Patient Care Bio
I am a Pediatric Neurologist who specializes in movement disorders starting in childhood. I was attracted to pediatric neurology when I was a medical student and realized that I had an intellectual interest in the brain but enjoyed the challenges and rewards of caring for children. As a movement disorders specialist, I care for children with a variety of conditions that impair voluntary movements, cause involuntary movements, or both. Such conditions include dystonia, chorea, tics, myoclonus, tremor, stereotypies, parkinsonism, and combinations of these such as may occur in conditions like cerebral palsy. In addition to movement disorders, neurodegenerative diseases are also a focus of my clinical practice.
My research has been focused on understanding brain mechanisms involved in the control of movement or where disorders cause involuntary movements. The research involves neurophysiology, direct measurement of movement abnormalities, rating scales, and longitudinal assessments over the course of development and disease. More recently my work as included clinical trials and studies of factors that impact the function of children with movement disorders.
In addition to my clinical practice and research, I direct the Child Neurology residency at the University of Rochester. I serve on a number of advisory boards including the Tourette Syndrome Association, the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, the Batten Disease Support and Research Association, the NINDS Board of Scientific Counselors, and the Pediatric Advisory Committee of the FDA. I am also an Associate Editor of Neurology.
| Oliver Sacks Award for Excellence | Tourette Association of America |
2015 |
| Compassionate Doctor Award | Patient's Choice |
2011 |
| Elected Faculty Member | Alpha Omega Alpha |
2009 - Present |
| America's Top Doctors | Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. |
2009 - Present |
| Teacher Recognition Award | American Academy of Neurology |
2008 |
| Patient's Choice Award | Patient's Choice |
2008 - Present |
| Who's Who in America |
2007 - Present |
| Best Doctors in America |
2005 - Present |
| Fellow | American Academy of Neurology |
2004 - Present |
| Fellow, American Neurological Association |
2002 - Present |
| Derek Denny-Brown Neurological Scholar Award, American Neurological Association |
2002 |
| Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics |
2002 - Present |
| UR Nominee for 2015 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism Award |
2015 |
| URMC Diversity Award | University of Rochester Medical Center |
2013 |
| Faculty Mentoring Award for Mentoring of Clinical Science Trainees | University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry |
2011 |
| Commendation for Third Year Teaching | University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry |
2011 |
| Neurology Faculty Teaching Award | Department of Neurology, University of Rochester |
2005 |
| St. Louis Children's Hospital Housestaff Teaching Award |
1993 |
| Irwin Levy Prize in Neurology, Washington University |
1989 |
| O'Leary Prize for Neuroscience Research, Washington University |
1987 |
| High Honors for Senior Thesis, Wesleyan University |
1980 |
| Walkley Prize for Psychology Research, Wesleyan University |
1980 |
