He holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from Cornell University, a master's degree in exercise science from the University of Delaware in Newark, and received his MD, as well as his PhD in neuroscience, from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Dr. Mackenzie's research interest centers around neurological injury and disease. He was awarded a National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke, and is the author of multiple journal articles on dyslexia, developmental coordination disorder, cerebral palsy and cauda equina injury.