Marilyn M. Rymer, MD
Medical Director, Mid America Brain and Stroke Institute
Professor of Medicine, UMKC School of Medicine

Marilyn M. Rymer, MD is the founder of the internationally recognized Stroke Center at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, which she has directed since 1993.  In 2001, Dr. Rymer led the development of the Mid America Brain and Stroke Institute that provides comprehensive services to people with diseases of the brain and spine.  She was selected to occupy the Edward T. Matheny, Jr. Missouri Endowed Chair in Neuroscience in 1999 and has since divided her time amongst:  research in stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease; medical education; and clinical work. She is Professor of Medicine at the UMKC School of Medicine.

Dr. Rymer is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Northwestern University and graduated with highest honors from Washington University School of Medicine.  She did post graduate training in neurology at the Neurological Hospital at Queen Square in London, England, completing neurology residency at the University of Wisconsin.  In 1996, she became the first woman to be elected Chief of Staff at Saint Luke’s Hospital.  She is the past Vice-President of the Saint Luke’s Hospital Foundation Board and served as chair of the Funding Priorities Committee.  She finished a six-year term on the VHA Board of Trustees, where she was the chair of the Finance Committee.  As the National Chair for the VHA Stroke Initiative, she traveled to all parts of the country to lead accelerated learning workshops on stroke. 

Dr. Rymer is a former trustee of the Pembroke Hill School, Bishop Spencer Place and the Mid Ear Institute.  She serves on numerous national professional committees committed to improving stroke care in the US.