BIOGRAPHY

Vernon B. Williams, MD, is a sports neurologist and founding director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at the prestigious Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, CA.

Dr. Williams was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Cass Technical High School, where he was a four-year varsity letterman, 3-year varsity football captain and was elected “Most Athletic” student in addition to earning wide-ranging academic honors. He is a graduate of The University of Michigan’s prestigious Inteflex Accelerated Pre-Medical/Medical Program, completing undergraduate and Medical School diplomas in 7 years. He received his Medical Doctorate from the University of Michigan in 1992 and in 1993, completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. Dr. Williams underwent residency training in Neurology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 1996 and rounded out his training with an Interventional Pain fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD in 1997. Since that time, Dr. Williams has established his private medical practice in the Los Angeles area and provides for a wide-range of neurological needs to his patients, including concussion prevention, treatment and management, neurological sports performance, and pain management.

Dr. Williams was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being in 2022. He serves as a neurological medical consultant to local professional sports organizations, and assists local collegiate and numerous high school and youth sports/club athletic teams in this capacity. Dr. Williams also serves as an inaugural member of the Peloton Health and Wellness Advisory Council.

Dr. Williams is a former Commissioner for the California State Athletic Commission (appointed for two consecutive terms by Governor Brown) and former two-term Chair of the American Academy of Neurology Sports Neurology Section. Dr. Williams is a member of multiple professional medical societies including the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Sports Medicine, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. He has received numerous public accolades including designation as a Super Doctor in Sports Medicine and Neurology for a consecutive 3-year period, since 2016.