Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Profile

George A. Ojemann, 56BA, 59MD, has had an accomplished career as a neurosurgeon and professor of neurological surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle. An Iowa City native Ojemann is the son of the late Ralph Ojemann, a University of Iowa psychology professor.

Recognized nationally and internationally for his investigative work on the function of the brain, George Ojemann has done pioneering research on the surgical treatment of epilepsy. In addition to his teaching duties, he directs the University of Washington's Epilepsy Center at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Through his research, Ojemann identified the source of the language function in the cerebral cortex. By finding and removing the focal point in the brain where seizures arise he has been able to treat intractable epilepsy through surgery. A complex and delicate procedure, treatment involves testing of how the patient responds to stimulation of the brain cortex during surgery.

A prolific writer on the function of the brain in language and on surgical treatment for epilepsy, Ojemann serves on the editorial boards of seven journals. He is also a member of a number of professional societies and advisory boards.

Along with his brother and sister, Ojemann has supported the University of Iowa by establishing the Ralph H. and Freda E. Ojemann Visiting Professorship in the Department of Neurology. He is a member of the UI Foundation's Presidents Club.