Welcome Remarks

Jeffrey Randall, M.D.
Jeffrey Randall, M.D., is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has been caring for patients with brain and spinal conditions for over 25 years in the Bay Area. He has performed more than 3,500 minimally invasive surgical procedures. Dr. Randall has been a leader in the medical community for many years, including serving terms as president of the medical staff, director of neurosurgical trauma and chairman of neuroscience quality improvement at Eden Medical Center. Dr. Randall cares for patients at Eden Medical Center, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and San Ramon Regional Medical Center. He also holds an appointment on the clinical faculty at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School.

Mind Control in 2020: Innovations in Brain-Computer Interface Technology to Advance the Treatment of Brain Disorders

Matthew MacDougall, M.D.
Matthew MacDougall, M.D., is a neurosurgeon working with Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink. His work is focused on the development of safe, high-bandwidth neural interfaces for humans. Dr. MacDougall performs cranial and spinal surgery at California Pacific Medical Center, and his clinical practice is focused on pain and movement disorders.

 

Welcome Address

Shawn Kile, M.D.
Shawn Kile, M.D. has a special interest in treating cognitive disorders and has published on topics including traumatic brain injury, encephalopathy, complex partial seizures, neuropsychiatric disorders and dementia. Dr. Kile also works with the Sutter Transition for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (STAND) Clinic and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and conditions along the autism spectrum. He continues to have an affiliation with the University of California, Davis, serving as a member of the volunteer clinical faculty in the neurology department.

Take Control of Epilepsy: Applying Neuro-Innovation to Identify Personalized Means of Seizure Reduction and Freedom

Brajesh Agrawal, M.D.
Brajesh Agrawal, M.D., is a neurologist with a focus on epilepsy at PAMF. Dr. Agrawal also performs ultrasound and EMG-guided botox injection for cervical dystonia, writer’s cramp, post-stroke spasticity, hemifacial spasm, blepherospasm, hyper-salivation, bruxism, migraine, administers trigger-point injections and performs skin biopsy for small fiber neuropathy.

Dr. Agrawal’s philosophy and objective is to bring individualized patient solutions to complex neurological conditions and to partner with each patient to build trust and realistic goals.

Until recently, he was a clinical assistant professor (affiliate) of neurology at Stanford University and worked as neurologist and stroke director at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Dr. Agrawal was involved in resident and student education as the site director for neurology clerkship and residency program.

Dr. Agrawal lives in Burlingame and enjoys hiking, watching movies and playing with his three young children and spouse Anu, who is a cardiologist and manages adult congenital and pregnant patients with heart conditions at UCSF.

Mariel Velez, M.D.
Mariel M. Velez, M.D., Ph.D., is a board-certified neurologist specializing in epilepsy and is the director of the epilepsy monitoring unit at California Pacific Medical Center. She has special interests in medical devices, neuropsychiatry, and women’s issues within the field of epilepsy.  Dr. Velez is active in medical research and has published in a number of medical journals.

Dr. Velez completed her medical education, neurology residency and epilepsy fellowship at Stanford University. In addition, Dr. Velez completed a Ph.D. in computational neuroscience at Stanford University.

Matthew Markert, M.D.
Matthew Markert, M.D., received his undergraduate and master’s degrees in biotechnology and biomedical engineering from Drexel University. He graduated from the physician-scientist training program at The University of Miami - Miller School of Medicine. His doctoral thesis was on studying imaging surrogate markers of neurovascular disease and the epidemiology of racial and ethnic disparities in stroke. Dr. Markert completed his neurology training at The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City and fellowship subspecialty training in epilepsy at Stanford University.

He is particularly interested in cortical neuromodulation and surgical treatments for epilepsy and the use of technology to expand our ability to predict drug effectiveness prior to prescription and increase quality of life.

Panel: Educating Your Patients About Brain Fitness: Facts Versus Fads

Allison Fong, MAS, R.D.
Allison Fong, MAS, R.D., CDE, currently works as the lead clinical health educator in the patient education department at Sutter Medical Foundation. She studied at Bradley University to complete her dietetic internship and obtained her Masters of Advanced Study in Maternal Child Nutrition and Bachelors of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis.

