Neurology Clinical & Academic Programs
The 果冻传媒 ProMedica Neurosciences Center is a comprehensive state-of-the-art facility that through our unique approach, specializes in the diagnosis and management of numerous disorders including Stroke, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Migraine/Complex Headache Disorders, Neuromuscular Disorders, Parkinson Disease/Movement Disorders, and Dementia.
Neurosciences 2023 annual report
Mission
The mission of the Department of Neurology at The University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus is three-fold: 1) to provide excellent education to our students, residents, fellows, and the wider community of medical professionals, 2) To improve the lives of persons with neurological disorders through compassionate, state-of-the-art medical care and education, and 3) To advance the state of knowledge of neurological disease, and develop new treatments through basic and clinical research.
The Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Program (PDMPD)
Directed by neurologist Lawrence Elmer, M.D., Ph.D., this program provides expert evaluation and care for persons with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's聽disease,聽other neurodegenerative disorders, and various neurological disorders affecting normal movement or creating abnormal movements. The Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Program (PDMDP), established in 1998, has one of the more active clinical research programs in the country. In addition to standard and聽innovative medication protocols, patients are evaluated for neurosurgical procedures, including deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and tremor. The faculty travel throughout the region educating and assisting Parkinson's support group members. The PDMDP, in conjunction with other programs in Ohio and Michigan, also conducts聽successful annual educational conferences for patients and caregivers.聽聽In addition to Dr. Elmer, the PDMDP includes faculty Dr. Mehmood Rashid and Dr. Thyagarajan Subramanian; nurse practitioner Mary (Molly) Scott, CNP;聽 coordinator Stephanie Wilson, RN, MSN; social worker, Kristen Schuchmann; and research聽administrator, Julia Spears.
The Stroke Program
Directed by Drs. Mouhammad Jumaa and Syed Zaidi, our Stroke Program is dedicated to providing emergent evaluation and inpatient care to persons suffering from acute stroke and transient ischemic attacks.聽聽Since 2005, our Stroke Program has been leading the way in offering the most comprehensive and cutting-edge stroke care in Northwest Ohio. Our Stroke Team is comprised of fellowship-trained stroke neurologists, neurointerventionalists, and a dedicated stroke nurse and nurse practitioner who collaborate with our colleagues in Emergency Medicine, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, and Radiology at the University of Toledo Medical Center and The Toledo Hospital to provide state-of-the-art care for our stroke patients.聽聽Through our extensive research initiatives, our Stroke faculty are dedicated to providing cutting-edge therapies to our patients through clinical trials and investigator-initiated research studies. Our current research areas include developing and testing therapies for acute ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke and developing technologies to expedite pre-hospital triage of stroke. As part of our commitment to excellence in Stroke, we offer educational opportunities for medical students, fellows, doctors, nurses, and the general public.
The Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
The Comprehensive Epilepsy Program provides state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for a large number of patients with epilepsy, with specialized services for patients with new onset or intractable seizures, the elderly, women with epilepsy, and those with mental or physical disabilities. The program is directed by Imran I. Ali, M.D., a board certified epileptologist who is also the Director of the ProMedica Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratories. Additional six other board certified epileptologists provide state-of-the-art care to adults and children with epilepsy. In addition to patient care, the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program also supports a strong research component including investigational drug research studies in addition to clinical research programs. There is also a strong emphasis on education and scholarship, with active participation at undergraduate/graduate program trainees as well as participation at regional, national, and international meetings.
The Multiple Sclerosis Program
The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Program, directed by Boyd Koffman, M.D., Ph.D., seeks to provide comprehensive care of patients
with multiple sclerosis in order to provide the best possible quality of life. One
of the initial responsibilities of the clinic is the evaluation and treatment of patients
in whom multiple sclerosis is suspected.聽 Additional access to subspecialties such
as physical and occupational therapy and urology is available through referral. Neurosurgical
evaluation, neuroimaging modalities (MRI), lumbar puncture, and evoked potentials
are available at the ProMedica Neuroscience Center to aid in diagnosis. Symptomatic
and/or immunomodulatory medications are used as appropriate to help treat this chronic
disorder. New investigations at both basic science and clinical trials are underway.
The Headache Medicine Program
The Headache Medicine Program was established in 19996. The Program is currently coordinated by Alicia Prestegaard, M.D. and Christine Utley, DNP, who has provided headache care to patients for the past 20 years. Additional University of Toledo Neurology faculty involved in the program include Dr. Anum Riaz, Dr. Vicki Ramsey Williams, Dr. Hongyan Li (who specializes in vestibular migraine), as well as chemodenervation (Botox) specialists, Dr. Mehmood Rashid and Dr. Noor Pirzada. Most commonly treated conditions include migraine, medication overuse headache, cluster headache, hemicrania continua, posttraumatic headache, occipital neuralgia, and trigeminal neuralgia. Providers have expertise in medication therapy, botulinum toxin (Botox) injection therapy, occipital nerve block, transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block, and neuromodulation. Headache medicine providers work closely with physical therapists specializing in neck pain and dizziness, and with psychologists specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy. The program also offers opportunities for persons to participate in research protocols regarding the causes and consequences of headaches and in studies for more effective therapies.
The Neuromuscular Program
The Neuromuscular Program is staffed by Noor Pirzada, M.D., Director of the EMG Laboratory, Sabeena Malik, M.D., and Bashar Saour, M.D.
Our board certified, fellowship-trained neuromuscular subspecialists see all major categories of neuromuscular disorders such as muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), peripheral neuropathy and myasthenia gravis, and also patients with rare, complicated and difficult-to-diagnose conditions.聽
The neuromuscular division provides a state-of-the-art EMG laboratory staffed by experienced and board certified EMG technologists. Other diagnostic procedures relevant to this field include nerve, muscle, and skin biopsy; genetic testing, nerve and muscle imaging, and immunologic testing.聽 Therapeutic modalities include pharmacologic therapies, immunomodulatory therapies (immunosuppressive drugs, plasmapheresis, and IVIg), and rehabilitation of neuromuscular disorders.
We have physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapies designed for people with neuromuscular disorders.
The neuromuscular division is actively involved in education of neurology residents and medical students.聽 In addition to giving lectures on various neuromuscular topics at the University of Toledo and affiliated hospitals the division provides comprehensive training in EMG and nerve conduction studies for neurology residents during a one month rotation.聽 It is also possible for residents from other interested specialties to arrange a rotation in the EMG laboratory.
The Vestibular and Balance Program
The UTMC Vestibular and Balance Program provides comprehensive service to patients with dizziness and balance problems. The program includes a Vestibular and Dizziness Clinic and a Clinical Vestibular Laboratory for diagnostic neurophysiological testing.聽聽Our program is one of only three in the state and only one in NW Ohio led by fellowship-trained neurologists. Patients with dizziness, vertigo, and impaired equilibrium are evaluated for the underlying neurological cause and then, after diagnosis, appropriate treatment is initiated. Patients may benefit from participating in specially designed physical therapy and exercise program provided by trained therapists at our Vestibular and Balance Rehabilitation Program.