Neurology News - December 2020 | Department of Neurology

Department

Due to the in-person interview restrictions this fall, 大象传媒 Neurology鈥檚 residency programs retooled their recruitment efforts to find innovative new ways to present our programs to potential applicants. These methods included virtual open houses, extensive social media efforts, website development, photo shoots, and videos for both the Adult and Child Neurology programs. Thanks to all who have contributed!

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Best wishes and thank you to two of our outstanding nurse practitioners who are retiring soon:

Christine Shooter, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, will retire in December after 38 years of service at 大象传媒, including nine years as a 大象传媒 Neurology nurse practitioner. Christine says she will always cherish her time in neurology, but is now ready to 鈥渞echarge and relax.鈥� She hopes to enjoy more hiking, photography, music, theatre and traveling during her retirement.
In January, Nansi Greger-Holt, RN, MPH, MSN, will also be retiring after twelve years at 大象传媒, including nine years as a nurse practitioner within the Department of Neurology. In addition to spending more time with family in Asheville, Nansi plans to do more hiking, quilting and traveling.

Grants/Honors/Awards

Timothy Gershon, MD, PhD, has been promoted to Professor of Neurology.

The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) created the Kevin Robertson Memorial Award to honor neurologist Kevin Robertson, PhD, who died in June 2019 after a long battle with cancer. Serena Spudich, MD, professor of neurology and chief of Neurological Infections & Global Neurology at Yale University, was the first recipient of this award.

Child neurologists Senyene Hunter, MD, PhD, and Diana Cejas, MD, MPH, were this year鈥檚 recipients of the 大象传媒 Broyhill Research Award in Child Neurology. Dr. Hunter received an award of $25,000 to apply cutting-edge genomic sequencing technology to the identification of novel genetic defects in participants with infantile spasms. Dr. Cejas was awarded $12,500 to improve healthcare transition of patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities from a child-centered to an adult-oriented health care system.

Robert Smith III, recently accepted a one-year appointment to the newly-formed听大象传媒 Staff Advisory Committee to the Chancellor.听The committee was established as a means for听staff to share their voices and ideas听with听the Chancellor.

The Center for Animal MRI (CAMRI) at the Biomedical Research Imaging Center (BRIC), led by Ian Shih, PhD, received two totaling $2.6 million for a new MRI instrument and to upgrade an existing MRI system.

Casey Olm-Shipman, MD, MS, was selected as a 2020-2021 American Medical Association (AMA) Health Systems Scholar, a mentored program aimed at developing Health Systems Science (HSS) leaders. She was also appointed as 大象传媒’s Director of HSS for Graduate Medical Education. Over the next four years, 鲍狈颁鈥檚 goal is to implement a widely available and accessible HSS program for residents, fellows and faculty statewide. Health Systems Science encompasses the areas of social determinants of health, health care disparities and equity in healthcare, value-based care, population health, quality improvement and safety, interprofessionalism and leadership, and health policy.

Winnie Lau, MD, was selected as a member of the Passing the Torch 2020-21 Cohort. Supported by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, the Passing the Torch program strives to equip faculty with a variety of humanistic skills through experiential learning methods with the goal of helping members become better role models.

In an effort to help reduce health disparities for pediatric neurology patients, the Child Neurology team recently completed their first purchase of the Embrace2 seizure detection device for a patient in need. With funding from a Carolina For The Kids Grant, the team plans to assist five more low-income families obtain the device free of charge over the next several months. Please send referrals to Alyssa Draffin, LCSW, via Epic In Basket.

Clara Zelasky, PA-C, will receive her master鈥檚 degree in physician assistant studies in December from the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley.

Katelyn Bricker MD, MS, was awarded the M. Richard Koenigsberger Scholarship for her abstract 鈥�Sleep in Rett Syndrome鈥� published at the 49th Annual Child Neurology Society Virtual Meeting held on October 12 鈥� 23, 2020. (co-author Jane Fan, MD)

Research and Publications

大象传媒 BRIC researchers led by Weili Lin, PhD, used magnetic resonance imaging techniques to show the emergence of a functional flexible brain during early infancy.

鲍狈颁鈥檚 Hanna Trzeciakiewicz, Deepa Ajit, Jui-Heng Tseng, Youjun Chen, Aditi Ajit, Zarin Tabassum, Natallia Riddick, Michelle Itano, Sheryl Moy, Ashutosh Tripathy, and Todd Cohen along with University of Pennsylvania researchers published “An HDAC6-dependent surveillance mechanism suppresses tau-mediated neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.” , November.

