Neurologist
Andrew B. Newberg M.D. (email) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and is a staff physician in Nuclear Medicine. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1993. His research, which has been performed in collaboration with the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, has focused not only on specific disorders, but also on various activation studies designed to explore how brain function is associated with various mental states.
He has published numerous articles and chapters on the topics of brain function and neuroimaging and has presented his research at both national and international meetings. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Nuclear Medicine, and Nuclear Cardiology.
Dr. Newberg has been particularly involved in the study of mystical and religious experiences as well as the more general mind/body relationship in both the clinical and research aspects of his career. Much of his research has focused on the relationship between brain function and various mystical and religious experiences. His research also includes understanding the physiological correlates of acupuncture therapy, meditation, and other types of alternative therapies.
He has presented his work at scientific and religious meetings throughout the world and has appeared on Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight as well as in a number of media articles including Newsweek, the New Scientist and the National Catholic Reporter.
He was an associate director of the Neuroscience Section for the consensus conference on Scientific Research on Spirituality and Health sponsored by the National Institute of Healthcare Research and was a member of the advisory board for the American Association for the Advancement of Science Program on Science and Religion.
He has also co-authored two books entitled, Why God Won’t Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief and The Mystical Mind: Probing the Biology of Belief, that explore the relationship between neuroscience and spiritual experience. The latter book received the 2000 award for Outstanding Books in Theology and the Natural Sciences presented by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences.