As a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, Allison translates the art and science of diabetes management into applicable information for her patients to use in their everyday lives. She’s passionate about promoting better health through nutrition and physical activity in both individual and group settings.   She also provides medical nutrition therapy to a diverse patient population, including pediatric and adult patients with diabetes, obesity and eating disorders. Allison has spoken at several community outreach events promoting the protection and improvement of brain health through dietary interventions. 

Renee C. Garner, M.S., CCC-SLP
Renee C. Garner, M.S., CCC-SLP, has been a speech and language pathologist in the Sutter Health network for the last 30 years. She has special emphasis in treating acquired neurogenic and voice disorders. She also works with patients on stroke, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease (LSVT Global LOUD certified) and a variety of other progressive neurological disorders.

Renee serves as an adjunct professor at CSU, Sacramento for Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also participates in interprofessional collaborative practice by mentoring graduate and undergraduate nursing students.

She serves as director for Vocally Devote, a choir for adults with neurological communication disorders and their partners, friends and caregivers. In addition, she participates and volunteers in many other organizations to help individuals adapt their talents – many of them musically based – to reinforce self-worth and provide an emotional outlet to help them cope with their conditions.

Lisa Yount, MSPT
Lisa Yount, MSPT, has been a physical therapist for 31 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from University of California, Davis and her Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from University of the Pacific. Lisa has worked in the Sutter Health network for 21 years – primarily in outpatient physical therapy.

Her interest in brain health began when she worked with patients with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke. Lisa was the primary caregiver for her parents who had Alzheimer’s disease, and she remains active with a caregiver support group. Her goal in participating with the Brain Health seminars is to educate people about the important effects of exercise on the brain. 

Denise Dempsey, M.Ed.
Denise Dempsey, M.Ed., has 20 years of experience in mindfulness-based interventions. Denise was credentialed by Sutter in 2005 to lead Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction classes using the time-tested and evidence-based curriculum developed at UMASS Medical Center in 1979. She is certified to teach MBSR by the UMASS Medical School, Center for Mindfulness. She has several thousand hours in the classroom teaching this method for behavior change and improving symptoms related to chronic stress.

Denise’s focus is to challenge and motivate students through meditation training, in-depth lectures and discussions that prompt self-inquiry and home assignments that facilitate the practical applications of mindfulness in daily life.

Tara McConnell, MT-BC
Tara McConnell, MT-BC, is a board-certified music therapist and owner/clinical director of McConnell Music Therapy Services, Inc., based in Auburn, CA. A Sacramento native, she and her team of music therapists have served the greater Sacramento region since 1996.

Together, they provide contract services to six Sutter Health network hospital and rehabilitation programs. Regionally, they provide individual and group services to special education programs, skilled nursing facilities, eating disorder clinics, psychiatric hospitals and private families. She is passionate about sharing the science behind how music can be used to increase the health and wellness of individuals and communities.

Shawn Kile, M.D.
Shawn Kile, M.D., has a special interest in treating cognitive disorders and has published on topics including traumatic brain injury, encephalopathy, complex partial seizures, neuropsychiatric disorders and dementia. Dr. Kile also works with the Sutter Transition for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (STAND) Clinic and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and conditions along the autism spectrum. He continues to have an affiliation with the University of California, Davis, serving as a member of the volunteer clinical faculty in the neurology department.

Mobilizing Stroke Therapy: Updates and Future Direction for Prehospital Stroke Care

Ilana Spokoyny, M.D.
Ilana Spokoyny, M.D., is a vascular neurologist who joined the Sutter West Bay Medical Group Stroke Team in 2017. She is the clinical and research director for the Sutter Health Mobile Stroke Unit and the co-site principal investigator for the BEST-MSU clinical trial.

Dr. Spokoyny completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in Bioengineering with minors in mathematics and healthcare. She continued on at UCSD for medical school and neurology residency, where she was appointed chief resident in her final year. Dr. Spokoyny completed her vascular neurology fellowship at Stanford, followed by an NIH StrokeNet research fellowship. In addition to a passion for the clinical care of stroke patients, Dr. Spokoyny has a strong background in clinical research with a focus on stroke systems of care.

