Ted Michael Burns M.D.

1966 - 2022

Ted Michael Burns, 55, passed away on June 12, 2022, at his home in Charlottesville, Va., with his family by his side after a courageous 9-year battle with a rare form of cancer.

Ted was born on September 2, 1966, in Kansas City, Mo., to Ann Virginia (Murray) and Dennis Dean Burns as the second of three sons (Mark, Jeffrey). He grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, and graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School. Ted attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and an MD.

On September 3, 2000, Ted married Bonnie Fronfelter, a native of Waverly, Va., and a University of Virginia graduate. Ted often described her as "the captain of his ship." They have three wonderful children, Charlie (20), Elizabeth (18), and Sarah (17), all of whom he adored. He was a devoted husband and father, and cherished his time with his family.

Ted was a dedicated fan of the Kansas Jayhawks, Virginia Cavaliers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Kansas City Royals. He passed his love of the Jayhawks on to Elizabeth, who has assumed the mantle of most ardent Kansas fan in the immediate family. Ted cherished watching movies with Charlie and giving him feedback on his writing for The Cavalier Daily, the UVA student newspaper, as well as discussing and debating current events. He was awed by Elizabeth's passion and talent for soccer, at which she consistently excelled. He loved attending Sarah's games and orchestra concerts, as well as hearing about her life and schoolwork.

He is remembered for his unwavering curiosity and interest in other people. When locked in discussion with any of his three children, he always tried to cut to the core of their interests and lives. He was known to ask them questions about many topics, wanting to understand their perspectives. The same was true when he would talk with his or his children's friends. He always wanted to learn more about each of us.

He completed his medical residency in neurology at the University of Virginia, continuing with a fellowship in neuromuscular disease and electromyography. He followed with a second fellowship in peripheral nerve disease at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Ted began his professional career at Lahey Clinic in Boston as Senior Staff Neurologist and as a member of the consulting staff at Boston Children's Hospital.

After two years he returned to Charlottesville and the UVA Medical Center. He became director of the Residency and Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship training programs, Medical Director of the Neurology EMG Laboratory, head of the Neuromuscular Division, and was soon named full professor. He had a passion for educating residents and other doctors. His battle with cancer gave him an opportunity to train doctors from the perspective of a patient including the importance of kindness as an essential element of treatment. His educational skills were recognized at UVA with membership in the Academy of Distinguished Educators, the Dean's Teaching Award of Excellence, and the Master Educator Award (2006 and 2018). In 2008, he received a Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor Chair. In 2013 the Kansas University Medical Alumni Association recognized Ted with the Early Career Achievement in Medicine Award. The American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine presented Ted the Distinguished Researcher Award in 2018.

Throughout Ted's career he was dedicated to clinical research, particularly the assessment and treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). He saw the need for improved MG outcome measures for clinical practice. He developed and validated the use of the MG Composite and MG Quality of Life scales. The scales have been translated and validated into more than a dozen languages and are recognized worldwide as the standard for clinical trials. In 2010, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America presented him with its Doctor of the Year award.

As early as 2006 when podcasts were in their infancy, Ted envisioned their potential for educating and informing physicians, patients, and families about the latest medical developments. He created and developed the Neurology Podcast series that was adopted by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). Podcasts featured 30-minute interviews with prominent researchers and personalities. In 2018 he created the popular Neurology Minute, a series of 2-3 minute podcasts. Ted personally conducted hundreds of interviews and was central to the formation of the active AAN podcast organization of today. The podcast influence is vast with each podcast series exceeding two million downloads in 180 countries.

Ted was a passionate advocate for rational drug pricing. He mobilized efforts by fellow physicians to protest predatory pricing, and the effect in some cases was to roll back or suspend such practices.

Perhaps Ted's most distinguished honor came in 2020 when fellow colleagues with support of the American Brain Foundation/AAN established the Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Award. This endowed award, which will always bear his name, recognizes annually a neurology professional who is a gifted educator, one who delivers compassionate patient-centered care, and is passionate in educating future generations of neurologists to do the same.

Ted had a wide variety of interests beyond medicine. He excelled in academics and sports and was named his high school Scholar-Athlete. He was a 3-year letter winner in basketball and baseball. He was the shortstop on the 1984 Kansas high school baseball state champion team. His interest in wine led to the founding of the Williams Corner Wine company by Ted and two partners. In 2009 Ted was a finalist for a James Beard award for one of his interviews, "Thomas Jefferson and Wine," for the wine podcast GrapeRadio.

Ted is survived by his wife, Bonnie F. Burns, and children, Charles Griffin, Elizabeth Ward, and Sarah Ann, all of Charlottesville. Also surviving are parents, Dennis and Ann Burns of Leawood, Kan.; brothers, Mark Roger Burns (Sara) of Dubuque, Iowa, and Dr. Jeffrey Murray Burns (Jennifer) of Leawood, Kan., and 16 nephews and nieces.

The family is grateful for the kind, generous, and professional care Ted received at the UVA Medical Center.

Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Ted's Life on Friday, July 15, 2022 at 3:30 p.m., University of Virginia Chapel, 200 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, Va. A reception will follow at the Colonnade Club, Pavilion VII, West Lawn. Parking is available at Central Grounds Garage located at 400 Emmet Street.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the following:

Ted Burns Neurology Education Fund at UVA Health by visiting https://giving.uvahealth.com noting the fund designation (Ted Burns Neurology Education Fund) and that the gift is in memory of Dr. Ted Burns, or by mailing a check to UVA Health, PO Box 37963, Boone, IA 50037 with fund noted.

American Brain Foundation directed to The Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Fund by visiting https://give.americanbrainfoundation.org/give/346367/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=wtg or by mailing a check to American Brain Foundation, 201 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415 with fund noted.