Methodist Neurological Institute
Department of Neurology: Physicians & Scientists
Stanley H. Appel, M.D.
Chair, Department of Neurology, Director, MDA/ALS Research and Clinical Center and Co-director, Methodist Neurological Institute. His translational research and clinical practice focuses on nerve and muscle disorders as well as degenerative diseases including multi-system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and special emphasis on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Clinic: 713-441-3760
David R. Beers, Ph.D. - Neuroscientist
Director, Neurology Transgenic Mouse Facility. His research focuses on the mechanisms underlying neuronal injury in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
Office: 713-441-3682 • Lab: 713-441-3521
David Chiu, M.D.
Medical Director, Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center. His active clinical practice benefits from his extensive translational research in extending the time and quality of life for stroke patients, acute stroke treatment, stroke prevention in those who have experienced TIA and stroke.
Office: 713-441-5066
Howard S. Derman, M.D.
Director, Headache Clinic. His practice is that of general neurology with a primary focus in the study of headaches. He has been involved in research projects looking at the use of "Botox in Headache" and also has participated in drug trials concerning new agents in the treatment of migraine.
Office: 713-441-5077
Stanley P. Fisher, M.D.
Co-Director, Movement Disorders and Neuro-rehabilitation Center. His primary interests include medical and surgical treatment of Parkinson’s disease, tremor, dystonias, and Tourette’s syndrome, as well as Neurological Rehabilitation utilizing intrathecal baclofen and botulinum toxin.
Office: 713-441-3337
Jenny Henkel, Ph.D. - Neuroscientist
Her translational research centers on the mechanisms underlying neuronal injury and approaches to slow neurodegeneration in diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
Office: 713-441-3681 • Lab: 713-441-3578
Makoto Kawai, M.D.
Member of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Surgery Program, his clinical interest include the evaluation of patients with any paroxysmal events including seizures and sleep disorders.
Office: 713-441-6498
James J. Ling M.D.
Assistant Medical Director, Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center. His clinical practice and research center around the prevention and management of acute stroke, as well as treatment of multiple sclerosis, dementia, neurological complications associated with medical and surgical conditions, seizures and epilepsy.
Office: 713-441-3658
Milvia Y. Pleitez, M.D.
Director, Muscle and Nerve Histopathology Laboratory. Her primary interests include neuromuscular disorders, peripheral neuropathies and myopathies, muscle and nerve pathology, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, myasthenia gravis and neuromuscular disorders during pregnancy.
Office: 713-441-3335
David Rosenfield, M.D.
Director, EMG and Motor Control Laboratory. Dr. Rosenfield treats neck and back pain, cognitive disturbances, neuromuscular complaints, and vascular disturbances. Dr. Rosenfield’s research interests address the neuromotor system, including speech, neuromuscular disease and music.
Office: 713-441-5070
Pankja Satija, M.D.
Member, Headache and Pain Center. Dr Satija treats acute and chronic intractable headaches, low back pain, neck pain, neuralgia (trigeminal, occipital, peripheral, post herpetic), neuropathic pain, pelvic pain and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Dr. Satija's research interests include new treatment modalities for chronic back pain and headaches, use of ultrasound in pain intervention techniques and experimental protocols in fibromyalgia.
Office: 713-441-5077
Ericka P. Simpson, M.D.
Co-director, MDA Neuromuscular Clinics and Director, ALS Clinical Research Division. Her clinical focus includes a wide range of neuromuscular disorders: Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis, Neuropathy, ALS, Inflammatory myopathy, mitochondrial and metabolic myopathy.
She is also education director of the Neurology residency program, serves as an writer for the American Academy of Neurology’s Residency In Service Training Examination Committee, and as an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Part II Certification Board Exam. Office: 713-441-3336
Ron Tintner, M.D.
Co-Director, Movement Disorders and Neuro-rehabilitation Center. His primary interest consists of movement disorders (Parkinson's, tremor, dystonia, Tourette's) including treatment with botulinum toxin, EMG and motor control and cognitive dysfunction. He also studies the neurobiologic basis of music perception and performance, and neurologic problems affecting musicians.
Office: 713-441-5611
Amit Verma, M.D.
Director, Divisions of Neurophysiology and Sleep Disorders. He is the Director of Neurophysiology (EEG, Intra-operative monitoring and Epilepsy Program) and the Director of the Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Program. His clinical interests include the evaluation of patients with medically refractory epilepsy and sleep disorders.Office: 713-441-3970
Aparajitha Verma, M.D.
Medical Director, The Methodist Hospital Sleep Disorders Center. Divisions of Neurophysiology and Sleep Disorders. Her clinical interest includes evaluation of patients with sleep and neuromuscular disorders.
Office: 713-441-3961
John Volpi, M.D.
Director, Collaborative Cerebral Blood Flow Lab, specializing in Vascular Neurology. As a member of the stroke team, his clinical interests include the evaluation of hospitalized patients and outpatients with cerebrovascular disease, such as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke as well as the critical care of patients with other neurological diseases. Office: 713-441-3951
Weihua Zhao, Ph.D. - Neuroscientist
Her research interest is in neurodegenerative diseases, especially amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with a focus on the roles of mutant superoxide dismutase (mSOD1) and immune-mediated injury and repair.
Office: 713-441-3684 • Lab: 713-441-3567
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