Wayne Alfred Hening, MD, PhD
1945 - 2008

Wayne Alfred Hening, MD, PhD was a pioneer of Restless Legs Syndrome research. His lasting legacy is his extensive work on every aspect of RLS, including clinical studies, therapeutic trials, epidemiological, circadian, imaging and genetic studies. Among his major contributions is the development of RLS diagnostic criteria and diagnostic and severity scales.

Dr. Hening was determined to promote the field of RLS research. He organized the first international symposium on RLS in 1994, was one of the founders of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) and worked and chaired many sections and committees that shaped RLS research. Dr. Hening was instrumental in starting the International Restless Legs Study Group (IRLSSG) and served as its secretary until his death.

In his collaborations with his numerous colleagues, Dr. Hening proved to be a true scientist first and foremost. He published extensively, edited and co-edited several books and was a driving force in founding the international journal Sleep Medicine and serving as its Associate Editor. His seemingly unlimited knowledge, tireless work and brutal, but disarming intellectual honesty gained him a reputation as an ideal partner among his colleagues and mentor for the younger generation of RLS researchers.

Wayne’s creative genius seemed to be nourished by his widely diverse interests. Wayne was fascinated by different cultures and was an indefatigable world explorer. He was a connoisseur of music, wine and food. An avid reader not only of medical science but also of literature, art, philosophy and poetry, Wayne also wrote some fine poetry with one poem published in Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Wayne A. Hening was a giant of a man that combined scientific curiosity and achievements with a gentle considerate soul. He left us with a mandate to continue his legacy and work for a better understanding of RLS. His hope was that more and more investigators will become interested in RLS research.