From the chairman - Department of Neurology and Psychiatry

Department of Neurology & Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Spring 2010
From the chairman
Part of the broad mission of the
Department of Neurology & Psychiatry is to provide collaborative
care for patients with neurological
and psychiatric disorders. We recognize that, for a patient to truly
heal, not only the physical, but also
the emotional consequences of the
disease must be treated. This
holds true across multiple diseases,
whether the disease is depression
or multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer’s
disease. Across the nation there
has been a call for neurology and
psychiatry to come closer because
of the basic neuroscience that underpins both disciplines. Given the
structure of our department, it
should be no surprise that Saint
Louis University supports this ini-
Saint Louis University
School of Medicine
tiative. At the same time, we are
not interested in producing a hybrid trainee “neuropsychiatrist.”
Rather we wish to take the best of
each approach to enhance patient
care. Our mission will not be actualized soon, in part because of
challenges to the multidisciplinary
model that we face from reimbursement for clinical care.
We are, however, making progress.
Didactic sessions in neurology and
psychiatry for our residents and
medical students are partially
shared, so that both perspectives
are apparent for trainees. We are
making attempts to enhance the
care of patients with multiple sclerosis by collaborative care plans by
our faculty. Ani Acharya, a neurologist who specializes in rehabilitation, has studied post-stroke depression extensively and works
collaboratively with John Chibnall
to further this research.
Our mission is also fulfilled
through the Clinical Research Unit.
Staffing combines the experiences
of research coordinators who had
previously been dedicated only to
neurologic or psychiatric trials.
They now pool resources to exploit
their expertise to the benefit of the
entire research effort of the Department. Similarly, Abhilash
Desai, a geriatric psychiatrist, is
collaborating with the DePaul
Medical Center neurologists to
establish his Healthy Brain Aging
program, leveraging the expertise
of both psychiatry and neurology
in the pursuit of enhanced patient
care.
As a Department we continue to
grow. We now have two accredited stroke programs, one at SLU
Hospital and the other at SSM
DePaul Medical Center. Soon, we
will extend neurological services to
SSM St. Clare. Further, we continue to welcome new faculty
members and build new programs,
as you will see on subsequent
pages.
As is the case for all academic
medical centers, we are challenged
by the reduction of research funding opportunities, reimbursement
for clinical activity, and philanthropic support. We would welcome your help to get us through
these tough times.
I extend my thanks to a wonderful
faculty and staff that make my job
easier in these challenging, but
rewarding, times. I look forward to
another great year for the DNP.
Henry J. Kaminski, M.D.
Chair, Department of
Neurology & Psychiatry
Saint Louis University
School of Medicine
Neurotransmitter
Spring 2010
Welcome to New Faculty!
Amer AlShekhlee, MD, Associate Professor of
Neurology, joined
our faculty in January 2010. Amer
received his MD at
the University of
Baghdad College
of Medicine and completed neuromuscular fellowship and residency at
Case Western Reserve University. He
obtained a masters degree in clinical
research, while an assistant professor
at Case Western. Amer is nationally
known for his work in neuromuscular
disease and stroke. He has mined
national hospital data bases to assess
trends in patient outcomes and costs,
which in the future may be applied to
comparative effectiveness assessments.
Francisco Gondim, MD, MSc,
PhD, joined our
faculty in March
2010. Dr. Gondim
completed his MD
at the Universidade Federal do
Ceara, Brazil,
where he also completed a MSc and
PhD in Pharmacology. He trained in
neurology at SLU and completed fellowship training in critical care at
Washington University, where he also
served as Clinical Instructor in neurological critical care. He then moved
to Cornell University, where he completed clinical neurophysiology training. In 2004, he returned to Brazil to
work as Professor Adjunto at Universidade Federal do Ceara, where he
served as neurology residency director and an advisor for MS/PhD programs. He also received several
Deepa Arun, MD,
grants to support work in the study of
joined our faculty in the pathogenesis of neuropathy.
July 2009. Deepa
Francisco has achieved international
trained in pediatrics recognition for his work in autonomic
at the University of and peripheral nervous system disorMedicine and Den- ders.
tistry in New Jersey
and in child neurology at Washington
Lauren R.
