Leadership
Department Chair
Bio
Dr. Jerry Vitek is the Head of the Neurology Department, Director of the Neuromodulation Research Program, and Center Director of the University of Minnesota Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Research. He previously served as the Neuromodulation Research Center Director at the Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation developing functional surgery and deep brain stimulation (DBS) techniques for the treatment of neurological disease. Dr. Vitek has also held faculty positions at Emory University and The Johns Hopkins University, where he assisted in the development of the functional neurosurgery programs and conducted research on the pathophysiology of movement disorders and mechanism(s) underlying the beneficial effects of DBS.He is currently the PI on several NIH-, foundation- and industry-funded grants, which include both non-human primate and human clinical studies on the neurophysiology of movement disorders and neuromodulation mechanisms. Dr. Vitek is also the PI for an industry-sponsored multicenter phase III pivotal clinical trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of a new neuromodulation device for the purposes of an FDA PMA submission. Many of his research projects involve close collaboration with other neurologists, neuroscientists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, and/or biomedical engineers. Much of this work has provided new insight into the neurophysiology of movement disorders and the therapeutic mechanisms of DBS and contributed to improvements in DBS surgery and treatment as well as the application of DBS to other neurological disorders.
Research Summary
Dr. Vitek directs a large interdisciplinary neuromodulation research program primarily centered on understanding the pathophysiology of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and dystonia as well as the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of deep brain stimulation. Dr. Vitek serves as the principal investigator for both pre-clinical laboratory studies using animal models and clinical studies on human subjects/patients. Much of his work focuses on the ultimate translation of basic laboratory research discoveries into clinical treatment options for affected patients in order to reduce symptoms, minimize side effects and enhance function and quality of life. Dr. Vitek forms key collaborations with other experts in neurology as well as other disciplines such as neurosurgery, neuroscience, biomedical science, and radiology in addition to the medical industry to expedite and enhance new discoveries and their meaningful translation from "bench to bedside".
Clinical Summary
Parkinson's Disease; Dystonia; Tremor; Movement Disorders; DaTscan Imaging; Deep Brain Stimulation
Honors and Recognition
Selected Presentations
Contact
Address
12-110 Phillips-Wangensteen Building516 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Minneapolis CSC: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Shannon McCrady
mccra148@umn.edu
Vice Chairs
Bio
Dr. Howell is a Professor and the Division Head of Sleep Medicine in the Department of Neurology and dedicated to developing novel strategies to improve brain function and sleep health. He is the Director of the Sleep Performance Training for Athletes Program at M Health Fairview, helping elite athletes and sports teams optimize their performance through better sleep and circadian health. He is also the Vice-Chair for Education and Faculty Affairs in the Department of Neurology.
Research Summary
Dr. Howell's research interests include characterizing the relationship between sleep and neurological disorders, and determining whether these processes are reversible with current or experimental therapies. His research is funded by the National Institutes for Health and current projects include: sleep in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinsons's disease, the development of novel treatments for hypersomnias including narcolepsy and related conditions, and the development of novel strategies to improve the sleep health for organizations and populations.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Selected Publications
Contact
Address
12-100 PWB, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 295, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Bio
Peter B. Kang, MD, FAAN, FAAP is a pediatric neuromuscular neurologist and physician-scientist whose laboratory studies the genetics of muscular dystrophy and mechanisms of rare muscle diseases, with the goal of discovering new therapeutic targets for these diseases. He also studies DNA repair disorders including Cockayne syndrome and xeroderma pigmentosum. He has published extensively on these subjects, has co-edited a textbook of pediatric electromyography, and has been awarded multiple grants from the NIH and the Muscular Dystrophy Association to support his investigations. With support from the CDC, he led the successful initiation of the first site in Florida for the MD STARnet consortium and continues to work on this project. He is an associate editor of Muscle & Nerve and serves on the editorial board of Neurology. National presentations include lectures on pediatric neuromuscular topics at the annual meetings of the American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the Child Neurology Society, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. His former trainees hold faculty positions in the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Japan. He is President-Elect of the Child Neurology Society.
Previously, Dr. Kang was Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurology, and Director of the Child Neurology Residency Program at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Earlier in his career, he was Director of the Electromyography Laboratory at Boston Children's Hospital and Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School.
