Verna Porter, M.D., stands as a distinguished figure in the field of neurology, renowned for her expertise in adult and geriatric neurology. Board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Doctor Porter further holds a subspecialty certification in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry from the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties. Her commitment to excellence is further underscored by her Fellowship in the American Neurological Association (FANA).
Currently, Doctor Porter serves as the Director of Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Neurocognitive Disorders at the Pacific Brain Health Center, part of the prestigious Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI) at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Her leadership at this center highlights her dedication to patient care and advancing the understanding and treatment of complex brain conditions.
Doctor Porter‘s impressive academic journey began at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, College Honors, Departmental Honors, and Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology. She continued her education at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, earning her MD degree in 1994. Her post-graduate training included an Internship at UCLA in the Department of Medicine, followed by a residency in the UCLA Department of Neurology. Demonstrating a commitment to specialized knowledge, she completed a combined research and clinical fellowship in Dementia, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Geriatric Medicine through both the UCLA Department of Neurology and the UCLA Division of Geriatric Medicine.
Her career trajectory showcases significant leadership roles. In 2002, Doctor Porter joined the UCLA faculty and was simultaneously elected Chief of the Division of Neurology at UCLA/Santa Monica Medical Center. That same year, she founded UCLA Santa Monica Neurological Associates, a successful faculty group practice focused on general neurology with specialized sub-expertise and patient care. Doctor Porter led this practice and served as a UCLA Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Neurology until 2015, when she transitioned to the role of Director of Clinical Programs for the Mary S. Easton Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. In 2018, she assumed her current directorship at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, further solidifying her position as a leader in dementia and neurocognitive disorders.
The contributions of Doctor Porter to the medical field are substantial, marked by numerous peer-reviewed publications and extensive experience in both teaching and clinical practice. Her recognized expertise has led to her inclusion in The Leading Physicians of the World, an esteemed subsidiary of the International Association of HealthCare Professionals (IAHCP). She has also been consistently recognized as a Southern California Super Doctor and was named a “Top Doctor” in Los Angeles Magazine in 2018. Further accolades include selections for inclusion in the National Association of Professional Women, Marquis Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and Marquis Who’s Who in the World. In 2018, Marquis Who’s Who honored Doctor Porter with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, a testament to her enduring impact on her field.
Doctor Porter’s clinical and research passions lie in exploring the intricate connections between immunological, genetic, and biomarker characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases. She is particularly interested in the crucial role of healthy lifestyle and dietary habits in promoting optimal brain health and maintaining cognitive function as we age. Continuing her academic involvement, Doctor Porter remains a Volunteer Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCLA, alongside her commitment to providing comprehensive clinical consultations and ongoing care for her patients at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute.
A Santa Monica native, Doctor Porter is actively engaged in her community with her family. She finds great fulfillment in serving the community where she grew up and continues to reside, dedicating her skills and expertise to those in need of neurological care.
