Dr. Scott Wylie grew up watching his grandfather struggle with Parkinson’s disease, a chronic movement disorder. While Wylie was at PLNU, his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, another neurological disease. Seeing firsthand the devastating effects of these disorders, Wylie developed an interest in studying how they affect cognition and how to impact the lives of those suffering from them.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in psychology from PLNU, Wylie went on to earn his master’s degree in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Northern Colorado in 1997. He then received a Ph.D. in neuroscience and clinical psychology at Indiana University in 2002.
Wylie completed a clinical internship at the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a postdoctoral fellowship in the neurology department at the University of Virginia (UVA) before joining the faculty at UVA.
Wylie is currently an assistant professor in the neurology and neurosurgery departments at Vanderbilt University. He conducts clinical research on the effects of pharmacological and surgical therapies on cognitive changes in Parkinson’s disease patients — a facet of the disease largely unexplored. He also runs a clinic providing neuropsychological evaluations for patients seen in the Parkinson’s disease and functional neurosurgery programs.
For Wylie, the most rewarding part of his career is the opportunity to encourage and educate his patients as they cope with a neurodegenerative disease.
“Life is a series of unexpected opportunities to trust,” he said. “There were curves thrown at me, emotional challenges, which are inevitable parts of living. But when I hear people’s stories of wrestling with challenges these diseases present, and those people have hope and inexplicable joy, that encourages me.”
Wylie has received grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and private foundations to conduct his research. He has authored more than 40 publications and given more than 30 presentations at national and international venues.
Recently, Wylie and a colleague at Vanderbilt co-founded a business called SportsSense, which evaluates cognitive “intangibles” in athletes across several sports. They currently work with several NCAA and professional football, baseball, soccer and softball teams around the country.
Wylie and his wife, Heather, have a daughter, Hannah, 20, and two sons, Law, 4, and Maverick, 2.
The Viewpoint
PLNU's university publication, the Viewpoint, seeks to contribute relevant and vital stories that grapple with life's profound questions from a uniquely Christian perspective. Through features, profiles, and news updates, the Viewpoint highlights stories of university alumni, staff, faculty, and students who are pursuing who they are called to be.