University in St. Louis. She is board
Schwarz, PhD, is a
certified in Pediatrics and Neurology
clinical neuropsywith Special Qualification in Child
chologist who reNeurology. Deepa’s clinical focus is
cently joined the
in general child neurology, with spefaculty as an assiscial interest in neonatal neurology,
tant professor and
cerebral palsy, and headache. Her
is the Director of
research interests include therapeutic the Neuropsychology Division. Lauinterventions and co-morbidities of
ren earned her doctorate in clinical
headache disorders.
psychology from Saint Louis University. She completed her internship
training at the University of Alabama
at Birmingham and a fellowship at the
University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr.
Schwarz’s clinical interests are in the
Page 2
provision of neuropsychological services to adults with a diverse range of
presenting concerns including cognitive sequelae of neurologic conditions (such as, stroke, epilepsy, brain
tumor, Parkinson’s disease, multiple
sclerosis), suspected memory problems or dementia, traumatic brain
injury, medical conditions affecting
central nervous system functioning
(e.g., liver disease, HIV infection, or
cardiac disorders), psychiatric conditions, attentional disorders, and learning disorders. Her research interests
include cognitive functioning in
adults with Moyamoya disease; visual
memory and executive functioning in
traumatic brain injury; and the assessment of feigned and exaggerated
neurocognitive dysfunction.
William Maurice
Redden, MD,
joined our faculty in
August 2009. William completed
geriatric psychiatry
training at Saint.
Louis University and
prior to that trained
in adult psychiatry at Wake Forest
University School of Medicine. He
has a joint appointment at the St.
Louis VA Medical Center, where he
works on the geriatric behavioral unit.
His interests include dementia care in
minority populations, aging successfully and mental health issues in pa-
tients with HIV/AIDS.
http://neuroandpsych.slu.edu
Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
Program Spotlights
Child Neurology primed for expansion
Under the leadership of David Walsh, Child Neurology expands with the addition of Deepa Arun (see
new Faculty page) and the anticipated arrival of Sean
Goretzke. Sean, a graduate of ours, is completing his
military service to the US Navy and will join the faculty
this summer. The Division will continue its expansion
with a focus on building a nationally recognized epilepsy program. After leading the residency program to
reaccreditation, Tom Geller will step down as director
and allow Alpa Vashist, to take on this critical role for
the Department. Tom will focus his time on pursuit of
his research interests in neurofibormatosis and oncology. The Division has added a clinical nurse, Tawni
Collins, who has greatly increased both the volume
and efficiency of clinical services, in particular patientphysician communications.
The program continues a tradition of outstanding educational contributions. David and Tom will direct a
breakfast seminar at the AAN Annual Meeting in Toronto entitled: Blink and You Live: Coma Prognosis in
Child Neurology. Anu Nayak and Otto Aldahondo,
child neurology fellows presented well received
Interventional Neurology
In 2009, a new partnership was established by the Department with SSM Health Care. An Interventional
Neurology and Stroke Service at the DePaul Health
Center was initiated, as part of an 8 million dollar in-
From left to right: Drs. Arun, Vashist, Walsh, Geller
papers at the Fourth Annual Missouri Valley Child Neurology Colloquium in Lake of the Ozarks.
The Division of Child Neurology reluctantly reports the
departure of Glen Fenton, who will be moving to the
University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Glen has
served SLU for nearly 20 years and his contributions
cannot be underestimated. He will be missed.
vestment in the SSM Neurosciences Institute. The service is led by Randall Edgell and Nirav Vora, both
trained in vascular neurology as well as neurointervention. The interventional neurology service’s main campus at Saint Louis University Hospital treats patients
with aneurysms, acute stroke, intracranial stenosis, carotid stenosis, and arteriovenous malformations. The
combined campuses are on track to perform over 600
diagnostic and 150 interventional procedures a year.
The interventional neurology service supports a fellowship program and participates in several national trials
of neurointerventional devices and procedures.
In the coming year, interventional neurology will add a
third faculty member, Charlie Callison, a former SLU
neurology resident, who will help the service to expand
coverage to the John Cochran Veteran’s Affairs
Medical Center and part-time coverage of SSM St.
