Doctor, Father, Husband, Author, Professor. These are some of the many hats John Richard “Dick” Gunderman, MD, wears.

The New York native was born and raised in Buffalo, where he also attended Canisius College as an undergraduate. For as long as he can remember, Dr. Gunderman wanted “to be a pediatrician, specifically a pediatrician.” But it was during his time at SUNY Upstate Medical University that he became intrigued by neurology and dedicated a great deal of time studying alongside pediatric neurologists. During residency training, he worked under Dean Timmons, the pediatric neurologist at Akron Children’s Hospital, and learned valuable skills such as how to read EEGs.

After serving as the pediatric neurologist and Head of Pediatrics at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Gunderman planned to spend just one year in a child neurology fellowship at Indiana University. Three years later, he and his wife, Ann, and their two children moved south to Tampa. Dr. Gunderman paved the way for pediatric neurology in the region as the first child neurologist in the city.

Today, Dr. Gunderman maintains his Tampa-based practice and serves as a clinical professor of pediatrics and neurology at the University of South Florida, which allows him to train neurology residents.

Dr. Gunderman enjoys spending his free time with his family, helping children and playing golf. You can find him supporting great causes from the green, including the annual golf tournament benefitting United Cerebral Palsy. Author of Raising Your Child, A Love Story, Dr. Gunderman aspires to write more books, specifically kid’s books.

Dr. Gunderman was first introduced to SCNS through a member who visited Tampa. After just one meeting, he was convinced; he now stands as a proud 15-year member. The reason for his continued membership and event attendance is simple: “great clinical presentations by doctors who are at the forefront of their specialties.” This, combined with the exemplary academic and social opportunities, will make anyone who attends a meeting want to become a member not for just the meetings, but also for the friendships and other benefits.

“Once you attend a SCNS meeting, you will look forward to the next,” he says.