Daniel Gibbs ’69

Since retiring in 2013 at age 62 because of an incipient mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease, Dan frequently participates in research studies. He is the author of two books: A Tattoo on my Brain: A Neurologist’s Personal Battle against Alzheimer’s Disease, which was subsequently developed into a documentary film, and Dispatches From the Land of Alzheimer’s. Dan continues to write about his experiences at https://tattooonmybrain.com/.

Dan completed his undergraduate studies at Pomona College as a zoology major and pre-med student. He then attended medical and graduate school at Emory University, receiving his PhD and MD degrees in 1979 and 1980 respectively. His PhD research proved that the neurotransmitter dopamine is an important, physiological inhibitor of prolactin secretion, a question that was controversial at the time. Dan then spent six years at the University of California San Diego as an intern in internal medicine, research fellow, and assistant professor. His research involved hypothalamic neuropeptide interactions in models of physical and emotional stress. 

Dan completed his clinical training with a three-year neurology residency at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). While he had planned to be a bench-side researcher and was offered an academic position at OHSU, his affinity for taking care of patients led him to instead join a group neurology practice in Portland where he practiced general neurology for over 20 years. Before retiring, Dan spent the last three years of his career teaching medical students and neurology residents at OHSU.