Clare Medical Center
Dr. Edgell performing a case at SLU Hospital
Page 3
Neurotransmitter
Spring 2010
Program Spotlights
Forensic Psychiatry
Over the past year Alan Felthous, Tracy Gunter,
Hilary Klein, and Lauren Schwarz have conducted
pretrial and agency evaluations in a variety of psycholegal consultations including personal injury, testa-
From left to right: Drs. Klein, Gunter, Schwarz, Felthous
mentary capacity, decisional capacity, guardianship,
medical malpractice risk exposure, and criminal matters such as competence to stand trial and criminal
responsibility. The goal for the forensic service is to
ensure prompt responses to requests for forensic consultation from the time of initial contact, through the
evaluation process and production of the forensic report, through to the conclusion of case needs. SLU
residents in psychiatry, together with Drs. Gunter and
Felthous, provide psychiatric services at the Saint Louis
County Jail. Working together with a skilled, multidisciplinary mental health team, they have brought about
critical improvements in the quality of mental health
services at the jail. An important initiative has been the
more selective, judicious use of medications in a population prone to misdiagnosis and abuse of mind altering substances. The chief and most desired goal has
been improvement in the quality, safety and effectiveness of psychopharmacotherapy, but more methodical
prescribing practices have also resulted in reduction in
jail formulary costs by tens of thousands of dollars.
The problem, solution and outcome will be presented
by a multidisciplinary team at the annual meeting of
the National Commission on Correctional Health Care
in April.
Dr. Gunter continues, in collaboration with her research
collaborators in Iowa, to pursue the study of geneticenvironment interactions that contribute to substance
use, antisocial personality, and psychopathy. She has
presented and published findings from these and
other studies at national and international meeting
and journals, most recently having completed an updated literature review on the genetics of psychopathy
that will soon be published in Behavioral Sciences and
the Law.
Dr. Klein has a weekly psychiatric clinic at the Juvenile
Detention Center. There she evaluates any new detainees already on psychotropic medication, detainees
whom staff feel may be suicidal or homicidal, and
those detainees whose complexity of presentation calls
for in-depth psychiatric evaluation or psychological
testing.
Neuropsychology Service Established
The Department of Neurology & Psychiatry has opened a clinical and educational Neuropsychology Service
directed by Lauren Schwarz. The service provides evaluations of cognitive difficulties that are tailored to meet
the individual needs of patients and physicians. Evaluations include the assessment of higher cognitive abilities
with the goal of assisting with differential diagnosis; prognosis and dispositional planning; defining strengths
and weaknesses; rehabilitation issues; ability to return to work; and tracking of changes in functioning over time.
Academically, the neuropsychology service will provide training opportunities for residents and medical students. Ultimately, a goal of the service is to establish a neuropsychology training program at the pre-doctoral
and post-doctoral levels. Another goal is to aid other faculty members with the neuropsychological/cognitive
aspects of their research investigations. The neuropsychology service has developed a clinical database in order
to facilitate independent research projects and provide an opportunity for Saint Louis University students to obtain access to clinical populations for research purposes.
Page 4
http://neuroandpsych.slu.edu
Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
Program Spotlights
Strong partnership with St.
Louis VA Psychiatry
The St. Louis VA Medical Center is proud
to offer comprehensive mental health
services to veterans with a staff of over
25 psychiatrists working in collaboration
with psychologists, social workers,
nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, and
numerous ancillary staff. The Division of
Psychiatry is also a proud partner with
the Department of Neurology & Psychiatry, fostering a rich educational experience for SLU medical students and resident physicians in psychiatry.
The St. Louis VA Psychiatry Service,
under the leadership of James W. Cannon, has four
inpatient units, including one dedicated to geriatric
psychiatry. There is also a substance abuse residential
rehabilitation treatment program and a domiciliary for
homeless veterans. In the outpatient clinics, integrated
teams provide general mental health services as well as
specialized services for geriatric veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychiatric problems cooccurring with substance abuse. A highly specialized
team cares for a growing population of veterans with
posttraumatic stress disorder from the wars in Iraq and
Sleep Medicine Program
continues to grow
The sleep medicine program continues to grow and
establish itself as one of the leading sleep medicine
centers in the region. Both the SLUCare Sleep Disorders Center, led by Joseph Espiritu and Raman Malhotra, and the Pediatric Sleep and Research Center
at Cardinal Glennon Childrens Medical Center, led
by Shalini Paruthi , have been accredited by the
American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in the
last year. The SLU sleep program is one of the few
academic centers in the region, and the only in St.
Louis, that has adult and pediatric sleep centers that
meet the high standards of the AASM, which ensures
proficiency in areas such as testing procedures and
policies, patient safety, and physician and staff training.
