Department of Neurology

CLINICAL

CENTERS

Brain Tumor Center

The Center consists of Neuro-oncologists working closely with the Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Radiation Oncology and the nationally renowned Seidman Cancer Center. Together, they comprise a multidisciplinary team to focus on diagnoses and treatments of neoplasms affecting the nervous system. The neurology medical director is Dr. Lisa Rogers.

The Seidman Cancer Center, a partnership of University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University, is the only cancer center in northern Ohio to have earned Comprehensive Cancer Center designation, the National Cancer Institute’s highest designation.

Epilepsy Center

The Epilepsy Center is a collaboration between specialists in the Department of Neurology, Department of Neurosurgery and the Division of Pediatric Neurology (Department of Pediatrics) that provides the best possible care to persons with seizure disorders, irrespective of age. This team has at its disposal the complete range of modern neurological testing, including video-EEG, positron emission tomography (PET), functional MR imaging (fMRI), and neuropsychological testing. The goal is to determine the cause of the seizures, and then to devise the best possible therapeutic response. Because members of the Center are engaged in research on new therapeutic agents, their patients have access to medications that are not generally available. The neurological physicians work closely with adult and pediatric neurological surgeons to help patients who may benefit from surgical procedures tailored to control or entirely cure the source of the seizures.

Dr. Samden Lhatoo is the Director of the Center, and together with Drs. Hans Lüders, Shahram Amina, Kitti Kaiboriboond, Tanvir Syed, Kitti Kaiboriboon, and  are primarily responsible for evaluation of adult patients. Drs. Mark Scher and Ingrid Tuxhorn of the Division of Pediatric Neurology in the Department of Pediatrics care for neonates and children with epilepsy. Physicians in the Center are especially attentive to providing family members and caregivers with an understanding of the complex ways in which seizures may affect an individual's emotional well-being.

Community Neurology Center

The Center of Community Neurology provides outpatient and inpatient care for a broad range of disorders. The most common neurologic complaints are headaches, seizures and other spells, numbness and gait disturbance. Also included in the Center is the care of patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Ongoing management of multiple sclerosis is provided, with an emphasis on preventive care for secondary complications. In addition, members of the Center are available for second opinions and consultation regarding optimal treatment and follow-up.

Patients and referring physicians who are uncertain of the etiology of their complaint should contact this center first. If subsequent care can be provided more efficiently by an appropriate subspecialist, appropriate referral will be arranged. The Center is directed by Dr. Daniel Koontz.  Members of the Center include Drs. Edward Westbrook, Michael Devereaux, Daniel Miller, Marek Buczek, Tina Blitz, Colleen Tomcik, Rose Dotson, Rita Nayak and Norton Winer.

Brain Healthy and Memory Center

The Brain Healthy and Memory Center is a unique resource that combines the strengths of Case Medical Center, the School of Medicine, and other Schools in Case Western Reserve University in providing the best possible care, and an innovative research program.

The clinical program works with family and other caregivers to provide the best possible environment for individuals with declining cognitive abilities. Patient evaluations are usually carried out at the Park East Medical Building in Beachwood. The clinical program is directed by Dr. Alan J. Lerner.

Also included in the Center is Clinical Neuropsychology. The Neuropsychology Program at University Hospitals Case Medical Center provides clinical neuropsychological services to a wide range of individuals with suspected or known disorders of the central nervous system. Faculty and Neuropsychology program staff work closely with other faculty of the Neurological Institute to provide state-of-the-art neuropsychological evaluation and treatments. Specialty neuropsychological services are provided for specific Centers of the Neurological Institute, including Epilepsy, Brain Health and Memory, Movement Disorders, Neuro-oncology, General Neurology, and Neuropsychiatry. The center is directed by Phillip Fastenau, PhD. Other members included Michael R. Schoenberg, PhD; Cynthia Griggins, PhD; and Paula K. Ogrocki, PhD.

In partnership with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, the Neuromuscular Center offers leading-edge diagnostic practices and standards to provide the best in patient care.

Our neuromuscular facility offers state-of-the-art neurodiagnostic services including Electromyography (EMG) and Autonomic testing at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and a variety of community facilities. The EMG labs at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center, University Hospitals University Suburban Health Center and University Hospitals Westlake Health Center are all accredited by the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine. UH Case Medical Center is the first academic medical center in Ohio to be accredited by AANEM.