In clinic, Dr. Kang sees children with confirmed or suspected neuromuscular disorders such as muscular dystrophy, congenital myopathy, neuropathies, brachial plexus injuries, spinal muscular atrophy, and myasthenia gravis, as well as children with DNA repair disorders such as Cockayne syndrome and xeroderma pigmentosum. He will see adult patients with these conditions upon request.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Contact
Address
PWB 12-100Minneapolis, MN 55455-0356
Administrative Contact
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
Ste 2305775 Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Minneapolis CSC: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Cathie Witzel
witz0007@umn.edu
Division Directors
Contact
Administrative Contact
Bio
Sarah M. Benish, MD, FAAN, is currently the Physician Co-Chief for M Health/Fairview Neuroscience service line. She is also the Division Head for General Neurology at the University of Minnesota. She enjoys her clinic time as a general neurologist. Over her career, she has developed an interest in treating headache patients but continues to enjoy caring for all neurological diseases.
Clinical Summary
Clinics and Surgery Center; Neurology Clinic
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
420 Delaware St. SE , MMC 295Minneapolis, MN 55455-0501
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Minneapolis CSC: 612-626-6688
Edina: 952-836-3695
Woodbury: 651-326-2150
Academic Administrative Assistant
Jackie Phetchantho
phet1373@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
11BOne Veterans Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Minneapolis CSC: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Cathie Witzel
witz0007@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Contact
Address
510K717 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Minneapolis CSC: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Cathie Witzel
witz0007@umn.edu
Bio
Dr. Howell is a Professor and the Division Head of Sleep Medicine in the Department of Neurology and dedicated to developing novel strategies to improve brain function and sleep health. He is the Director of the Sleep Performance Training for Athletes Program at M Health Fairview, helping elite athletes and sports teams optimize their performance through better sleep and circadian health. He is also the Vice-Chair for Education and Faculty Affairs in the Department of Neurology.
Research Summary
Dr. Howell's research interests include characterizing the relationship between sleep and neurological disorders, and determining whether these processes are reversible with current or experimental therapies. His research is funded by the National Institutes for Health and current projects include: sleep in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinsons's disease, the development of novel treatments for hypersomnias including narcolepsy and related conditions, and the development of novel strategies to improve the sleep health for organizations and populations.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Selected Publications
Contact
Address
12-100 PWB, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 295, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Bio
Dr. Benjamin Miller is the service line lead and division head of neurocritical care within M Health Fairview and the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Department of Neurology.
Research Summary
Dr. Miller is working currently as a local principal investigator on national clinical trials. In addition he is interested in management of post cardiac arrest prognostication and neuroprotection. Comatose survivors of extended cardiac arrest are placed on ECMO within our institution making traditional markers of prognosis less applicable and affords us the opportunity to look at other means to come to a meaningful and accurate conclusion.
Clinical Summary
Clinical specialties: critical care medicine, neurology, vascular neurology
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Contact
Address
420 Delaware St SEMMC 295
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Jackie Phetchantho
phet1373@umn.edu
Bio
Dr. Elizabeth Neil is both a board certified neurologist and neuro-oncologist. Dr. Neil completed a 2-year neuro-oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and has significant experience in caring for patients diagnosed with primary tumors of the central nervous system. Additionally, she evaluates and manages patients with systemic cancers that have metastasized to the brain and/ or spinal cord as well as manage neurological complications of cancer including but not limited to; chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, headaches, and epilepsy. Being informed and educated on the best practices in the field is critical and provides the foundation for Dr. Neil to facilitate a team approach in providing comprehensive, advanced, yet compassionate cancer care.
