GALEN VINCENT HENDERSON M.D. FNCS

HENDERSON, Galen Vincent MD FNCS Age 56, passed away on December 26, surrounded by his loving family, following a recent illness. A resident of Taunton, MA, Dr. Henderson was the beloved husband of Vanessa M Britto, MD, MSc, FACP. Dr. Henderson was born in Memphis, TN and raised in Tunica, MS. He is survived by his mother, Peggie A. (Bonds) Henderson of Tunica, MS; his sister, Erika Winfrey (Harold) of Memphis TN; and many loving relatives and friends in MA, MS, RI, throughout the country as well as internationally. He was predeceased by his father, G.W. Henderson, Jr. Dr. Henderson attended high school in MS, excelling academically before pursuing a BS, cum laude, in chemistry from Tougaloo College in Jackson, MS and his MD from Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University in Providence, RI. Meeting at Brown University, Dr. Henderson and Dr. Britto married during Brown's Commencement weekend, always festively marking their wedding anniversary during Commencement for decades. Dr. Henderson had a major impact at Brown University, Tougaloo College and Brigham and Women's Hospital, where he served as Director of Neurocritical Care in the Department of Neurology and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer (CDIO). Dr. Henderson was universally known for his warm smile, thoughtful and insightful assessment of challenging issues, as well as his steadfast commitment to the well-being of his patients, his colleagues, students and everyone he met. Dr. Henderson completed his residency in the Harvard-Longwood Neurology Training Program and fellowship in Neurocritical Care at the Brigham. Joining the Brigham's Neurology Department, he became the director of Neurocritical Care in 2001. He was the country's first African-American neurology-based neurointensivist and the first African-American Fellow to be inducted into the nation's Neurocritical Care Society (FNCS). Dr. Henderson was the recipient of many academic, service and community awards, including induction into his Mississippi hometown Tunica Hall of Fame. Dr. Henderson was a thoughtful and collaborative leader and a gifted physician, additionally serving as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, the Brigham's Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI). In his time as CDIO, he helped usher in the most diverse incoming classes of residents in the hospital's history. In addition to his work at the Brigham, Dr. Henderson was the founding deputy editor of Journal Watch Neurology, editor of Reprints in Stroke and the associate medical director of two federally designated organ procurement organizations. He received awards from three different secretaries of Health and Human Services for his contributions to the development of the Organ Donation National Collaborative. An assistant professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, where his research focused on clinical trials regarding treatments for stroke and cerebral hemorrhage, Dr. Henderson lectured extensively at the Neurocritical Care Society, the American Academy of Neurology, throughout the country and internationally. Funeral Services for Dr. Henderson will be held Sunday, January 14, 2024, at the Wickenden Chapel at Tabor Academy, 86 Spring St., Marion, MA, at 1:00 p.m. Masks will be available and the service will be livestreamed at www.chapmanfuneral.com/obituaries In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Galen V. Henderson MD '93 and Vanessa M. Britto MD MMSc '96 Medical Scholarship to support underrepresented minority medical students at Brown University, at: https://go.brown.edu/GalenHendersonMemorialGifts Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Wareham - Wareham,MA (508) 295-0060

View the online memorial for Galen Vincent MD FNCS HENDERSON