Saint Louis University and Cardinal Glennon Children’s
Afghanistan. There is a dedicated psychiatrist who
works closely with outpatient primary care teams and a
team of psychiatrists to provide consultation and liaison service to medical and surgical inpatients and the
emergency room. The VA also has an opioid addiction
treatment program in which psychiatrists provide
medication management along with intense group
psychotherapy.
Hospital are proud to be a site for the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Study, a NIH funded trial which will be
the first randomized, controlled study of behavioral,
neurocognitive, and physiologic changes in children
who undergo adenotonsillectomy for mild-moderate
sleep apnea. Plans are ongoing for uniting sleep and
fatigue researchers and clinicians from across the university and city to assist collaborations in research and
education.
The SLU Sleep Medicine Program hosted educational programs for the community during the
National Sleep Awareness Week (March 7-13,
2010) and the first ever “Sleep Medicine for Primary Care Providers” CME Course will take place
on May 22, 2010, at the Busch Student Center.
Page 5
Neurotransmitter
Spring 2010
Program Spotlights
Neurorehabilitation Service News
Since 2005, the Department has been in partnership
with SSM Rehab creating the Neurorehabilitation
Center of excellence at Saint Mary’s Health Center.
The mission of the service is to maximize neurological
recovery after brain injury using a multidisciplinary
team approach. The center is committed to developing new and innovative therapies to enhance neurological recovery and improve quality of life. Projects
include improving neurological recovery, post-stroke
depression, and the effects of brain injury on cognition.
Aninda Acharya is the director of the Neurorehabilitation service and is supported by other faculty members, including Amy Rauchway, Laurence Kinsella,
and John Selhorst. Since the inception, the center
has cared for 300-400 patients per year and received
referrals from many regional hospitals including Saint
Louis University Hospital, DePaul Medical Center, St.
Clare Medical Center and Barnes Jewish Hospital.
Two neurology residents and one to four medical students rotate on the neurorehabilitation service
monthly. The rotation provides trainees the opportunity to collaborate closely with a multi-disciplinary
team of nurses, neuropsychologists as well as physical,
occupational and speech therapists. Under the supervision of the attending, trainees evaluate and manage
patients who are recovering from stroke and other
neurological disorders. Residents develop their skills
St. Louis VA Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction
Service - update
The St. Louis VA Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction (SCI)
Service has entered into partnership with Ameristar
Casinos and the CH Neilsen Foundation which match
the donations of Casino employees to enhance financial support for the care of patients. As a result, the VA
has enhanced care provided and improved equipment
for veterans with SCI. In addition, the VA Research Office has extended its ongoing multi-center vocational
rehabilitation study by five years and expanded funding, which has lead to provision of a full-time vocational counselor. Also at the VA, the Pain Rehabilitation Service is now fully functional. Adam Bank, PhD,
Jackie Caskanett, RN, Carey Keys, DPT, Nancy Little,
pharmacist, James Toombs, MD, and Pamela WakePage 6
From right to left: Drs. Acharya and Rauchway with
medical students and a resident at SSM Rehab
as effective health care team leaders through active
participation in the rehabilitation process. Recently,
Select Medical Corporation developed a joint venture
with SSM Rehab. The partnership will build on the existing base of state-of-art care and develop a new free
standing rehabilitation hospital in the coming years.
The vendor provides exciting possibilities, including
affiliations with many of the best rehabilitation hospitals in the country.
field, DC, with assistance from Florian Thomas provide
multidisciplinary care to veterans with chronic pain
using psychological techniques, a three room chiropractic suite, and a C arm for interventional treatments.
Movement Disorders Program- update
The program directed by Pratap Chand has evolved
into an active specialty service which provides state-ofthe-art management including chemodenervation
therapy. In collaboration with Neurosurgery, the team
offers deep brain stimulation therapy utilizing intraoperative microelectrode recording and a unique frameless technique for surgical management of patients
with advanced Parkinson's disease, refractory dystonia
and essential tremor.
