Department News
黑料网 Neurology is pleased to introduce our new department chair, Gwenn Garden, MD, PhD, effective August 19. Dr. Garden comes to 黑料网 from the University of Washington where she currently serves as Vice Chair of the Department of Neurology. >
The department was saddened by the loss of Kevin Robertson, PhD, Professor of Neurology and the director of the AIDS Neurological Center who passed away on June 16 from cancer. Read more about his life >
James F. Howard, Jr., MD, will enter phased retirement beginning July 1. Fortunately for us, he will remain active with his research projects and EMG/neuromuscular education. We are excited to announce that Rebecca Traub, MD, will become the new director of the EMG laboratory. She will also assume the role of interim director for the Neuromuscular Division.
Awards and Achievements
The 黑料网 Hospitals Comprehensive Stroke Center once again received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association鈥檚 Get With The Guidelines庐 Target: Stroke Honor Roll Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital鈥檚 commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. The Center also received the association鈥檚 highest recognition 鈥� the Target: StrokeSM Elite Plus award.
听Drs. Nina Browner, James Howard, Daniel Roque, Miriam Sklerov and Rebecca Traub were recipients of the 2019 黑料网 Health Care and 黑料网 Faculty Physicians Award for Carolina Care Excellence. When surveyed, more than 95% of their patients said they would definitely recommend them to family and friends.
Our department’s celebratory dinner for our graduating residents and fellows on June 1 was filled with love and laughter. Recipients of the 2018-2019 Neurology Resident Awards are as follows:
- Jacobson Award for compassionate patient care – Zuleyma Toledo- Nieves, MD
- Resident Teacher Award – Katie Moore, MD
- Child Neurology Faculty Teacher Award – Bob Greenwood, MD
- Adult Faculty Teacher Award – Nina Browner, MD
Anahit Mehrabyan, MD, is now board certified in electrodiagnostic medicine as well as neuromuscular medicine and neurology.
An article by James F. Howard, Jr., MD, titled, 鈥淢yasthenia gravis: the role of complement at the neuromuscular junction鈥� is one of the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences’ most downloaded recent papers (1/2017 – 12/2018).
Research
Drs. Xiaopeng Zong (PI), William Powers (co-PI), and John Buse recently received a $34,700 grant award from the听North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute听and the 黑料网 Dept. of Neurology. The researchers will investigate a new MRI method developed by Dr. Zong to see if it can be used to study tiny brain arteries in patients with diabetes who are at high risk to develop strokes from disease of these arteries.
Jane Fan, MD, was recently funded with a R21 grant, 鈥淚CT (Idiographic Clinical Trial) for rare diseases鈥� from NCATS/NIH. The PI is Ty Ridenour, PhD, at RTI and Dr. Fan is the 黑料网 principle investigator.
Irena Dujmovic Basuroski, MD, co-authored two papers:
- 鈥淜appa free light chains is a valid tool in the diagnostics of MS: A large multicenter study.鈥� , May 2019.
- 鈥淟ong-term disability outcomes in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a 10-year follow-up study.鈥� , April 2019.
William Powers, MD, co-authored two papers:
- 鈥淎CR Appropriateness Criteria庐 Ataxia,鈥� Expert Panel on Neurologic Imaging:
, May 2019 - 鈥淎CR Appropriateness Criteria庐 Neuroendocrine Imaging,鈥� Expert Panel on Neurologic Imaging: , May 2019
AAN Annual Meeting
Congratulations to all who attended, presented, and/or authored posters and abstracts accepted by the AAN for their 2019 Annual Meeting. Thank you for representing 黑料网 and the Department at this major academic meeting that brought together over 14,000 neurology professionals this year. 黑料网 presenters and/or authors of posters and abstracts included:
James F. Howard, Jr., MD:
Platform presentation (invited) 鈥� Emerging Science Session:
- 鈥淶ilucoplan, a Subcutaneously Self-Administered Peptide Inhibitor of Complement Component 5 (C5), for the Treatment of Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Results of a Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial and Open-Label Long-Term Extension.鈥�
Poster Presentations:
- 鈥淶ilucoplan, a Subcutaneously Self-Administered Peptide Inhibitor of Complement Component 5 (C5), for the Treatment of Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Results of a Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial and Open-Label Long-Term Extension.鈥�
- “Changes in concomitant immunosuppressive therapy use during a Phase 3 open-label study of eculizumab in adults with generalized myasthenia gravis: an interim analysis.”
Manisha Chopra, MD, was an author on the above posters.
