Thomas Hammeke, PhD, ABPP

Thomas Hammeke, Ph.D., ABPP, former Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry and Division Chief in Neuropsychology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, passed away on April 8, 2026.  Throughout his years of dedicated service, Tom left an enduring impact on the people of MCW—faculty, students, staff, and patients—and the specialty of clinical neuropsychology around the world. While his professional achievements are unparalleled, it is Tom’s interpersonal qualities that are sorely missed. He was beloved for his warmth, kindness, wisdom, humor and humility. He was simply a joy to have in our lives and careers.

Dr. Hammeke was the second faculty hired in the Division of Neuropsychology at MCW in 1978. He served as Division Chief from 1985 through 2010 when he left to finish his career at the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Medical Center.  He developed the postdoctoral training program in the Division and led the way nationally developing standards for postdoctoral training in clinical neuropsychology. He was the founding president of the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN).  He further developed a legacy of service to the profession, serving as the president of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) and the American Psychological Association’s Division 40 (the Society of Clinical Neuropsychology). He was the recipient of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology’s Distinguished Neuropsychologist Award in 2013. In 2024, at the Department of Neurology’s 50thAnniversary, Tom was honored with the Neuropsychology Distinguished Faculty Award. Dr. Hammeke made groundbreaking contributions to research on fMRI and traumatic brain injury. He has had a lasting influence on the more than 100 fellows he trained and the scores of faculty members he mentored over the years. Tom would say that the best quality in a fellow was being “a kid in a candy store,” excited for the many learning opportunities. The second-best quality in a fellow was being someone who laughed at his jokes.

Tom will also be remembered for his love for his wife, Sharon, his three children Megan, Erin, and Paul, and his five grandchildren; his talent and artistry for woodworking that blossomed during retirement; and his gift for brightening the days of 100s through his reliable daily humor messages that he began sending during the pandemic and continued faithfully until 3/29/2026 when he sent his 2,129th message.  There will never be another quite like Tom, and the imprint of his mentoring, kindness, curiosity, and laughter will stay with us always.