA. Information on services is not available at this time.