Faculty
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Contact
Address
PWB 12-100516 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
St. Louis Park: 952-525-4500
Administrative Assistant Contact
Doris McCowan
mccow028@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Selected Publications
Contact
Address
PWB 12-100MMC 295
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Academic Administrative Assistant
Kayla Ayers
ayers106@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
MMC 295420 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Edina clinic: 952-836-3690
Academic Administrative Assistant
Kayla Ayers
ayers106@umn.edu
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
Shannon McCrady
mccra148@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Explorer Clinic: 612-365-6777
Academic Administrative Assistant
Hope Amundsen
amund579@umn.edu
Bio
Monique Montenegro, MD is a neurologist who treats patients struggling with a variety of headache types. She sees patients at M Health Fairview Neurology Edina and Woodbury Clinics. She is also an Assistant Professor at the Department of Neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Clinical Summary
Botulinum Toxin, Occipital Nerve Blocks, Supraorbital Blocks
Contact
Administrative Contact
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
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
Administrative Contact
Shannon McCrady
mccra148@umn.edu
Bio
The Pacak laboratory investigates mechanisms that lead to mitochondrial dysfunction in a variety of disease settings using differentiated patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), mouse models, and adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene delivery systems.
Research Summary
The Pacak laboratory is focused on identifying common mechanisms of disease related to mitochondrial function that can be augmented through gene therapies. The lab uses differentiated iPSCs and a variety of in vivo models to pursue these investigations.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
Neurology Department, WMBB 4-1882101 6th Street SE
Minneapolis, MN, 55455
Bio
Dr. Sima. I. Patel is an Assistant Professor in Neurology at the University of Minnesota. Since 2012, she has been a full-time clinician focusing on complex epilepsy management with surgical interventions and pharmacological treatments at the University of Minnesota Physicians/MINCEP Epilepsy Care. She earned her undergraduate degree in community health and health administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. She completed her neurology residency training at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and a 2-year epilepsy fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. She is passionate about resident education, female physician empowerment, epilepsy research pertaining to women with epilepsy, and epilepsy clinical drug trials. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, baking, and theatre with her two young daughters and husband.
Teaching Summary
Academic Interests and Focus: Epilepsy Diagnosis and Treatment Epilepsy Surgery Women with Epilepsy Treatment EEG interpretation
Clinical Summary
Clinical Specialties: Epilepsy, Neurology
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Selected Publications
Bio
I am a general neurologist. My interests include epilepsy, headache, stroke, and autoimmune diseases. I believe in a comprehensive care approach to neurology. I think spending time with our patients and hearing their concerns is of the utmost importance. I also believe in communicating clearly in understandable language so that medical care can be understood by both patient’s and their loved ones.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Honors and Recognition
Selected Publications
Contact
Address
12-100 Phillips-Wangensteen Building516 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Academic Administrative Assistant
Kayla Ayers
ayers106@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Contact
Address
PWB 12-140516 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Cathie Witzel
witz0007@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Contact
Address
Room 511717 Delaware Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Shannon McCrady
mccra148@umn.edu
Contact
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Shannon McCrady
mccra148@umn.edu
Bio
Dr. Speltz graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School. She completed her pediatric and neurology training at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. She is board certified in neurology with a special qualification in child and adolescent neurology. She is also board certified in epilepsy. Dr. Speltz enjoy taking care of children with developmental delays, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, autism, epilepsy, headaches, tics, ADHD and a variety of neurological conditions. She has a passion for global health work, refugee health, and adoption medicine. She has lectured locally and globally about cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and pediatric migraines. She enjoys using medical technology and new therapeutics to treat both epilepsy and migraines.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Honors and Recognition
Languages
Selected Publications
Selected Presentations
Contact
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Maplewood: 651-221-9051
Woodbury Pediatric Specialty Clinic: 651-265-7575
Academic Administrative Assistant
Hope Amundsen
amund579@umn.edu
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
Academic Administrative Assistant
Kayla Ayers
ayers106@umn.edu
Bio
I completed residency training in Neurology and fellowship in Neurocritical Care at Northwestern University in Chicago. My clinical focus is treating critically ill patients with neurological conditions in the ICU. I have a special interest in critical care EEG and resident/fellow education.
