Daniel Wilson (1992)

DANIEL R. WILSON, MD, PhD

22 February 1956 – 24 April 2025

Dr. Wilson was born in rural Iowa as the seventh of eight children and fifth of five brothers in a row. His mother was a fulltime Mom and sometime public health nurse, and his father the only physician for half of Calhoun County. Like all in his family, Dr. Wilson was blessed with a superb higher education–Yale Anthropology BA and Scholar of the House as well as the renowned Skull and Bones; University of Iowa MD with Honors; Harvard Internship, Residency, 

Fellowship and Faculty; topped off with a PhD in Anthropology from Queens’ College Cambridge, where precious daughter, Victoria, was born on Christmas Day at the Rosie Maternity Hospital.

Dr. Wilson was an internationally esteemed scholar with hundreds of publications and presentations spanning clinical psychopharmacology, forensic medicine, and evolutionary neuropsychiatry. As an astute and esteemed expert, he testified in all manner of legal cases county, district, federal, courts-martial, and international tribunals. He was a pioneer in the field of evolutionary neuropsychiatry (e.g., Founding Chair of the World Psychiatric Association Evolution Section and President of the American Neuropsychiatric Association).

Among his great many honors, he was a Sleyster Scholar of the AMA, Falk Fellow of the APA, Rotary Foundation Scholar, Life Elector of Clare Hall Cambridge, Overseas Fellow of the Royal AnthropologicalIInstitute of Great Britain & Ireland, Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA, Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Psychiatrists, Life Member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Fulbrights International Specialist, and Who’s Who in the World. Aside from all other professional accomplishments, Dr. Wilson proved a superb clinician, teacher, researcher, colleague and administrator whose legacy lives on in patients mended, students taught, knowledge advanced, and institutions progressed.

Most singular and exemplary is a remarkable love story spanning a fifty-three year attachment to Sandra (Davis) Wilson–his only first date–from the age of 15. They walked alongside one another at every step of their life, fulsomely shared with great gatherings of friends, exceptional world travels, but more so daily geniality and easy Sunday afternoon crosswords. The crowning achievement of this rare union was the birth of their beautiful daughter, Victoria.

Dr. Wilson passed peacefully at home in southern California with his loving wife and daughter at his side after a brave battle with a rare cancer. For now, and beyond, may this rare gentleman Rest in Peace.