http://neuroandpsych.slu.edu
Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
Faculty honors
Laurence Kinsella
James Willmore
Congratulations to Laurence Kinsella, for being awarded the U.S. Psychiatric and
Mental Health Congress 2009 Teacher of the Year, a first for a non-psychiatrist. The
Congress is the largest independent mental health meeting in the United States, with
2500 attendees. Laurence provides lectures dedicated to drug interactions, chronic
daily headache, and dizziness and imbalance. He has recently developed a multidisciplinary clinic with Otolaryngology at St John's establishing the SLUCare Autonomic,
Dizziness and Imbalance Center. Currently, SLUCare has the only autonomic laboratory
in St. Louis. The laboratory evaluates patients with chronic dizziness, syncope, and
postural tachycardia. Laurence's research interests include autonomic dysfunction,
autonomic testing, neuromuscular disease, and P450 drug interactions. Dr. Kinsella is
co-Chair of the American Academy of Neurology's Government Relations Committee,
and the president of the Missouri State Neurologic Association, which had its inaugural meeting at the Renaissance Airport Hotel March 26, 2010.
Congratulations to L. James Willmore, for being named to receive the American Epilepsy Society's (AES) 2009 Service Award. The award honors Dr. Willmore for his
extraordinary service in the field of epilepsy and long record of service to AES and its
members. The award was presented during the December AES annual meeting in
Boston. Dr. Wilmore is professor of neurology, pharmacology & physiology and associate dean of admissions at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Prior to his
current appointment, Jim served as the founding director of the Texas Comprehensive
Epilepsy Program at the University of Texas. There he trained a host of young physicians and scientists in epilepsy. His career in clinical and basic research has been devoted to the development of new antiepileptic drugs and studies to reveal the action
and molecular mechanisms by which antiepileptic drugs control seizures.
Congratulations to Salvador Cruz-Flores, for selection as the 2010 Hugh McCulloch
Award winner. The award is named in honor of one of St. Louis’s most revered cardiologists. Hugh McCulloch was one of the founding fathers of the American Heart Association. The award is the Midwest affiliates most prestigious tribute to a medical
volunteer in the St. Louis area. Dr. Cruz is the Director of the Souers Stroke Institute and holds the Sydney W. Souers endowed Chair.
Salvador Cruz-Flores
Congratulations to Anjan Bhattacharyya, Abhilash Desai,
Eli Feen, Joao Ramos, and Yi Pan for receiving “The Caring
Physician Award 2009” from Saint Louis University Hospital.
Annually, attending physicians, fellows and residents are
nominated by their colleagues to receive the award. The criteria for the nominations are taken from the Hospital Mission
and Values Statement and Target 100 which are based on
the highest ethical standards for a medical professional.
Standards include partnership and collaboration with staff as
well as the practice of holistic, innovative and spiritual care.
2009
Aninda B. Acharya
Wegdan Andrews
Salvador Cruz-Flores
Abhilash K. Desai
Eliahu S. Feen
Alan R. Felthous
Miggie L. Greenberg
George T. Grossberg
Tracy D. Gunter
Ghazala Hayat
Henry J. Kaminski,
Laurence J. Kinsella
Hilary K. Klein
Jothika Manepalli
Mirela D. Marcu
Francis A. Mithen
John B. Selhorst
Florian P. Thomas
L. James Willmore
Page 7
Neurotransmitter
Spring 2010
Clinical Research Unit– Summary
The Clinical Research Unit (CRU) continues its commitment to provide high quality research support in a
wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. In its effort to also increase community awareness of
research opportunities, several studies have been featured in local newspapers, posted on local websites
and referenced in radio news segments.
With studies ranging from gene-phenotype correlation to medical devices and investigational medications,
the CRU reflects the department’s goal to promote research and contribute to the advancement of medical
knowledge. The following studies represent some of the newest areas of investigation:
Genome Wide Association Study in Myasthenia
Gravis Study
The goal of the study is to determine the relationship between inherited factors and myasthenia gravis (MG) pathogenesis. The study will analyze the
genes of people with MG and compare the results
with unaffected controls. The study may lead to a
greater understanding of the causes of MG and may
help to define novel targets for treatment of myasthenia.
PI: Henry Kaminski, MD and Uladzimir Luchanok,
MD, PhD
Sponsor: Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
CLEAR III
CLEAR III assesses whether a clot dissolving study
drug called recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), is effective in improving the outcome for
patients who experience intracerebral hemorrhage.
