Dr. James Couch inducted into IAOTP’s Hall of Fame

James Russell Couch Jr, M.D., Ph.D, Professor of Neurology for the University Of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center was just recently inducted into the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP’s) Hall of Fame for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the profession.

While inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself, only 10 honored IAOTP members are inducted each year into the exclusive IAOTP’s Hall of Fame.  These special honorees are distinguished based on their longevity in their fields, their contributions they have made to society and the impact they had on their industries. Dr. Couch will be honored at IAOTP’s annual awards gala at the end of this year at NYC Plaza Hotel for not only this award but also for his selection for the Lifetime Achievement Award by IAOTP. www.iaotp.com/award-gala

Dr. Couch was also just honored at IAOTP’s 2018 Annual Awards Gala for his selection as Top Professor of the Year in Neurology for 2018 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for his outstanding leadership and commitment Medical Education and Research.

Dr. Couch is being recognized with this distinction for having close to 5 decades of professional experience as a seasoned and trusted Professor and Doctor. Dr. Couch has certainly proven himself as an accomplished professional and expert in the field of Neurology. He was Professor and Chief of Neurology at Southern Illinois University Medical School from 1979-1992 where he built a thriving unit with dedication to teaching, patient care and research and initiated a Neurology residency Program.  He also served as Interim Chair of Medicine at Southern Illinois Medical School from 1988-1989. He then moved to f Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center where he was Chair of Neurology from 1992-2006.  He again built a department and started a Neurology Residency program for the second time. Since 2006, he has continued as professor of Neurology and devoted his efforts to practice and teaching and research at the Oklahoma City Veterans Hospital.  His recent research focused on developing a program to study the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.  Dr Couch retired from teaching and patient care in September 2018 but continues work on his research in Traumatic Brain Injury as Professor of Neurology Emeritus at OUHSC.

He has demonstrated success not only as a Professor of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, but in all of his prior positions. He began his professional career as Assistant and then Associate Professor of Neurology at University of Kansas Medical School (1972-1979). There his appointments included Staff for Kansas University  Medical Center and Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Investigator for the University of Kansas Mental Retardation Research Center, Consultant at Kansas City General Hospital. Moving to Southern Illinois University, Springfield, Illinois in 1979, He was Professor and Chief of Neurology, Consultant to Speech and Hearing Laboratory, Director of Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Director of Muscular Dystrophy Clinic for Memorial Health System, Consultant to Marion, IIlinois Veterans Administration Health Center and to Lincoln Illinois Mental Retardation Center.  In 1992,Dr. Couch became Chair of Neurology at Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center with appointments to University Hospital of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma. Dr. Couch initiated new Neurology Residency programs at Southern Illinois University Medical School and at University of Oklahoma medical School. Both programs have been successful continue to train new neurologists for this important , but understaffed field.  Dr. Couch has been a Visiting Professor at multiple Medical Schools throughout the United States and has been an Examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and the American Board of Neurosurgery.  He is regarded by his peers as one of the nation’s best physicians in Neurology of our time.

Dr. Couch received his B.S. in Zoology from Texas A & M University, his MD from Baylor University Medical School, his Ph. D. in Physiology from Baylor University Medical School, and Fellowship in the Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of the National Institute of Mental Health.  Dr. Couch was a Resident in Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis receiving a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke for his training.

Since 1969 to the present Dr. Couch has been the recipient of numerous Grants for Neurology Research.  . He has sat on many boards and committees. He has served as Secretary-Treasurer of the American Academy of Neurology and has also been Chair of the Headache Section for the American Academy of Neurology and Chair of the Consortium of Neurology Program Directors for the American Academy of Neurology.  Dr. Couch was also Secretary-Treasurer of the Association of University Professors of Neurology and chair of the Veteran’s Affairs committee for that organization.  Dr Couch served on the Board of the American Headache Society for many years and was involved in a number of committees and initiatives.  He was President of the American Headache Society from 1998-2000 and is a Regent member of that orginazation.  Dr. Couch was on the founding Board of the American Society of Neurorehabilitation and Chair of its Education Committee.

The President of IAOTP, Stephanie Cirami stated that “Choosing Dr. Couch for this award was an easy decision for our panel to make.  He is brilliant, his list of accomplishments and accolades are beyond impressive, he is active in numerous organizations and affiliations, he was exactly what we were looking for.  We know we will be seeing more outstanding things from this man and hope to spend time with him at the gala.”

Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Couch has been active in his community and recognized worldwide for his outstanding leadership and commitment in the fields of Neurology and Headache Medicine. He has received many awards, accolades and has been featured in numerous publications multiple years in a row such as Marquis Who’s Who, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest. In 2020 he received the Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and was selected for inclusion in Who’s Who in the World.   For 2019, Dr. Couch graced the front cover of TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine and was selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP).  For 2018 he was selected as Top Professor of the Year in Neurology by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) and for the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Headache Cooperative of New England.

The President of IAOTP, Stephanie Cirami stated that “Choosing Dr. Couch for this award was an easy decision for our panel to make.  He is brilliant, his list of accomplishments and accolades are beyond impressive, he is active in numerous organizations and affiliations, he was exactly what we were looking for.  We know we will be seeing more outstanding things from this man and hope to spend time with him at the gala.”

Dr. Couch has also been affiliated with the American Medical Association;, American Geriatrics Society, AAUP, OK State Medical Association; Oklahoma County Medical Society; Alumni Association for Baylor College of Medicine; The Scientific Research Honor Society for Sigma Xi; Alpha Omega Alpha, and the  Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis;  Dr Couch is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, American Neurological Association, American Heart Association (Stroke), American Headache Society, the American College of Physicians.

Aside from his successful career as a Professor, Dr. Couch is also a sought after lecturer, speaker, published Author, Reviewer, Editor and Contributor to over 100 Scientific Articles to Professional Journals. He is Section Editor for “Headache Current Treatment Options Neurology”, and formerly on Editorial Boards of “Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Disease”, and for “Headache.”

Looking back, Dr. Couch attributes his success to his experience, education, peers he has had along the way and staying passionate in all his endeavors.  Dr. Couch says he has been blessed, he loves doing what he is doing, and feels this is just the beginning.  When he is not working Dr. Couch enjoys Tennis, Racquetball, Bicycling, Collecting Old Medicine Bottles’, Singing in the Choir of his Church and spending time with his children and grandchildren. For the future Dr. Couch hopes to continue to make a difference in people’s lives anyway that he can.

For more information on Dr. Couch please visit: https://www.oumedicine.com/…/meet-our…/faculty/james-r-couch

About IAOTP

The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the world’s finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries.  These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join.  You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.

IAOTP’s experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires.  IAOTP prides itself to be a one of a kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place.

For More information on IAOTP please visit:   www.iaotp.com