Divisions

The University of Minnesota Ataxia Center provides specialized evaluation, testing and treatment for people with cerebellar ataxia. Our team of genetic specialists and ataxia experts help patients with ataxia learn more about their condition and manage it better. In addition to testing and counseling, we provide medical treatment and physical therapy focused on the needs of people with ataxia including gait imbalance, evaluation of the risk of falling, and individualized strategies for coping.

Faculty: Khalaf Bushara; Lawrence Schut

MINCEP® Epilepsy Care represents the integration of services with University of Minnesota Health to provide specialized inpatient and outpatient epilepsy care directed toward men and women, children, teens and pregnant women. Our team will work to create a comprehensive treatment plan for you, no matter your age or epilepsy diagnosis. We use a systematic approach that recognizes epilepsy must be treated continuously over many years, which can lead to a dramatic improvement in quality of life.

Our University researchers are focusing on human seizures, epilepsies and disorders of consciousness, with emphases in pathophysiology (particularly using brain imaging techniques), diagnosis (particularly using brain imaging and clinical electrophysiological techniques), and therapy (particularly with antiepileptic drugs, epilepsy surgery, and chronic neural electrical stimulation) to improve patient care.

Faculty: Thomas Henry; Ilo Leppik; Sima Patel; Zhiyi Sha; Minoo Shams-Moorkani; Ted Walczak

Our general neurologists can diagnose your neurological disorder, offer the most up-to-date treatments, and improve your quality of life. We have several experts who specialize in headache care, providing targeted treatments that relieve mild-to-debilitating headache pain and help you get your quality of life back quickly. Learn more about the headache care provided at our clinics here.

Faculty: Sarah Benish; A.J. Christnovich; Miguel Fiol; Adam Lipschultz; Jacob Manske; Abby Metzler; Jetter Robertson; Jacob Torrison

Our mission is to conduct cutting-edge translational Alzheimer's disease reach. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's disease. The Memory Clinic at MHealth provides a comprehensive evaluation of memory and related cognitive function, and a diagnosis of memory disorders. The team works to ensure patients receive a thorough and dignified diagnosis. A comprehensive evaluation involves gathering a medical history, an exam, diagnostic testing, and evaluation of the patient’s daily living and activities. The evaluation includes consultation with a physician who specializes in diagnosing cognitive disorders, individualized care, and community support recommendations. Each patient receives extensive guidance for further care and support, and information needed to make important decisions. Patients can expect to receive thorough and ongoing support to manage the diagnosis, through education and connection to resources.

Faculty: Karen Ashe; Peng Liu; Shauna Yuan; William Mantyh

Our exceptional patient care and leading-edge research in neurological disorders makes us one of the top neurology programs in the United States. University of Minnesota Health neurologists diagnose and treat a wide range of neurological and motor system disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. Our Movement Disorders Team works collaboratively with physicians across specialties to treat patients with movement disorders; bringing together neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, nutritionists, social workers and other health care professionals to provide the best care for you.

Faculty: Jerry Vitek; Leo Almeida; Joshua Aman; Sommer Amundsen Huffmaster; Yoon-Hee Cha; Allyson Connor; Scott Cooper; Kristine Domingo; Luke Johnson; Colum MacKinnon; Paul Tuite; Jing Wang

The Multiple Clinic has established a track record of cutting-edge care. The medical staff uses state-of-the-art techniques in the diagnosis, evaluation, management, and treatment of adult patients with demyelinating disorders and autoimmune disorders of the brain and spinal cord.

Physicians at the clinic are at the forefront of investigator-initiated research in treatments for the treatment of MS, immune regulation in MS, MS-related MRI findings in cognitive impairment. The Clinic also conducts investigator-initiated and pharmaceutical company-sponsored clinical trials on novel agents for the treatment of MS and clinical research using imaging studies to investigate the evolution of MS pathology.

Faculty: Adam Carpenter; Brittani Conway; William Schmalstieg

Our neurointensivists specialize in care of wide-spectrum of severe neurologic disease including patients with major stroke and cerebral edema, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, seizure, brain infection, and neuromuscular emergencies within a dedicated Neuro-Intensive Care Unit.

Neurocritical Care Faculty: Benjamin Miller; Oladi Bentho

Our neuro-oncology specialists are leaders in a team approach to provide comprehensive, advanced, yet compassionate cancer care that incorporates the latest treatments while maintaining open communication and respect for the core principles of a patient and their family.