Led by Daniel Kaufer, MD, 大象传媒 Neurology was one of the study sites included in a successful phase 2 clinical trial of neflamapimod for use in mild-to-moderate Lewy Body dementia.

James F. Howard Jr., MD, and Manisha Chopra, MBBS, along with other researchers published:

鈥淓pidemiological evidence for a hereditary contribution to myasthenia gravis: a retrospective cohort study of patients from North America.鈥� , September.
鈥淐oncomitant immunosuppressive therapy use in eculizumab-treated adults with generalized myasthenia gravis during the REGAIN Open-Label Extension Study.鈥� , October.

CNS 2019 Sonia, Yael, Katelyn — Drs. Varghese, Bricker & Shiloh-Malawsky, CNS 2019

Resident Drs. Sonia Varghese and Katelyn Bricker along with Drs. Yael Shiloh-Malawsky and Jane Fan published multiple abstracts at the 49th Annual Child Neurology Society Virtual Meeting held on October 12 鈥� 23.

Sleep in Rett Syndrome – Katelyn Bricker MD, MS, and Jane Fan, MD. Dr. Bricker was awarded the M. Richard Koenigsberger Scholarship.
The forgotten TORCH – Katelyn Bricker MD, MS, and Yael Shiloh-Malawsky, MD
Addis Clinic 鈥� Telemedicine in Epilepsy – Sonia Varghese, MD, MPH, MBA, and Yael Shiloh-Malawsky, MD
Menkes Disease in 5 Siblings – Sonia Varghese, MD, MPH, MBA, and Yael Shiloh-Malawsky, MD
Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD) Treatment in Patients with Dravet Syndrome (DS) – Yael Shiloh Malawsky, MD, and other researchers

Steven Trau, MD, (first author) along with other researchers, published 鈥淚nstitutional Paediatric Convulsive Status Epilepticus Protocol Decreases Time to First- and Second-Line Anti-Seizure Medication Administration.鈥� , August.

Matthew Sharrock, MD, along with other researchers, published 鈥�3D Deep Neural Network Segmentation of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Development and Validation for Clinical Trials.鈥� , September.

Susan Wilson, DNP, RN, MSN, ANP-C, and Neuro-ICU nurse, Michael McPeak, co-authored the Stroke Prevention Chapter in the recently published 2^nd edition 鈥�.鈥�

Irena Dujmovic Basuroski, MD, was a collaborator for the position statement paper: 鈥淧ediatric NMOSD: A Review and Position Statement on Approach to Work-Up and Diagnosis.鈥� , June.

Presentations

James F. Howard, Jr, MD,听presented via webcast:

Invited Lectures

Neurology Club, Department of Neuropsychiatry, 鈥溾€橰efractory鈥� Myasthenia Gravis: Hope for the Future.鈥� University of Alexandria; Alexandria, Egypt – September.
11th Annual Myasthenia Gravis Health Care Professionals Education Virtual Conference, 鈥淭he Expanding Universe of Myasthenia Gravis Therapeutics鈥� – October.
Neurology Grand Rounds, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 鈥淐omplement Inhibition in Myasthenia Gravis; An Evolving Treatment Strategy鈥� – October.
MGFA New England Virtual Regional Conference, 鈥淢yasthenia Gravis: The Dawn of a Therapeutic Revolution鈥� – October.

Presentations at Meetings

鈥淪afety of eculizumab in NMOSD and MG 鈥� analysis of the phase 3 studies PREVENT and REGAIN and their extensions.鈥澨� MSVirtual2020, September (Co-author)
鈥淕eneralized myasthenia gravis: complement and the neuromuscular junction.鈥� Industry forum on 鈥淐omplement activation in neurological diseases: from the central nervous system to the neuromuscular junction.鈥� International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases Digital Program (ICNMDigital), September (Co-author)
鈥淭reatment impact on specific symptom MG-ADL domains in myasthenia gravis patients: Phase 2 efgartigimod study analysis.鈥� International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases Digital Program (ICNMDigital), September (Co-authored with Manisha Chopra, MBBS, and others)
鈥淎DAPT: A phase 3 study of the FcRn antagonist, efgartigimod, in generalized myasthenia gravis.鈥� 2020 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine, October (Co-authored with Manisha Chopra, MBBS, and others)
Dr. Howard gave five presentations at the 2020 Annual Scientific Session of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America in October.

Irena Dujmovic Basuroski, MD, was a co-author of the paper 鈥淎rtificial Intelligence on Conventional Magnetic Resonance Images for the Diagnosis of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders鈥� presented at the 6^th听Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in July.

