Paul W. Hurd, M.D., joins neurology staff at Dallas Veterans Administration Medical Center
By Julie Kirchem, UTSW Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics
DALLAS - March 23, 2016 - Dr. Paul Hurd, who was in private practice for more than thirty years in Plano, Texas, has joined the Dallas VA Medical Center as Vice-Chief of Neurology.
Dr. Hurd, Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics at UT Southwestern, attended Southwestern Medical School and then completed Internal Medicine and Neurology residencies at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center - San Antonio.
After graduation, he went into private practice in Plano with Dr. Jacob Wolfman for the next 17 years and then formed a new group called Texas Neurology Consultants. Not too long ago, Dr. Hurd considered retirement.
“I had a very busy and successful practice that I loved, but frankly, after all those years, I became a little tired of the business aspects of medicine like dealing with the insurance industry,” he said.
But in the fall of 2014, his plans changed when Dr. Olaf Stuve contacted him about a position at the Dallas VA.
“I discussed the career change with my former chairman, Dr. Donald Easton, who strongly suggested that I consider getting back into academics and potentially passing on some of my experience to the next generation of neurologists,” said Dr. Hurd.
In addition to taking on the role of Vice-Chief of Neurology at the Dallas VA, Dr. Hurd is also serving as educational liaison to UT Southwestern Medical School for students and residents. His other responsibilities at the VA include interim electroencephalographer and running a botulinum toxin clinic for veterans with chronic migraine.
“I really enjoy being around the residents and medical students. I am trying to pass some information forward.”
One future neurologist that Dr. Hurd certainly influenced is his own son. Dr. Andrew Hurd is a PGY-5 resident in the children neurology program at UT Southwestern/Children’s Medical Center.
“I feel honored that he has chosen neurology as a profession,” said Dr. Hurd (senior). “He is a very kind and compassionate young man and I think he will make a good child neurologist.”
Outside of work, Dr. Hurd is an avid road bicyclist and typically rides more than 4000 miles per year. For the past 5 years, he has been involved in riding and fundraising for the “Dallas to Fort Worth Bike MS.” He has raised more than $15,000 for MS.
In addition, he and his wife Sally are involved in international mission work with their church. They have been a part of establishing a mobile optometry clinic and have performed clinics in Cameroon, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama.