History
In 1962, Harry M. Dent, a Buffalo-area entrepreneur and philanthropist, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Because of his illness the Dent Family Foundation, under the leadership of his son Harry M. Dent, Jr., elected to support the work of a renowned neurologist, Dr. William R. Kinkel, and his efforts in treating Parkinson’s disease. Through their leadership, the Dent Neurologic Institute became a leader in the treatment of neurologic diseases.
Foundations
In 1963, the Foundation provided an endowment to establish the Dent Clinic at Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo. Dr. Kinkel was appointed as the clinic’s director. The initial focus was the stereotactic surgical treatment of Parkinson’s. Unfortunately, only a limited number of patients qualified for this procedure.
Growth and Leadership
In 1968, the clinic was restructured into the Dent Neurologic Institute, which more accurately reflected its growth and reputation. The next year, the Institute received FDA approval to begin regional clinical trials of the anti-Parkinson’s drug levodopa, which revolutionized the treatment of this disorder. This was the first of many major clinical trials the Institute would conduct in the coming years.
Today and Tomorrow
In 1973, the Institute achieved renewed national and international prominence with the purchase of only the third computerized tomography (CT) scanner in the United States, placing the Institute in the forefront of neuroimaging. With the addition of modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), neuroimaging is the cornerstone of the Institute’s comprehensive diagnostics and treatment.
Today, the DENT Institute is one of the most comprehensive neurologic centers in the United States. Our dedicated and talented group of clinicians and neuroscientists combine groundbreaking technology, pharmacologic and clinical research with an exceptional depth and breadth of medical experience to advance medical science and provide unparalleled patient care.
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Mission Statement
The DENT Neurologic Institute is an academic private practice comprised of multiple neurologic sub-specialties providing the highest quality, comprehensive and compassionate patient care, integrated with clinical research, education, and state-of-the-art neurodiagnostics within Western New York.
(Revised 01/2002)
Our Logo
Until modern times, the brain remained an enigma, inaccessible to research and remote from understanding. For centuries healers had little knowledge of the brain’s structure, and only by inference from the patient’s behavior could they speculate on brain functions or assess the success of their treatments. Not until 1543, when the great anatomist Vesalius published his Humani Corporis Fabrica, were rudimentary brain structures, including the ventricles through which cerebrospinal fluid circulates, revealed. Vesalius’ illustrations would not be superseded until Gray’s Anatomy began publishing almost 300 years later.
Our logo incorporates an illustration from Vesalius’ groundbreaking work, and represents our commitment to furthering knowledge of the brain’s structure, function, and wellness.
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