The Rockswold-Kaplan Endowed Chair for Traumatic Brain Injury was created in 2014 to advance research and innovations at the Hennepin Healthcare Traumatic Brain Injury Center. This endowed chair was funded by the generosity of Elliot and Eloise Kaplan in gratitude for the care Eloise received, and by Hennepin Healthcare neurosurgeon and University of Minnesota Neurosurgery Program alumni Gaylan Rockswold, MD.

The appointment is historic as it is the first time an endowed chair in the Hennepin Healthcare system was awarded to a faculty member whose primary appointment resides in the U of M Medical School’s Department of Neurosurgery and reflects a renewed, programmatic effort to foster collaboration between the two entities. Dr. Darrow has served in this role since 2021.