Research Summary
Status epilepticus, stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, neuro prognostication after cardiac arrest
Teaching Summary
Resident and fellow education
Clinical Summary
Neurocritical care, vascular neurology, critical care EEG
Bio
Dr. Ezgi Tiryaki is a Professor of Neurology and specializes in the care of ALS. She is board-certified in five specialties (Internal Medicine, Neurology, Neuromuscular Medicine, EMG and Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine) and practices in a person and caregiver-centered, interdisciplinary clinic setting.
She serves as the Associate Chief of Staff for Education at the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System providing institutional leadership for professional development of over 4000 employees and 1500 health professions trainees. Dr. Tiryaki’s current focus at the VA is to enhance educational resources and improve the trainee and staff experience. Her efforts led to close monitoring of the clinical environment and innovative Upstander Training to effectively address mistreatment.
Prior to joining the VA, Dr. Tiryaki was a formal Faculty Advisor to medical students and the Neurology Residency Program Director at University of Minnesota Medical School. Education and trainee-focused chief resident roles, skill development through simulation, integrated Friday School and an annual G2 bootcamp remain key features of the residency program. As an educator and mentor who creates an environment of honesty, trust, and inquiry she was inducted into the University of Minnesota's prestigious Academy of Distinguished Teachers.
Dr. Tiryaki has designed and co-directs two longitudinal, cohort-based leadership programs for early and mid-career physicians at the University of Minnesota Medical School and MHealth Fairview. She regularly facilitates workshops on leadership topics at professional meetings and is a credentialed and certified leadership coach.
Teaching Summary
- Medical Education and Curriculum Design
- Leadership Development in Healthcare Executive Leadership Coaching
- Associate Certified Coach (ACC)-Credential, International Coaching Federation (2023)
Clinical Summary
Multidisciplinary Care and Clinical Trials for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Languages
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Edina: 952-836-3695
Academic Administrative Assistant
Kayla Ayers
ayers106@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Licensures and Certifications
Contact
Address
12-146 P W B516 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Shannon McCrady
mccra148@umn.edu
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
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Interim Academic Administrative Assistant
Heather Nelson
nelso476@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
Ste 2305775 Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Academic Administrative Assistant
Shannon McCrady
mccra148@umn.edu
Bio
My clinical and research interests include motor neuron disorders, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), and other neuropathies
Research Summary
Research Funding Grants:
2022-present DHHS FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Clinic-based Multicenter ALS Natural History Data Collection
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
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
Minneapolis CSC - EMG Clinic: 612-626-6680
Academic Administrative Assistant
Cathie Witzel
witz0007@umn.edu
Bio
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Minnesota. I have significant experience in the field of neuromodulation and neuroscience and have worked in this area for over 10 years since PhD work in Biomedical Engineering. I have extensive background in the field of neuroscience, engineering, and clinical translational work in neuromodulation acquired during my PhD study and postdoctoral training. My research interests fall in the development of novel deep brain stimulation (DBS) techniques for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) and the understanding of the underlying mechanism. DBS has been used for decades and is promising at producing significant motor benefits, however, persistent clinical limitations and side effects related to current spread have been seen. My research is to investigate the efficacy of novel DBS paradigms, such as Coordinated Reset (CR) DBS, as potential alternatives for traditional DBS in the nonhuman primate models of PD as well as PD patients. The preliminary results of my study have shown that CR DBS can induce therapeutic motor improvements that persists days to weeks after stimulation cessation. My research and development of this novel DBS approach will have significant translational impact in the field of DBS for PD, and potentially other movement disorders as well. Moreover, I have also been studying the neurophysiological changes in PD and their alterations with DBS using advanced neural recording technologies, in order to identify potential disease biomarkers to further progress the development of novel DBS techniques. Not only I have extended knowledge, experience and skills in the field of neuromodulation that are demonstrated in the following publications and patent, I also work in a strong and diverse group, neuromodulation research center, where multiple scientists and physician scientists work together supported by an infrastructure that supports junior faculties, postdoctoral fellows and students.
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
Room 4192001 6th Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Administrative Contact
NMRC Operations Manager
Wyatt Doepke
doep0013@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
Administrative Contact
Hope Amundsen
amund579@umn.edu
Education
Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements
Contact
Address
WMBB 5-178Minneapolis, MN 55455-3008
Administrative Contact
Clinic
Neurology Central Line: 612-626-6688
St. Louis Park: 952-525-4500
Administrative Assistant Contact
Doris McCowan
mccow028@umn.edu