Neurologic Subspecialty Divisions

The neurology faculty consists of 20 adult neurologists in the practice of varied neurologic subspecialties, as well as four pediatric neurologists who alternate as supervising attendings for the residents during the core and elective rotations. Residents will work with faculty who are fellowship trained in the areas of epilepsy, stroke, headache, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, pediatric neurology, neuroradiology, neurorehabilitation, neuropathology, neurocritical care, neuro-oncology and neurosurgery.

Stroke and cerebrovascular disease care (Yevgeniy Isayev, MD, Sam Yacoub, DO, Adam Edwards, MD, and Megan Leary, MD) provides state-of-the-art care for patients with stroke or transient ischemic attacks. The division integrates leading-edge technology for detection and intervention in acute ischemic stroke. There also are clinical trials to evaluate new pharmacological approaches to the treatment of stroke. This neurology division collaborates intensively with vascular neurosurgery, interventional neuroradiology, pediatric neurology, post-stroke neurorehabilitation specialists (Adam Edwards, MD, and Wayne Dubov, MD) and neuroradiology to optimize stroke patient care and outcomes.

Neurocritical care (Preet Varade, MD, and Adam Edwards, MD) provides critical care to both neurology and neurosurgery patients within the neuroscience intensive care unit. This division provides management for patients with life-threatening neurological and neurosurgical illnesses such as massive stroke, bleeding in or around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage), brain tumors, brain trauma, status epilepticus, nerve and muscle diseases (myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre syndrome), spinal cord disorders and the cardiopulmonary complications of brain injury.

The Epilepsy Clinic (Soraya Jimenez, MD) provides care to patients with complex and difficult-to-control seizure disorders. The Epilepsy Clinic includes both inpatient and outpatient facilities for long-term monitoring of EEG to assess seizure control, innovative pharmacological approaches to seizure control and referral for surgical treatment of epilepsy.

The brain tumor program (Tara Morrison, MD) from neurology as well as colleagues from neurosurgery and neuropathology) is a multidisciplinary program that provides care for patients with primary brain tumors and with the neurological complications of systemic cancer. Each patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan are reviewed by a team of medical specialists including physicians from neurosurgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, neuroradiology and neuropathology. Research programs and clinical trials of new chemotherapy and radiotherapy protocols for brain tumors are available, with additional programs in development as a result of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)’s membership in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance.

The division of Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders (Behrang Saminejad, MD) specializes in the care of patients with disorders ranging from Parkinson’s disease and tremors to dystonia and chorea. Innovative therapies and new investigative medications are available.

The division of cognitive neurology (Susan Ingram, PhD) provides integrated neurological, neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological care for patients with a variety of behavioral disorders because of nervous system disease. Interests include dyslexia and learning disorders, memory, degenerative dementias and schizophrenia. Cognitive neurology interacts closely with the department of psychiatry, which maintains an inpatient ward for the care of patients with severe behavioral disturbances.

The division of neuromuscular disease (Jay Varrato, DO, and Alissa Romano, DO) provides care for patients with disorders affecting peripheral nerve and muscle, ranging from muscular dystrophies to peripheral neuropathies.

The Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders Clinic (Dmitry Khaitov, MD, and Gary Clauser, MD) cares for patients with a wide range of demyelinating disorders. The research programs include clinical trials of new diagnostic methods and therapies in multiple sclerosis.

The Sleep Disorders Center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and is jointly staffed by neurology and pulmonary medicine clinicians. It is a regional referral center and provides evaluation and care to patients with a variety of sleep disorders.

The division of neuropathology (Michael Johnson, MD, and Gary Stopyra, MD) provides diagnostic services for both surgical and autopsy neuropathology. Research programs include the development of new molecular methods for the evaluation and diagnosis of tissue specimens.

The neurorehabilitation service provides rehabilitation consultation to the neurology inpatient services at LVHN and coordinates care within the inpatient acute rehabilitation unit.

The Headache Center (Vitaliy Koss, MD) specializes in the treatment of patients with all types of headache pain, collaborating with other services to diagnose and provide effective pain management for all types of headaches that range from mild and nagging to severe and debilitating. Primary headaches such as tension headaches and migraines are treated, as well as those that are caused by serious underlying medical conditions that may require prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Pediatric neurology (Muhammed Sheikh, MD) treats newborns, infants, children and adolescents with a wide range of neurological conditions including cerebral palsy, tic disorders, intractable epilepsy, muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular problems, migraine headaches and other pain syndromes, neurofibromatosis and other neurocutaneous syndromes, neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic disorders. Diagnostic tools include electroencephalography (EEG), intensive video EEG monitoring, 24-hour ambulatory EEG, sleep studies, evoked potentials, electromyography (EMG) testing and advanced neuroimaging including MRI and high-resolution CT. Staff specialists draw upon the services of many other hospital divisions including genetics, neurosurgery and behavioral health.

The neuroradiology division (Joshua Bemporad, MD, John Fiss, MD, Devang Gor, MD, Qiang Li, MD, Mark Osborne, MD, Adam Wallach, MD, and Jason Zicherman, MD) uses only the most advanced equipment in the market to produce the highest quality imaging available, making diagnosis faster and more accurate. As the largest MRI center in northeastern Pennsylvania, it provides the very latest in imaging technology and the most advanced equipment in the region. This allows us to accurately diagnose an array of clinical conditions and help guide patient treatment.

The interventional neuroradiology division (Darryn Shaff, MD) uses minimally invasive approaches to treat neurovascular diseases and spine disorders. Endovascular treatment options provide an alternative to surgery for certain conditions, including cerebral aneurysms, stroke and back pain. Interventional neuroradiological techniques such as mechanical thrombectomy or stenting are utilized in the management of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Many disease processes of the spine also can be treated with percutaneous techniques. The latest imaging technology also is utilized to provide diagnostic exams for a full range of neurological conditions.