D. Kent Morest

Donald Kent Morest (October 4, 1934 – December 30, 2020) was an American educator and researcher. He is regarded as "the father of modern neuroanatomy of the auditory system.". His unconventional use of Golgi methods to study the neuroanatomy of the auditory nervous system in humans and mammals laid the foundation for investigations into central auditory signal processing. Other notable research interests included developmental neurobiology, and the processes related to hearing loss induced by exposure to loud noises.

Early life and education Morest was born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 4, 1934. He graduated with honors from the University of Chicago in 1955. As a medical school student, he was a fellow at the Montreal Neurological Institute, a Brown Student Fellow at Yale, and a Foreign Fellow of Yale at University College London. He received his M.D. with honors from Yale University in 1960.

Professional career Morest is best known for his usage of Golgi's method and detail-oriented microscopy work throughout his research career, which led to the uncovering of important advances in understanding neural structure and function. Rather than using the traditional method of presenting the cells treated with Golgi techniques as opaque blobs on a neutral background, he took the unconventional step of including illustrations of the textures, dimensions, and surfaces of the cells in his studies, which he believed allowed for a richer understanding of the microscopist’s experience. He spearheaded the advancement of neuroscience (particularly auditory neuroscience) at the University of Connecticut Health Center (UCHC). He also founded the High Tech Center at UCHC. Morest was vital to the creation of the neuroscience doctoral program as well as the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Connecticut.

Timeline 1955 A.B. University of Chicago 1960 M.D. Yale University 1960-1963 Senior Assistant Surgeon, Neuroanatomical Sciences, NIH 1963-1965 Assistant Professor of Anatomy, University of Chicago 1965-1977 Assistant, Associate Professor, Anatomy Department, Harvard Medical School 1977-2000 Professor of Anatomy, University of Connecticut 2000-2012 Professor of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut (retirement)

Awards The Charles Judson Herrick Award for Meritorious Contributions to Comparative Neurology, 1966, American Association of Anatomists. Charles N. Loeser Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Basic Medical Sciences, The University of Connecticut Health Center, 1981. Jacob Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award, 1984, NINDS, NIH. Claude Pepper Award, 1990, NIDCD, NIH. Professional Achievement Award, 2009, University of Chicago Alumni, University of Chicago.

Publications Morest authored, co-authored and edited a number of books and articles.

Selected papers

Books