PI: Salvador Cruz-Flores, MD
Sponsor: NIH/NINDS
TVP1012/ANDANTE
The Parkinson’s disease trial compares the study
drug rasagiline, a MAO inhibitor, to standard dopamine agonist medication therapy. The study evaluates whether combination therapy will enhance the
release of dopamine and more fully control ParkinSAM 531
sonian symptoms.
The study assesses the safety and effectiveness of
PI: Pratap Chand, MD
one of three dosage levels of SAM 531 compared to Sponsor: Teva
placebo or FDA-approved donepezil. By impacting
neurotransmitter processes in the brain, it is hoped CN156-018
that SAM-531 can improve cognitive functioning in The study for prodromal Alzheimer’s disease inpatients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. volves the investigation drug BMS-708163. The
PI: George Grossberg, MD
study determines whether the drug impacts bioSponsor: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.
markers in the cerebral spinal fluid and assesses the
predictive value of these biomarkers on progression
to dementia.
PI: George Grossberg, MD
Sponsor: Bristol-Myers Squibb
For more information, please contact the CLINICAL RESEARCH UNIT at
314-977-4900
Page 8
http://neuroandpsych.slu.edu
Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
Resident and Fellowship Programs
Scholar Program to increase
academic activity
The Scholar Program has been developed in order to better fulfill the educational, clinical, and research missions of
the University and the Department of Neurology & Psychiatry. The Program, led by Laurence Kinsella and
Simona Kacso, seeks to increase scholarly activity among
residents, students, fellows and faculty. The design is centered upon a faculty mentor-scholar relationship from
conception, execution, presentation and publication of the
work. The goal of the program is not only to provide residents with an opportunity to employ their unique skills
and talents to pursue projects of their choosing under the
mentorship of a faculty expert, but also to foster development of analytical thinking skills, rational decision making,
communication and writing skills. There are monthly sessions which residents and their mentors have the opportunity to present their research proposals and obtain
feedback from the audience. Topics have included Assessment of Weight Loss in the Demented Elderly, Vertebrobasilar Ischemia, Parkinson's Disease in Nursing Homes at
Risk for Falls, and Delayed Orthostatic Hypotension.
Awards/Publications/Presentations
Congratulations to Iyavut Thaipisuttikul, MD for receiving a 2010 AAN Annual Meeting Resident Scholarship. He
will present “What is the Optimal Duration of a Tilt Table
Test?”
Congratulations to Moses Tabe Ambilichu, MD for being
appointed the Members-In-Training Committee Chair of
the Eastern Missouri Psychiatry Association.
Child Neurology
Drs. Chrusciel, Nayak, and Aldahonda participated in
the research project “The study of Neuropathic pain
prevalence in Children and Adolescents with Neurofibromatosis-1”. The study will be presented by Dr. Geller at
the International Conference on Neuropathic Pain, Athens,
Greece in May 2010.
Dr. Anuranjita Nayak will present “The use of Transcranial Doppler to screen for intracranial Vasculopathy in patients with NF-1” at the Annual Children's Tumor Foundation meeting in Baltimore in June 2010.
VA offers additional position for
neurology resident
VA Central Office has funded a position for an additional neurology resident, starting July 2010. Once
fully implemented residents will engage in a
monthly rotation that focuses on multiple sclerosis,
chronic pain and spinal cord injury. Training sites
include the National MS Society Multiple Sclerosis
Center at the VA John Cochran Division as well as
the Pain Rehabilitation Center and the Spinal Cord
Injury/Dysfunction Service at the Jefferson Barracks
Division.
Congratulations to residents who move on
to fellowship programs:
Richa Bhatia, MD – Child Psychiatry, Children's
Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Aalamgeer Ibrahim, MD - Child Psychiatry, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School
Sameea Husain, DO - Movement disorders, Barrow
Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital
James Koch, MD - Neuromuscular, Barnes-Jewish
Hospital
Vikas Kumar, MD - Neurophysiology, Saint Louis
University Hospital
Weeraworn Nakarawat, MD - Neurophysiology,
Emory University
Priyanka Patel, MD -psychotherapy training
program at the Psychoanalytic Institute, St. Louis
Kishore Sriram, MD - Child Psychiatry, University of
Arizona.
Iyavut Thaipisuttikul, MD - Neuro-oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital
Page 9
Neurotransmitter
Spring 2010
Administrative Staff spotlights
Thank you to our dedicated staff in the Department who work diligently to accomplish our mission
and goals. We would like to highlight three of our staff members (randomly chosen) from clinical, administrative, and billing areas.
