Steven Lewis, MD, physician in chief, Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute and Lehigh Valley regional chief, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Jefferson Health, has been elected as the next president of the World Federation of Neurology.

Lewis is currently secretary-general of the WFN and will begin his four-year term as president in January. He is just the fourth American to lead the association since it was formed in 1957.

“I pledge to strengthen diverse and inclusive international collaborations, foster educational excellence and expand outreach to regions where neurological services remain underdeveloped — helping ensure that brain health becomes a true global priority,” Dr. Lewis said at the XXVII World Congress of Neurology in Seoul, shortly after being elected to his new role.

In addition to being devoted to his patients, Dr. Lewis has spent decades committed to advancing training and access to high-quality neurological care for people across the globe.

“We congratulate Dr. Lewis on this honorable position and are excited to see what he accomplishes as he continues to promote brain health,” said Robert Rosenwasser, MD, president and chief executive officer, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience.

“Jefferson Health is proud to have Dr. Lewis as a leader making transformative impacts on patients, students and physicians in our region and around the world,” says Baligh Yehia, MD, president, Jefferson Health.

Lewis previously served as chair of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurolog Inc. He’s received the A.B. Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Neurologic Education from the American Academy of Neurology and the American Neurological Association Award for Excellence in Education. During his time as editor-in-chief of Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology’s flagship educational publication gained worldwide prominence. He’s now the editor-in-chief of MedLink Neurology.

Dr. Lewis was instrumental in the recent rollout of utilizing focused ultrasound to treat essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest, which is the first in the region and one of only three sites in Pennsylvania where it’s offered.

He holds the Timothy M. Breidegam Endowed Chair in Neurology at Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health.