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Benjamin Tolchin

MD, MS, FAAN (Neurology), FAES
Associate Professor of Neurology

Contact Information

Benjamin Tolchin, MD, MS, FAAN (Neurology), FAES

Patient Care Location

Appointments

Biography

Dr. Tolchin is Director of the Center for Bioethics at Yale New Haven Health, and Associate Professor of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine. His research focus is on the impact of crisis standards of care and triage protocols on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities. In addition, Dr. Tolchin has a clinical and research focus on functional neurological disorders and epilepsy. He investigates the use of motivational interviewing, smartphone apps, and other novel behavioral and technological interventions to improve treatment adherence and outcomes for patients.

Dr. Tolchin completed medical school at Harvard University, neurology residency at Columbia University Medical Center, and fellowships in medical ethics, clinical neurophysiology, and epilepsy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His research has been recognized with Young Investigator Awards from the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society and the American Epilepsy Society, the Rebecca Goldberg Kaufman Honor from the American Epilepsy Society (AES), the Emerging Leaders Fellowship from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the OHER Award for Yale Research Excellence, and the Epilepsia Clinical Science Prize from the International League Against Epilepsy. Dr. Tolchin is President of the New England Epilepsy Society, and a Fellow of the AAN and of the AES. He serves on the AAN's Guidelines Subcommittee and Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee.

Follow Dr. Tolchin on Twitter @btolchin.

Education & Training

  • Epilepsy Fellowship
    Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School (2017)
  • Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship
    Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School (2015)
  • Neurology Residency
    Columbia University Medical Center (2014)
  • Internship
    New York University Medical Center (2011)
  • MD
    Harvard Medical School (2010)
  • MS
    Pace University School of Education (2003)
  • AB
    Harvard College, Philosophy (2001)

Honors & Recognition

AwardAwarding OrganizationDate
Fellow of the American Epilepsy Society2023
OHER Award for Yale Research ExcellenceYale Office of Health Equity Research2022
Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology2021
Epilepsia Clinical Science AwardInternational League against Epilepsy2020
Career Development AwardVeterans Health Administration, VISN12018
Emerging Leaders ProgramAmerican Academy of Neurology2017
Young Investigator AwardAmerican Epilepsy Society2016
Rebecca Goldberg Kaufman HonorAmerican Epilepsy Society2016
Palatucci Advocacy Leader and AdvisorAmerican Academy of Neurology2016
Young Investigator AwardAmerican Clinical Neurophysiology Society2016
Research HighlightAmerican Clinical Neurophysiology Society2016
Practice Research Training ScholarshipAmerican Academy of Neurology/American Brain Foundation2015
Quest for Success Certificate of AchievementColumbia University Medical Center2014
Neurologist in Training Clinical Ethics FellowshipAmerican Academy of Neurology2012
Harvard Medical School Travelling FellowshipHarvard Medical School2010
PASTEUR Clinical Research FellowshipHarvard Medical School2007
John Ware Memorial FellowshipHarvard Medical School2007
Henry K. Beecher Prize in Medical EthicsHarvard Medical School2007
Best Master's ThesisPace University School of Education2003
Champions of Active LearningJPMorganChase2002
Thomas Hoopes PrizeHarvard College2001
Magna Cum LaudeHarvard College2001
Phi Beta KappaHarvard College2000
Dean's ListHarvard College1998, 1999, 2000
Detur Book PrizeHarvard College1998
Robert C. Byrd Scholarship for Academic ExcellenceNew York State1997

Professional Service

OrganizationRoleDate
American Academy of Neurology Guidelines SubcommitteeMember2019 - Present
American Academy of Neurology Ethics, Law, and Humanities CommitteeMember2019 - Present
American Epilepsy Society Psychosocial Comorbidities CommitteeMember2016 - 2021

Departments & Organizations