Dr. Neil's academic and clinical research interests include a primary focus on providing brain cancer patients with clinical trial treatment options, both through industry sponsored and investigator initiated mechanisms. She collaborates with many basic researchers at the University of Minnesota and elsewhere to help develop investigational treatments and then provides the framework to make those therapies available to patients through enrollment in clinical trials.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
12-100 PWB420 Delaware Street SE - MMC 295
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Bio
Dr. Christopher Streib is the Cerebrovascular Director for M Health Fairview and the University of Minnesota Vascular Neurology Fellowship director. He is currently leading unification of cerebrovascular care across M Health Fairview in order to provide the highest standards in emergent stroke treatment, diagnostic stroke evaluation, secondary stroke prevention, and stroke recovery system-wide. These efforts focus on innovative stroke care delivery, including telestroke, to address persistent healthcare disparities and expand access to expert stroke treatment. He is also focused on the expansion of novel stroke therapies and clinical research. Dr. Streib has been recognized for his clinical care and teaching.
Research Summary
Dr. Streib's research focuses on stroke care delivery, especially emergent stroke intervention and secondary stroke prevention. He also is the site primary investigator for many Phase-III trials of novel stroke therapies.
Clinical Summary
Decentralization of stroke care/expertise, reperfusion therapy, secondary stroke prevention
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Honors and Recognition
Contact
Address
University of Minnesota, Department of Neurology420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 295
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Jackie Phetchantho
phet1373@umn.edu
Bio
My clinical and research interests include motor neuron disorders, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), and other neuropathies
Research Summary
Research Funding Grants:
2021-present PharNEXT
PXT3006
Local Principal Investigator
2020-present ALS Platform Trial
Healy Center for ALS
Local Principal Investigator
2021-present MediciNova
COMBAT-ALS
Co-Investigator
2021-presen Apellis
APL-ALS-206
Co-Investigator
2021-present PHARNext
Phase III Trial of PXT3006 in CMT1A
Local Principal Investigator
2021-present Spastic Paraplegia Foundation
PLS Natural History Study
Local Principal Investigator
2016-present NIH Advancing Treatment for Pancreatitis: A Prospective Observational Study of TPIAT Co-Investigator
2016-present PHARNext
Phase III Trial of PXT3003 in CMT1A and Open-Label Extension
Local Principal Investigator
2016-present Inherited Neuropathy Consortium Rare Disease Clinical Research Network Genetics of CMT - Modifiers of CMT1A, New Causes of CMT
Local Principal Investigator
2016-present Inherited Neuropathy Consortium Rare Disease Clinical Research Network A Natural History Study of CMT1B, CMT2A, CMT4A and CMT4C
Local Principal Investigator
Clinical Summary
Clinical Interests: ALS and other motor neuron disorders; Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT); Neuropathy
My career focus has been on the diagnosis and management of neuropathy, including small fiber neuropathy, inflammatory neuropathy, and inherited neuropathy, as well as ALS and other motor neuron disorders. Our clinics emphasize multidisciplinary management, utilizing interdisciplinary teams of content and disease-state experts.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Contact
Address
12-158 PWB420 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Minneapolis & Maple Grove CSCs - Neurology: 612-626-6688
Minneapolis CSC - EMG Clinic: 612-626-6680
Academic Administrative Assistant
Cathie Witzel
witz0007@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Selected Presentations
Contact
Address
13-152 MoosT515 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0357
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
Ste 2305775 Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Minneapolis CSC: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Cathie Witzel
witz0007@umn.edu
Administration
Department & Faculty Support
Department Administrator
Heather Nelson
Division Administrator
Hope Amundsen - Pediatric Neurology Division
Administrative Associates
Shannon McCrady - Movement Disorders Division
Jackie Phetchantho - General Neurology, Neurocritical Care, Vascular Neurology Divisions
Cathie Witzel - Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromuscular Medicine Divisions
Office Support Assistant
Doris McCowan
Communications Student Assistant
Chloe Rubinger
Grants & Contracts Professionals
Teri Grosz - Pre-Award Specialist
Vandana Murthy - Memory Care Division
Medical Education
Education Manager
Rossi Cannon
Graduate Medical Education Program Coordinators
Rebecca Busse - Adult Neurology Residency
Kate Hanson - Vascular Neurology, Neurocritical Care, Neuroendovascular Intervention Fellowships
Patrick Puskala - Epilepsy, Clinical Neurophysiology, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowships
Beth Zander - Movement Disorders Fellowship
Undergraduate Medical Education Coordinator
Patrick Puskala
Education Team Student Assistant
Garima Puri
Research Professionals
Research Professionals can be found under their respective research team or center.