Management of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

Joanna Cooper, M.D.
Joanna Cooper, M.D., practices in Berkeley, California. She studied medicine at the University of Tel Aviv, Israel, where she grew up. She completed her neurology training at the VA Martinez and University of California, Davis. She is board-certified in neurology and in sleep disorders medicine.

Dr. Cooper has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis and related disorders and in the management of severe spasticity, utilizing intrathecal baclofen and Botox. She is the local principal investigator of multiple clinical trials for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. 

Dr. Cooper is the medical director of the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Research institute and is a Tier 2 Leader for multiple medical specialties.

Marc Levin, M.D.
Marc Levin, M.D., practices neuro-ophthalmology at Palo Alto Medical Foundation clinic locations in Palo Alto, San Carlos, Dublin and Santa Cruz. After receiving his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from UCSF, he completed his residency in ophthalmology and a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, after which he was elected into the prestigious Society of Heed Fellows.

Before practicing at PAMF, he began his career at University of California, San Francisco as a doctor, educator and scientist. His prior research, focused on animal models of autoimmune optic nerve disease, was funded by sources such as the National Eye Institute and Research to Prevent Blindness. He remains active in clinical trials and drug development and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.

Dr. Levin cares for adult and pediatric patients with vision loss and eye movement disorders. He typically treats optic neuropathies, inflammatory conditions, thyroid eye disease, facial spasms, cranial nerve palsies, strokes and intracranial tumors. He has surgical expertise in all aspects of neuro-ophthalmology, including eye misalignment in adults.

Acute Flaccid Myelitis: The New Polio?

Shubhangi Chitnis, M.D.
Shubhangi Chitnis, M.D., completed her medical education and her degree in child health at Government Medical College, Miraj in India. After immigrating to the U.S., she completed her residency in pediatrics at Texas Tech University and residency in pediatric neurology at Wake Forest University. She recently enjoyed completing a one-year fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at Ohio State University.

Dr. Chitnis' passion is taking care of children with special needs. This includes epilepsy and general neurology conditions, such as developmental delays, autism, learning disorders, headache disorders, ADHD and more. 

Leading the Pack: How Sutter Health Neurosurgeons Are Taking Novel Approaches to Treat Complex Disorders of the Brain and Spine

Lewis Leng, M.D.
Lewis Leng, M.D., is a board-certified neurosurgeon at California Pacific Medical Center in the Department of Neurosciences. He is the department head of neurosurgery and epileptology for Sutter West Bay. Dr. Leng is a clinical assistant professor of neurology at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He is also the co-director of endoscopic skull base and pituitary surgery and co-chair of the neurosciences Quality Improvement Committee at CPMC.

Dr. Leng received his B.A. from University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a Certificate of Distinction. He received his medical degree from Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, during which time he was a 21st Century Scholar and received a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He completed a fellowship in neuro-interventional surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Leng is highly skilled in minimally invasive, computer-navigated and endoscopic cranial neurosurgery and spinal surgery. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in the field. His professional interests include pituitary disease, disorders of the skull base and brain, cerebrovascular disorders of the brain and spine, tumors and degenerative spine disease. 

Larry Dickinson, M.D.
Larry Dickinson, M.D., is board-certified in neurological surgery. Dr. Dickinson practices the full breadth of neurosurgery, including non-surgical and surgical treatments for brain and spinal disorders, with a special focus on minimally invasive technologies.

Dr. Dickinson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from the University of California, San Diego and his medical degree from the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. After completing his seven-year neurosurgery residency training at the University of Michigan, Dr. Dickinson finished subspecialty training in vascular neurosurgery at the University of Florida. He returned to the University of Michigan as an Assistant Professor, and he developed a nationally recognized, minimally invasive surgery program for the treatment of brain tumors and vascular malformations.

With Dr. Randall, Dr. Dickinson founded Pacific Brain & Spine in Southern California. He currently holds privileges at Eden Medical Center, San Ramon Regional Medical Center, Alta Bates-Summit Medical Center, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center and El Camino Hospital. In November 2017, Dr. Dickinson was elected Chairperson for the Neuroscience Department at Eden Medical Center.

