WASHINGTON—James P. Kelly, M.D., a neurologist, has been appointed director of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), which is scheduled to open in 2010. The new Department of Defense center will conduct research on treatment tools, as well as provide evaluation and treatment plans for members of the military with psychological health problems and traumatic brain injury. The new center will be a 72,000-square-foot, two-story facility located on the Navy campus in Bethesda, Md., adjacent to what will be the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

“I am honored to be the director of what will be such an important, state-of-the-art center for our nation’s servicemembers and their families,” Dr. Kelly said in a statement. “NICoE will be devoted to exploring promising solutions to the complex spectrum of combat brain injury from TBI to post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological injuries, treating servicemembers and sharing innovative best practices in clinical practice, education, outreach and research throughout the military and civilian healthcare systems.”

Dr. Kelly is currently on leave of absence from his position as professor of neurosurgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. His past positions include assistant dean for graduate medical education at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and neurology residency program director at Northwestern University Medical School.

Dr. Kelly has also served as director of the Brain Injury Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He was the neurologist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League and was often called on to consult on cases involving professional, elite amateur and youth athletes who sustained concussions.

Dr. Kelly co-authored the sports concussion guidelines of the American Academy of Neurology and the Standardized Assessment of Concussion that is widely used in athletic and military settings. In addition, he is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; immediate past-president of the Colorado Society of Clinical Neurologists; and a consulting neurologist to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center—another DCoE component center. He was the first chairman of the Defense Health Board’s Traumatic Brain Injury External Advisory Subcommittee for Military Clinical Care, Research and Education.

“We are bringing Dr. Kelly to NICoE now to assemble a world-class team and plan landmark programs and research so the new center can begin benefiting our warriors as soon as its doors open,” said Brig. Gen. Loree K. Sutton, DCoE director in a statement. “Thanks to the generosity of donors who are raising money to build NICoE and the talented staff we will assemble, we’re looking forward to making major strides to help build better lives for the brave men and women we serve.”