Dan Kaufer, MD:
- Course Director and Faculty:听 鈥淲hat Do I Do Now?听 Assessing and Managing Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Neurocognitive Disorders.鈥�
- Faculty:听 鈥淣eurocognitive Assessment for Neurologists鈥�
- Poster presentation: 鈥淧rogress and Participant Characterization in the Advancing Research and Treatment in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (ARTFL) Rare Disease Clinical Research Consortium.鈥�
Bradley Vaughn, MD:
- Course Director: 鈥淯sing Sleep Medicine to Help Solve Difficult Neurologic Cases鈥�
- Introduction to Cases and Format
- 鈥淓pilepsy and Daily Headache: I can鈥檛 Sleep鈥�
- 鈥淣ever Rested: Multiple Sclerosis鈥�
Heidi Roth, MD:
- Course Presenter: 鈥淲omen Founders of Neurology and Neuroscience – Brenda Milne鈥�
Xiaoyan Li, MD, PhD (Resident PGY-4)
Co-authored with Irena Dujmovic Basuroski, MD:
- Poster presentation: 鈥淰anishing ‘trident sign’ in recurrent sarcoid myelitis treated with Rituximab.鈥�
Abbas Jowkar, MD (Neuromuscular Fellow):
Co-authored two abstracts that were presented by neurology residents from the Detroit Medical Center where he was听faculty prior to coming to 黑料网.
- Abstract number 1030 entitled 鈥淎nti-Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibody Syndromes Occur at an Earlier Age In African Americans.鈥�
- Abstract number 1823 entitled 鈥淔/M Wave Area and F-Wave Duration Quantify Spinal Hyperexcitability in Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) Antibody Positive Patients with Stiff Person Syndrome.鈥�
Additional Presentations
Presenters at the Sleep Research Society鈥檚 international meeting, SLEEP 2019, in San Antonio from June 8-13 included:
Brad Vaughn, MD: 鈥淪leep and Epilepsy: Pointers and Pitfalls in EEG in Identifying Seizure Types鈥�
Ethan Yun, MD, fellow: Poster presentation on 鈥淪leep Perception in Parkinson Patients鈥�
Joel Erickson, MD, fellow: Poster presentation on 鈥淪leep complaints in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.鈥�
Nina Browner, MD, and Jessica Shurer, MSW, LCSW, were on the keynote panel at the Parkinson鈥檚 Foundation鈥檚 annual Centers of Excellence Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Arizona in April. They discussed the importance of screening for depression, anxiety and other mental health issues among Parkinson鈥檚 patients as well as recognizing and overcoming barriers to quality mental health care, including stigma. Ms. Shurer also presented on the ParkNC referral network at the same conference.
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Albert Hinn, MD, gave a talk titled 鈥淕eneral Principles in the Interpretation of Intraoperative Evoked Potential Studies鈥� at the NCSET meeting on May 18 in Raleigh.
Dan Kaufer, MD, presented at two Brain Health Conferences sponsored by the NC Registry for Brain Health 鈥� Asheville on May 1 and Greenville on June 28. Dr. Kaufer also presented at the Cleveland Clinic鈥檚 International Lewy Body Dementia Conference in Las Vegas on June 24.
William Powers, MD, gave a neurology grand rounds presentation titled, 鈥淰alue-Based Diagnostic Work-up for Secondary Ischemic Stroke Prevention鈥� at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical center on May 15.
Events
The 黑料网 Movement Disorders Center co-hosted the CurePSP 2019 Southeast Family Conference in Raleigh, NC, on June 6-7. Miriam Sklerov, MD, and Jessica Shurer, MSW, LCSW, were on the planning committee for the event, which had over 100 attendees. The program was an opportunity for patients and families impacted by the rare atypical Parkinsonism diagnoses of progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and multiple system atrophy to learn about symptoms and treatment options, tap into local and national resources, and form meaningful, supportive connections.
In addition, the 黑料网 Movement Disorders Center hosted 鈥淧D 301: An Overview of Advanced Stage Parkinson鈥檚鈥� in May. This recurring community program is geared towards patients and families experiencing a longer-standing disease state and provides education treatment and resource options for symptom management, safety, rehabilitation therapies, care partner support, long-term care, and palliative care.
Lace up those sneakers and get in shape for the听 5K Run/Walk in , Chapel Hill on Sept. 7 to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the 黑料网 Brain Tumor Program.
Media
Hae Won Shin, MD, was interviewed for a , 鈥�FDA Approves Groundbreaking Rescue Treatment for Cluster Seizures.鈥�
Diana Cejas, MD, wrote three articles that were published online:
- “Taking charge of my story as a cancer patient at the hospital where I work,”
- “How disability complicated my relationship with yoga and changed how I talk to my patients,”
- “An open letter to struggling medical students,”