{"id":12053,"date":"2021-11-01T14:12:41","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T18:12:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/neurology\/?p=12053"},"modified":"2022-11-17T13:35:07","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T18:35:07","slug":"neurology-news-november-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/neurology\/neurology-news-november-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Neurology News – November 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Department<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Gwenn
Gwenn Garden, MD, PhD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Message from the Chair \u2013 Gwenn Garden, MD, PhD<\/h4>\n

Fall often brings in a sense of the new. New school year with new students, new weather, new tree color, and new produce at the famers market. Within the Department of Neurology, we are also experiencing a lot of newness.<\/p>\n

The most profound change is the move to our new Adult Neurology clinic space in Meadowmont. Kudos to our clinic leadership and our UNCH administrative partners for enabling a smooth transition for patients and providers, especially during a time of severe labor shortage. We anticipate the move of the Child Neurology Clinic to the Caroline Point II building to be in December.<\/p>\n

We also welcome four new faculty: Dr. Claudia Testa, Dr. Yasmeen Rauf, Dr. Jordan Broman-Fulks and Dr. Hokuto Morita. Read More ><\/a><\/p>\n

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On October 18, the UNC Adult Neurology Clinic<\/strong> moved to a new location at 300 Meadowmont Village Circle, Suite 202 in Chapel Hill. Thanks to all who made it happen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Adult<\/td>\n\"Adult<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"Adult<\/td>\n\"Mover<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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\"Duke-UNCThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently awarded the Duke-UNC Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Research Collaborative–now known as the Duke-UNC Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Research Center<\/strong>–major new funding as an NIH Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Research Center. Gwenn Garden, MD, PhD<\/strong>, is the principal investigator at UNC. Areas of focus will include identifying age-related changes that affect the development, progression and experience of Alzheimer\u2019s disease and related dementias, and how factors that arise in early- and mid-life contribute to racial, ethnic and geographic disparities in dementia. Learn more ><\/a><\/p>\n

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Liaison, Angela Wabulya, MB ChB<\/strong>, is conducting a DEI survey<\/strong> to better understand diversity within the Department of Neurology. The survey will be open until 11\/5\/2021 and takes about two minutes to complete. We thank all faculty and staff for your participation! Take survey ><\/a><\/p>\n

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New Faculty<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"Claudia<\/td>\n<\/td>\nClaudia Testa, MD, PhD<\/strong>, joined the department in September as a professor of neurology with a clinical specialty in movement disorders. She is the chief of the department\u2019s new Precision Medicine and Neurogenetics Division. Her research interests include development of genetically-based new therapeutics, and interactions between phenotypes and genetic risks in neurodegenerative disorders.<\/p>\n

Dr. Testa received her medical degree and PhD in neuroscience from the University of Michigan. She completed an internship in internal medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston followed by a residency in neurology from Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital. After completing a fellowship in movement disorders at Emory University, she joined the Emory faculty and later completed a Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Research. Prior to joining UNC, Dr. Testa also served as faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University where she was the founding director of the VCU Huntington Disease Program.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Yasmeen<\/td>\n<\/td>\nYasmeen Rauf, MD<\/strong>, joined the department in late September as an assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery. She is the interim division chief of the department\u2019s new Neuro-Oncology Division. Dr. Rauf received her medical degree at the Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences followed by an internship with the Government Medical College Srinagar and a neurology residency at Ohio State University. She completed a research fellowship in neurosciences from the Medical University of South Carolina and a neuro-oncology fellowship at the Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumor and Neuro-oncology Center at the Cleveland Clinic.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\"Jordan<\/td>\n<\/td>\nJordan Broman-Fulks, MD,<\/strong> joined UNC Neurology as an assistant professor of child neurology in October. Dr. Broman-Fulks received his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina followed by a two-year residency with UNC Pediatrics and a three-year pediatric neurology residency with UNC Neurology.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Hokuto<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHokuto Morita, MD, MA,<\/strong> started with the department on November 1 as an assistant professor within the Movement Disorders Division. Dr. Morita received an MA in neuroscience from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine followed by a medical degree from Penn State Hershey. He went on to complete his neurology residency with Mayo Clinic and a movement disorders fellowship with the University of Florida.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Awards\/Honors\/Donations<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"StrokeThe UNC Comprehensive Stroke Program<\/strong> was re-certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Program<\/a> by the Joint Commission. The program was also once again awarded the 2021 Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Elite, Advance Therapy Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll by the American Heart\/American Stroke Associations.<\/p>\n

David Huang, MD, PhD<\/strong>, along with other UNC representatives – Nicole Burnett<\/strong> (UNC Comprehensive Stroke Center), Mehul Patel<\/strong> (Dept. of Emergency Medicine), Wayne Rosamond<\/strong> (UNC School of Public Health), and Jackie Thompson<\/strong> (UNC Rex) \u2013 were selected to serve on the NC Department of Public Health\u2019s Stroke Registry Workgroup.\u00a0This Workgroup advises the NC DHHS, the NC Health Information Exchange, and the SAS Institute as they develop the new North Carolina Coverdell Stroke Registry, which is funded by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC\u2019s Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program funds 13 states for a three-year funding cycle.<\/p>\n

Susan Wilson, DNP, ANP-BC, FAHA<\/strong>, was promoted to professor. Dr. Wilson was also recently elected as a fellow of the American Heart Association for her outstanding contributions to the AHA\/ASA.<\/p>\n

\"MS
Mary Locklear (center) presents a donation to Dr. Dujmovic-Basuroski (left) and Lashonda Meadows, LCSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ms. Mary Locklear<\/strong> and the Locklear family have once again donated funds to support patient education on<\/strong> multiple sclerosis<\/strong>. The donation is a result of the ongoing fundraising activities of spearheaded by the Locklear family.<\/p>\n

James Howard, Jr, MD<\/strong>, was the recipient of the American Neuromuscular Foundation\u2019s Best Abstract Runner Up Award\u00a0<\/em>and the 2021 President’s Research Initiative Award<\/em> presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine in October (see \u201cPresentations\u201d below).<\/p>\n

Diana Cejas, MD, MPH<\/strong>, received an Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) Research Scholars Award. Dr. Cejas was selected for her project, \u201cPatient, Parent, and Provider Partnerships in Healthcare Transition: A New Program for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders.\u201d<\/p>\n

PGY-3 Jeremy Wells, MD<\/strong>, was accepted into the Teaching As a Resident: Highlighting the Evidence and Enthusiasm of Learning (TARHEEL) Program, offered by the UNC Academy of Educators. The TARHEEL program<\/a> is a standardized program to improve cross-department collaboration, enhance engagement between faculty and residents, and increase academic scholarly projects.<\/p>\n

Tzu-Wen (Winnie) Wang<\/strong> from the Biomedical Research Imaging Center received the 2021 UNC Dean’s Performance Award for her collaborative spirit, excellent experimentalist skills, and more.<\/p>\n

Neurology\u00a0residents\u00a0won second place in the August AAN Neurology Trainee Trivia contest<\/strong>. Our team, PGWhy, answered eight out of eight questions.<\/p>\n

\"AAN
The PGWhy trivia team<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Published Research and Grants<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Microscope\"Yen-Yu Ian Shih, PhD<\/strong>, is the subcontract PI for a new grant with Stanford, \u201cComputational modeling of dynamic causal brain circuits underlying cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u201d The study aims to advance knowledge of cognition- and memory-related brain circuits across AD stages and contribute novel tools for examining dynamical causal circuits underlying human brain function and dysfunction. In addition, Dr. Shih co-authored the following articles:<\/p>\n