Dr. Z. Toledo Nieves and Dr. I. Dujmovic Basuroski presented听 “Onset of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with limbic encephalitis or coexistence of those conditions in a single patient鈥� at the Joint ECTRIMS/ACTRIMS Virtual Meeting in September.

Virtual presentations made by听Gary Jay, MD, during the PAINWeek Conference in September and PainWeekEnd in October include:

鈥淭hree Doors, Lost Keys: Managing Sleep, Depression and Chronic Pain鈥�
鈥淪peaking in Tongues: Guidelines and Paradigms Post-CDC鈥�
鈥淭ake Me to the River: The Agony of Cluster Headaches鈥�

Diana Cejas, MD, MPH, was the plenary speaker at the Latino Medical Student Association鈥檚 National Conference in October. Her talk was entitled, 鈥淚mpostor Syndrome and Advocacy: How Physicians of Color Can Tune Out the Naysayers and Turn Up for Patients and Their Communities.鈥�

Jessica Shurer, MSW, LCSW, co-presented 鈥淗aha sorry, I must be getting old…Recognizing unconscious ageism in social work practice鈥� to the National Association of Social Workers 鈥� NC Chapter in October. In addition, Ms. Shurer presented 鈥淟et鈥檚 talk: Discussing the diagnosis and navigating family dynamics鈥� at the CurePSP National Virtual Family Conference.

Events

大象传媒 Health鈥檚 Stroke and Chest Pain Centers held their 4^th Annual Heart and Brain Connection on November 6 for cardiac and stroke care for emergency medical personnel. Seventy-nine EMS professionals from 33 different agencies and hospitals from around the state gathered virtually to learn about the neurologic and cardiovascular effects of COVID-19, atypical STEMI, the latest ischemic stroke news, and also to participate in interactive case studies.

Jessica Shurer, MSW, LCSW, developed and coordinated a new virtual program entitled 鈥淭aking Charge of Parkinson鈥檚鈥� for people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 within the past two years. Nina Browner, MD; Jacqueline Glasser, RN; and 大象传媒 rehabilitation professionals presented and answered questions for twelve participants who met weekly for six weeks in October and November.

Upcoming!
Robert Smith III, PhD, will present at a virtual event titled, 鈥淏lack. Male. Scientist. Claiming space and place in research鈥� on Thursday, December 10 from 10am 鈥� 11:30am. This panel discussion is hosted by Gillings School of Global Public Health and is free and open to the public. Learn more >

Media/Outreach

Jamie Capal, MD, was interviewed by the autism news organization, , for an article titled, 鈥淎utism and seizures may share roots in development.鈥� The article was based upon Dr. Capal鈥檚 research published in last April: 鈥淔actors Associated with Seizure Onset in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.鈥�

Prior to his passing, Dan Kaufer, MD, was interviewed for a 大象传媒 : 鈥淵our brain on smartphone – A Carolina neurologist shares how smartphones can change how we think and interact with others.鈥�

Diana Cejas, MD, MPH, published three essays:

An essay about being a cancer and stroke patient, and working at a hospital, “Join the Club,” was featured in the , 鈥淒isability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century.鈥� In addition, the University of Michigan Medical School interviewed Dr. Cejas and the editor of the book in this .
An essay about Dr. Cejas鈥� stroke, “Convalescence Triptych,” was published by the in October.
An essay about growing up on a farm in NC, “Gum,” was featured in the 鈥淎 Measure of Belonging: Twenty-One Writers听of Color on the New American South.鈥� The book was featured on the New York Times’ in September.

Veronique 鈥淣ikki鈥� Currence, FNP-BC, was acknowledged for her work as a frontline worker in the Respiratory Diagnostic Center (RDC) in the October 19 edition of 大象传媒 Health鈥檚鈥淎dvanced Practice Provider News.鈥� Nikki started working with 大象传媒 Neurology last January after graduating from the 大象传媒 School of Nursing with her FNP degree. In April, Nikki graciously transferred to the RDC to provide assistance with the surge of COVID-19 patient testing and assessments.

鈥淭his has been a very rewarding experience for me! I’ve been able to gain experience in both pediatric and urgent care. But, most importantly, I am doing my part to combat COVID by educating and comforting patients regarding the virus. AND, it doesn’t hurt that I have the most AMAZING, DEDICATED and COMPASSIONATE co-workers there. I will miss them when I leave, but I’m also excited to continue training in Neurology,鈥� Nikki said. 大象传媒 Neurology welcomed Nikki back in October.

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