It is with profound shock, deep sadness, and heartbreak that Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) mourns the loss of Dr. Nolan Williams, a beloved friend, ally, and pioneer whose vision transformed the landscape of care for our nation’s veterans.
Nolan was not only a brilliant clinician and relentless researcher, but one of our strongest allies in the fight to improve brain health for veterans. He dedicated his life to advancing ibogaine research and standing with veterans when few others would. His groundbreaking work brought light to the darkest places of human suffering, and his loss leaves a void in our hearts and in our mission that can never be filled.
Dr. Williams’ collaboration with VETS on the Stanford ibogaine study for veterans with traumatic brain injury stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to those who served. Through this collaboration, 30 Special Operations veterans found dramatic relief from PTSD, depression, and anxiety—many experiencing life-changing restoration of function and hope when mainstream treatments had failed them. His research demonstrated what these veterans courageously believed: that healing was possible, that their suffering mattered, and that science could meet them in their darkest hour.
Beyond the professional loss, we grieve for a devoted husband, a father, a friend. He was kind, generous, and unfailingly passionate about helping others. His legacy is not just in his work, but in the lives he changed and in the work we now continue.
Now more than ever, we must honor Dr. Williams’ legacy by continuing this vital work in carrying forward the torch of hope he so brilliantly illuminated.