Faculty: Elizabeth Neil

The neuromuscular division is a leader in subspecialty care and clinical research across the continuum of neuromuscular medicine. Our clinical care includes the following:

• Dedicated adult and pediatric multidisciplinary MDA clinics addressing the needs of people living with muscle disease
• A dedicated multidisciplinary ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence, the highest designation offered by the ALS Association
• A dedicated multidisciplinary MDA clinic for people living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), with Center of Excellence designation from the CMT Association and the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation
• Dedicated clinics in neuropathy, with international leadership in CIDP Our neurologists perform and interpret muscle, nerve, and skin biopsy as well as neuromuscular ultrasound.

Our neuromuscular division is actively engaged in clinical and translational research in muscle, nerve, and motor neuron disorders, with generally 10-20 research studies performed concurrently. We are leaders in training the next generation of neuromuscular specialists, with a Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship for neurologists interested in subspecialty training. Our former trainees are currently working in several institutions in the twin cities and the upper midwest. Access our textbook on neuromuscular disorders, Clinical Handbook of Neuromuscular Medicine.

Faculty: David Walk; Jeffrey Allen; Atsushi Asakura; Peter Karachunski; Peter Kang; Georgios Manousakis; Christina Pacak

Pediatric Neurologists at the University of Minnesota are a part of the Department of Neurology. The physicians in the Department of Neurology evaluate and treat children with a variety of neurological problems including:

• Movement disorders
• Neurogenetic and neurodegenerative diseases
• Peripheral neuropathies
• Muscle disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Epilepsy and other paroxysmal disorders
• Complications of prematurity
• Headache
• Nervous system infections

Children with complex neurological and behavioral problems receive coordinated care from our physicians, neuropsychologists, and specialty pediatric neurology nurses.

Faculty: Sonya Wang; Jessica Goldstein; Peter Kang; Peter Karachunski; Amanda Moen; Laura Speltz

The mission of the Department of Neurology Sleep Section at the University of Minnesota is to optimize brain function through better sleep. Comprised of Drs Howell, Irfan, and Golden, Sleep Section members pursue this mission through the clinical management of sleep disorders as well as research and education on the relationship between sleep and brain health. Areas of focus include: the relationship between Rapid Eye Movement sleep Behavior disorder and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, novel neuromodulation strategies to treat hypersomnia, and the role of sleep in athletic performance. Sleep section members practice at M Health, the Fairview Sleep Centers, and Hennepin Healthcare.

Faculty: Michael Howell

"Time is brain,” means the faster a stroke patient receives treatment, the more likely they are to recover. University of Minnesota Health stroke providers have worked hard to achieve treatment times that exceed the American Heart Association recommendations. In comparison to guideline recommendations of 60 on average stroke patients arriving at the UMMC Emergency Room in 2017 were evaluated by a neurologist, underwent complete neuroimaging and received the clot buster medication within 37 minutes of arrival.

The University of Minnesota Medical Center maintains a Comprehensive Stroke Center providing full-spectrum, world-class care—from evaluation and treatment with stroke specialists, neurocritical care, neuro-endovascular services, cerebrovascular neurosurgery, and rehabilitation support. The University of Minnesota Medical Center is one of only 153[SE1]  hospitals in the country to receive Comprehensive Stroke Center status by The Joint Commission and is recognized for delivering the highest quality patient care, education and research in stroke treatment and prevention. Our team of board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians are available 24-7 for emergent consultation and treatment of ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Stroke: Our stroke team provides emergent consultation and treatment of stroke at the University of Minnesota Medical Center while supporting other hospitals via telestroke and telephone consultation.  We have expertise with intravenous alteplase “the clot buster” and with endovascular treatment for stroke.  All stroke patients treated at the University of Minnesota Medical Center are cared for in a specialty stroke unit by a dedicated stroke healthcare team.

Telestroke: Our team utilizes Telestroke technology in partnership with Fairview Health Services to bring our expertise directly to patients throughout the Fairview System. Using secure real-time video conferencing, our stroke specialists can rapidly evaluate patients and review neuroimaging conducted in other hospitals in order to provide the highest standard of stroke care.

Research and clinical trials

The University of Minnesota Medical Center is a regional StrokeNet coordinating center funded by the National Institutes of Health. These pivotal clinical trials offer novel treatment options to our stroke patients.

Vascular Faculty: Chris Streib; Muhammad Affan; Praveen Hariharan; Haitham Hussein; Kamakshi Lakshminarayan; Margy McCullough-Hicks

Related Teams

Neuro-endovascular: Our interventionalists specialize in minimally invasive surgery within the blood vessels of the brain to treat stroke, ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), blocked or narrowed blood vessels via stenting, and tumors of the head, neck and brain.

Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery: Our neurosurgeons also specialize in the surgical treatment of complex adult and pediatric cerebrovascular cases, including aneurysm clipping, AVM/AVF resection, vascular bypass surgery, and carotid endarterectomy.  Complex cases are managed pre- and post-operatively through our longitudinal clinic.