Our physicians are renowned experts who have authored textbooks, lectured frequently at national conferences, chaired neuromuscular workshops and most importantly, are devoted to providing the best neuromuscular care to patients.

We offer a critically acclaimed ACGME credited fellowship program and have monthly Grand Rounds with information on the latest neuromuscular innovations, research and practices.

Movement Disorders Center

The Movement Disorders Center directed by Dr. Benjamin Walter which provides specialized care for persons with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, essential tremor, dystonia, and other disorders characterized by an alteration in the control of voluntary movement. Treatment is available with a broad array of medications and injection with botulinum toxin (especially for dystonia), as well as neurosurgical therapies (e.g., deep brain stimulation) for selected conditions.

The Center carries out an energetic program of research into new medications, and patients thus benefit from the opportunity to use medications that are not generally available. In cooperation with the Department of Neurological Surgery, the Center is able to recommend particular neurosurgical procedures to patients who may find them especially advantageous. The Center of Movement Disorders has a particular commitment to helping family members and caregivers to understand the nature of these illnesses, and how they affect the individual. Patients and referring physicians who would like expert advice, but who would prefer routine care by their own physicians, are welcome to seek consultation and recommendations for patterns of care. Investigators interested in funding for movement disorders, click here.

Neuro-Critical Care Center

Critical Care Neurology is one of the newest and growing specialties in neurology. The Neuroscience Care Unit (NSU) is a 14-bed unit, under the direction of Michael DeGeorgia, MD. Additional neurointensivist staff include Drs. Wei Xiong, and Alan Hoffer. The unit is designed for the care of neurology and neurosurgical patients who require specialized intensive nursing and medical care. The NSU cares for a wide array of patients with critical illness affecting the nervous system. This includes patients with acute stroke, encephalitis and neurologic causes of respiratory failure, especially Guillain-Barre syndrome and myasthenia gravis.

The needs of these patients are quite different from other ICU patients. The role of the neurointensivist includes care of the critically ill, involvement in acute treatment of stroke (i.e., Brain Attack), prognostication to family members, teaching of all personnel, determinations of brain death, and critical evaluation of novel treatments for acute stroke.

The Neurocritical Care Center offers fellowship training and is actively involved in a variety of research activities. More information is available here on the Neurocritical Site of University Hospitals.

Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center

The Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center is a collaboration among the Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Interventional Neuroradiology. The Center is under the direction of Dr. Cathy Sila. Other members of the Center within the Department of Neurology include Drs. Anthony Furlan, Edward Westbrook, Sophia Sundararajan, Michael DeGeorgia, and Svetlana Pundik. The center has become a leading force in the development of the "Brain Attack" concept, which provides comprehensive care for patients with cerebrovascular disorders, ranging from prevention through detection and emergency treatment to intelligent and compassionate rehabilitation.

The Brain Attack Team (BAT) at Case Medical Center of University Hospitals provides specialized emergency care for all patients presenting within six hours of the onset of their cerebrovascular deficit. Brain Attack protocols optimize rapid evaluation and management, utilizing various state of the art thrombolytics and mechanical retrieval devices.

Neuro-Ophthalmology and Balance Center

The Neuro-ophthalmology and Balance Center deals with a broad range of disorders that affect balance and vision, ranging from diseases of the afferent visual pathways to those adversely affecting eye movements. Common neuro-ophthalmic complaints include vision and visual field loss, double vision, blepharospasm, dizziness, oscillopsia and vertigo, abnormalities of the pupil and eye pain and headache.

At University Hospitals, Neuro-Ophthalmology is directed by Dr. Atif Collins, who provides a full range of clinical neuro-ophthalmological services. The balance center is directed by Dr. Mark Walker, working in conjunction with colleagues in the Otolaryngology Department.

The clinical program at University Hospitals continues to work closely with the active research programs of Dr. R. John Leigh, Dr. L. Dell'Osso and Dr. John Stahl at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. Their research is particularly well-known for important contributions relating the pathophysiology of nystagmus and other ocular oscillations and also study of pharmacologic, surgical and biomechanical treatments for these conditions.