One thing that most people do not know about you: “I am a proud aunt of over
50 nieces and nephews”.
Hobbies: reading, decorating, traveling, art.
What do you like most about working within our department and at SLU: “I like
the community environment at SLU and I am thoroughly impressed with the talent
of the CRU team and the great leadership of Eve Holzemer”.
Favorite thing to do on a day off that is fun: exploring different areas of St Louis
and surrounding towns.
Favorite actor: Paul Newman and Tom Hanks.
Most important issue in the news recently: Home foreclosures.
Jewell Carter, RN
Clinical Research Nurse
One thing that most people do not know about you: “I worked at the Saint Louis
Zoo while in high school and college”.
Hobbies: writing, photography, astrology and playing with her dogs.
What do you like most about working within our department and at SLU: “The
people. It is so much nicer when you can look forward to coming to work because
of the people you work with.”
Favorite thing to do on a day off that is fun: spend time with her husband, Chris
and son, Zachary.
Favorite actor: Al Pacino and Meryl Streep.
An issue of great importance to Rebecca: Autism. She is involved in raising funds
Rebecca Grubb
Educational Program
Coordinator
for Autism Speaks and participates in the yearly Walk for Autism in Forest Park with
her team, Zach’s Ninjas.
One thing that most people do not know about you: “ I have a degree in Interior
Design/Event planning and I am a huge football fan and I only buy clearance items”.
Hobbies: volunteering at Mathews Dickey boys and girls club, being an advocate
for children, planning parties, designing furniture, painting, visiting the art museums.
What do you like most about working within our department and at SLU:
“Working with some of the best medical professionals in the country; but the true
bonus is working with a fabulous team of supportive co-workers, and working for an
awesome practice manager.”
Favorite thing to do on a day off that is fun: “Watch football or go to a football
game; after I have explored a few garage sales”.
Felicia Powell
Billing Representative
Favorite actor: Will Smith & Jada Pickett-Smith; Queen Latifah, Christopher Meloni.
Most important issue in the news recently: health care bill and how it will affect
some and benefit most.
Page 10
http://neuroandpsych.slu.edu
Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
SUPPORT EDUCATION AND RESEARCH - MAKE A DONATION!
In the coming year, our Department must work within the constraints imposed upon us and the whole University community by the current economic crisis. Endowment levels have fallen and with that, the ability to support non-income generating activities like education and research is compromised. I would like to ask you to
consider making a donation to certain strategic initiatives in the Department to support education, research,
and the enhancement of clinical care.
You can read about these initiatives on our website, http://neuroandpsych.slu.edu, and I encourage you to do
so. The combined efforts of all who care about the mission of the Department can make its continued success a
reality.
Henry J. Kaminski
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
For more information about the wide variety of programs and services offered by
Saint Louis University’s Department of Neurology & Psychiatry, or to make a referral, please call:
Neurology Central Scheduling General Neurology
(314) 977-4440 or
(314) 977-6082
(866) 977-4440
Geriatric Psychiatry
Psychiatry Central Scheduling (314) 977-4829
(314) 977-4850
Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient
Autonomic Laboratory
Unit
(314) 768-3216
(314) 577-8744
Center for Healthy Brain
Aging
(314) 977-4884
Child Neurology
(314) 577-5338
Clinical Research Unit
(314) 977-4900
Epilepsy Center
(314) 977-6082
Forensic Psychiatry
(314) 977-4825
Interventional Neurology
(314) 977-6082
Multiple Sclerosis Center
(314) 977-6082
Movement Disorders Center
(314) 977-6082
Neuro Ophthalmology
(314) 256-3220
Neuropsychology
(314) 977-4861
Neurorehabilitation
(314) 768-5205
Sleep Disorders Center
(314) 977-5337
Souers Stroke Institute
(314) 977-6082
For hospital referrals:
(314) 577-8012 or
(866) 491-0858
SSM DePaul Neuroscience
Center
(314) 344-7968
Central Scheduling:
(636) 949-9600
Neurophysiology
(314) 577-8044
Page 11
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The Neurotransmitter is a publication of:
Department of Neurology & Psychiatry
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
1438 South Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, Missouri 63104
Phone: (314) 977-4800
Fax: (314) 977-4876
http://neuroandpsych.slu.edu