In Loving Memory: Nolan Williams
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Nolan Williams, a distinguished physician, scientist, and educator affiliated with Stanford University, whose loss will be profoundly felt by colleagues, students, patients, and the broader academic and clinical communities.
Dr. Williams served as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford, and as the Director of the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab. In these roles, he pioneered innovative approaches to neuropsychiatric care, including techniques to precisely modulate neural circuitry in conditions such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other mental health disorders.
Among his notable achievements was the development and implementation of SAINT (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy), a cutting-edge transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol that has gained FDA clearance and has been integrated into clinical practice for treatment-resistant depression. His work bridged neuroscience, psychiatry, and engineering , bringing hope to many whose conditions had defied conventional treatment.
Colleagues and collaborators remember Dr. Williams for his intellectual rigor, generous mentorship, and deep dedication to translating scientific discovery into meaningful patient care. His teaching, investigations, and compassion shaped a generation of clinicians and researchers, leaving a lasting legacy of inquiry, innovation, and empathy.
He is survived by his family, including his spouse and children, as well as mentors, students, and many who were inspired by his vision. As we grieve his loss, the community also honors his enduring impact: lives changed, voices heard, and the promise of mental health innovation advanced in his name.
May Nolan Williams rest in peace, and may his memory continue to guide, heal, and inspire in the fields he passionately served.