When he’s not treating patients, Dr. Dickinson can be found playing music with his wife, daughter and two sons. During the winter months, he and his family enjoy snowboarding in Lake Tahoe, and they search year-round for great surfs to ride.

Panel: Partnering With Advanced Practice Clinicians to Tackle Neuroscience Challenges

Manoj Mittal, M.D.
Manoj Mittal, M.D., is a board-certified neurocritical care doctor at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. He attended University College of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, respectively. Dr. Mittal is lauded for the compassionate bedside manner he delivers across both the neurology and neurocritical care specialties.

 

Rochelle Thangalan, N.P.
Rochelle M. Thangalan, N.P., obtained her Master’s Degree in Nursing as an adult nurse practitioner from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Thereafter, she worked for two years with the neurosurgical team at Sutter Gould Medical Foundation in Modesto. At SGMF, she got her Registered Nurses First Assistant certification.

Most recently, she joined the neuroscience team at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. She works in neurocritical care and with the stroke team. She’s a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Neurocritical Care Society and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Shubhangi Chitnis, M.D.
Shubhangi Chitnis, M.D., completed her medical education and her degree in child health at Government Medical College, Miraj in India. After immigrating to the U.S., she completed her residency in pediatrics at Texas Tech University and residency in pediatric neurology at Wake Forest University. She recently enjoyed completing a one-year fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at Ohio State University.

Dr. Chitnis' passion is taking care of children with special needs. This includes epilepsy and general neurology conditions, such as developmental delays, autism, learning disorders, headache disorders, ADHD and more. 

Susan Caffery, N.P.
Susan Caffery, N.P., graduated from University of Nebraska in 1986 as a registered nurse and in 2000 as a family nurse practitioner. She worked in family practice for 10 years prior to transitioning to pediatric neurology and was the first APC in pediatric neurology at Sutter Medical Group. Susan has worked in pediatric neurology for the past nine years.

Her supervising doctor and partner is Shubhangi Chitnis, M.D. Together, they provide neurological care to children from birth to 21 years of age in the hospital and outpatient clinic settings. Susan is also an APC recruitment co-lead for SMG in addition to being a mentor and preceptor to APC students.

Surani Kwan, N.P.
Surani Hayre-Kwan, N.P., is the director for professional practice and nursing excellence for Sutter Health. She’s responsible for advancing professional practice throughout the system, providing leadership in professional development, clinical education and training for registered nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Surani maintains a clinical practice as an N.P. and is nationally certified in family practice. She was a past president of California Association for Nurse Practitioners and remains active in health policy. She serves on several boards focused on community health and wellness. Surani recently completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree and her previous education includes a Master’s in Business and Nursing. She is also a Fellow in the American Association for Nurse Practitioners and American College of Health Care Executives.

Keynote Lecture: New Treatments for ALS

Robert Miller, M.D.
Robert Miller, M.D., is a clinical professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University Medical School. He’s a senior clinician investigator at the Forbes Norris ALS Research Center at California Pacific Medical Center.

Dr. Miller was the lead author of the American Academy Neurology evidence-based practice parameters for managing ALS, published in 1999 and updated in 2009. He was the lead author of Consensus Guidelines for ALS Clinical Trials just recently revised. He has been active in ALS clinical trials and is involved with several collaborative efforts to find biomarkers for disease progression and better treatments for ALS. He has authored 300 scientific papers and two books. 

Closing Remarks

Jeffrey Randall, M.D.
Jeffrey Randall, M.D., is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has been caring for patients with brain and spinal conditions for over 25 years in the Bay Area. He has performed more than 3,500 minimally invasive surgical procedures. Dr. Randall has been a leader in the medical community for many years, including serving terms as president of the medical staff, director of neurosurgical trauma and chairman of neuroscience quality improvement at Eden Medical Center. Dr. Randall cares for patients at Eden Medical Center, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and San Ramon Regional Medical Center. He also holds an appointment on the clinical faculty at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School.