Peter Y. Kim Memorial Lecture

The Peter Y. Kim Memorial Lecture was established in 2018 in honor of Peter Kim, MD, PhD, who passed away unexpectedly in 2017, at the age of 55. The Department of Neurology established this lectureship to bring speakers with expertise in outpatient general clinical neurology to speak to the department.

Peter Kim was born in South Korea and came to the United States at a young age. He spent most of his youth in Buffalo, NY, where he developed his lifelong love of the Buffalo sports teams, as was evident to anyone who entered his office. He received his BS and his PhD from the University of Rochester, completing his thesis on “Activation of c-myc and ki-ras oncogenes in radiation induced rat thyroid carcinomas.” He then completed his MD at the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY. After finishing an internship at the University of Rochester in 1994, he came to the Neurological Institute to begin his neurology residency, which he completed in 1997. Between the years of 1997 and 1999, Dr. Kim worked as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Departments of Neurology and Pathology at Columbia. Then, in 1999, he joined the fledgling Department of Neurology Division of General Neurology.

As one of the original members of this newly formed division dedicated to caring for patients with all types of neurological problems, Dr. Kim was integral in the division’s growth and success. He was always available. Physicians throughout the medical center called him to see their patients, friends and colleagues. He never said no. He served as the primary neurological consultant to the Columbia University Athletics Department. When the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic needed attending supervision, he stepped in to serve as co-director. For years he provided the majority of the consultations needed by the cardiac and liver transplant services. He developed an expertise in HIV neurology and was asked by the Department of Medicine’s Infectious Disease Service to run an HIV Neurology clinic.

Peter also never said no to any educational contribution he was asked to make. He directed the Neurology Residents’ General Neurology Clinic for many years. He supervised the outpatient General Neurology elective. He enthusiastically participated in outpatient rotations for the medical students and residents. Those who participated saw him as teacher and mentor, yet he still treated everyone as a peer.

Dr. Kim’s untimely death was a blow to the Department, particularly for those in the Division of General Neurology, who worked closely with him every day. He was a beloved friend, colleague, clinician, teacher, and mentor and remains sorely missed. This lecture series is dedicated to his memory and countless contributions to this Department.

2026 Lecture Information:

Date: March 6, 2026
Time: 1:15 - 2:15 pm
Location: Neurological Institute, 1st Floor Alumni Auditorium

Where Have All the General Neurologists Gone? The Decline of the U.S. General Neurology Workforce: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities

Michael Markowski, DO, FAAN

General Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod

Dr. Markowski is a general neurologist practicing at Spaulding Cape Cod Rehabilitation Hospital within the Mass General Brigham Department of Neurology.  He previously served as Neurology Division Chief for Cape Cod Healthcare for fifteen years following his solo practice since 2006.   Dr. Markowski was elected to the American Academy of Neurology’s (AAN) Board of Directors in 2025 and has held various leadership roles within the AAN including chair of the General Neurology Task Force and remains engaged in the AAN’s efforts to expand the general neurology workforce.  He was Vice-Chair of the AAN’s Advocacy Committee and currently serves on the Member Engagement Committee along with representing the AAN on the European Academy of Neurology’s (EAN) General Neurology task force.  Dr. Markowski attended the College of the Holy Cross and the University of New England Osteopathic Medical School, after which he completed his neurology residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, followed by an EMG/Neuromuscular Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center.