Victoria Pelak, MD
The Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology Section was established in 1991 by Dr. Christopher Filley to represent the study of brain-behavior relationships. Clinical expertise of the group is broad, encompassing the neurodegenerative dementias, focal neurobehavioral syndromes, traumatic brain injury (TBI), neuropsychiatric disorders, neurobehavioral aspects of movement disorders, sleep, and higher visual dysfunction. and scholarship are vigorously pursued, extensive educational opportunities are available, and UCNS-certified fellowship training is offered for interested neurology or psychiatry residents. Our combined academic efforts led to the publication of a comprehensive and widely acclaimed textbook: Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry, Cambridge University Press, 2013. Unique clinical offerings include a multidisciplinary Behavioral Neuro-Ophthalmology Movement Disorders Clinic, Healthy Brain Aging Clinic, Adults with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Clinic, Comprehensive Care Planning Clinic, Neuropsychiatry Clinic, and Advanced Therapies in Neurodegenerative Dementia Clinic. We have been designated a Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence since 2017. Active research programs led by our faculty focus on early onset and atypical presentations of Alzheimer’s disease, the role of the immune system in cognitive aging, cognitive reserve, sex and gender differences in dementia risk, neuromodulation of sleep, cognitive scale development and validation, and complementary medicine interventions for cognition and behavior, including neurologic music therapy.
The Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology Section works in concert with the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center. The CUACC is engaged in patient care, clinical research, and translational research through collaborations with the Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Health System. Section members conduct clinical research within the CUACC, studying the science and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with laboratory research scientists, and with the generous participation of patients seen at the Memory Disorders Clinic and Neurobehavior Clinic. The major project now underway is the expansion of the University’s national presence in AD. In collaboration with Huntington Potter, PhD, Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology Section faculty are investigating the neurobiology of inflammation as it impacts the etiopathogenesis of the disease.
Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology Faculty:
Delia Bakeman, DO
Brianne Bettcher, PhD
Tara Carlisle, MD, PhD
Morgan Farley, MD
Brice McConnell, MD, PhD
Victoria Pelak, MD
Peter Pressman, MD
Jessica Sanders, MD
Avani Shah, PA-C
C. Alan Anderson, MD (Professor Emeritus)
Christopher M. Filley, MD (Professor Emeritus)
To schedule a patient appointment in the Memory Disorders Clinic at the UCHealth Central Park Medical Center, call 720-848-2080.
For Fellowship information, please click here.
The Comprehensive Neurology service at the University of Colorado Hospital delivers diagnostic expertise and treatment recommendations for a broad range of neurological conditions. This group primarily evaluates patients referred by primary care providers and other medical or surgical specialties, providing a comprehensive view of the entire nervous system for their patients and referring providers. Visits with the Comprehensive Neurology group are most appropriate for initial evaluations of neurological symptoms or evaluation of multiple, overlapping neurological symptoms. Any patient requiring further sub-specialty neurology care will be appropriately referred as indicated.
Comprehensive Neurology Faculty:
To make an appointment:
We accept all PPO/HMO/POS plans. Please call your insurance carrier to verify benefits and coverage at the University of Colorado Hospital.
Lesley Kaye, MD
Interim Section Chief
In addition to treating patients with epilepsy, the University of Colorado offers a Non-Epileptic Seizures (NES) clinic and program. NES is a common illness that can be diagnosed in the the electrodiagnostic monitoring unit (EMU). Patients with NES have events that can range from “zoning out” to violent uncontrollable body movements similar to epileptic seizures. Many patients are misdiagnosed as having epilepsy when their NES events are from a different underlying cause. This clinic is one of a handful in the nation and one of two in the western United States.
Epilepsy faculty:
Alexandra Atwood, MD
Naveed Chaudhry, MD
Brittany Croop, FNP
Jordan Gallegos, MD
Aaron Geller, MD
Nitish Harid, MD
Lesley Kaye, MD
Emily Liu, MD
Kimberly Ndahayo, NP
Jacob Pellinen, MD
Abbie Pennetti, LCSW
Nicole Ralston, PA
Mark Spitz, MD
Kimberly Ndahayo, NP
Jacob Pellinen, MD
Abbie Pennetti, LCSW
Nicole Ralston, PA
Mark Spitz, MD (Professor Emeritus)
Laura Strom, MD
Stacey Wilson, PA
Jared Woodward, DO
To schedule a patient appointment in the Epilepsy Clinic, please click here
For Fellowship information, please click here
​NES is a common illness and has many names: non-epileptic seizures, non-electrical seizures, dissociative attacks, functional seizures, psychogenic non-epileptic events, somatoform disorder, conversion disorder or psychogenic seizures, to name a few. These events are outwardly similar to epileptic seizures but have a different underlying cause. They can involve anything from "zoning out" to fully blacking out and having violent movements similar to epileptic seizures. Sometimes patients are told, incorrectly, that they have epileptic seizures, which can be very confusing as very few patients have both. In some cases, patients with NES are given medicines for epilepsy. Making the right diagnosis is essential because medicines for epilepsy are often not helpful for NES which has a different treatment pathway.
What's different about NES, and how is it treated?
Unlike epilepsy, NES is not accompanied by abnormal discharges on the EEG. NES is due to a temporary circuit disruption in the brain, akin to "circuit overload." This makes it difficult, or often impossible, to stay aware and control what the body is doing during an event
Our NES program has several components:
What will my program of care look like?
To learn more about NES treatment, please click on this video.
To make an appointment:
Appointments in NES clinic are arranged, when appropriate, after diagnosis in the epilepsy monitoring unit. We suggest that you contact your neurologist or primary care provider to discuss diagnosis and treatment. Please call 720-848-2080 for general questions about appointments in the University of Colorado Outpatient Neurology Clinic.
We accept all PPO/HMO/POS plans. Please call your insurance carrier to verify benefits and coverage at University of Colorado Hospital.
Section Chief
Headache is the most frequent symptom for which patients are referred to a neurologist. Migraine (NOT JUST A HEADACHE) is the most common type of headache found and treated in any clinical setting. Each year, in the US, 12-15% of the population suffers attacks of migraine and more than 3 million individuals have them more often than not (Chronic Migraine); overall the condition is under diagnosed and under treated. In only a small minority of cases can a specific cause of head pain be found and eliminated, diagnosed as secondary headache. We bring together our expertise and the state-of-the art diagnostic resources in our hospital, including excellent Neuroradiology, Neuro-Ophthalmology, ENT, GI and Cardiology experts, clinical and research laboratories, in order to identify and treat the underlying conditions specifically. Particular attention is paid to headache conditions associated with high or low cerebrospinal fluid pressure or with viral infections.
Five Headache/Pain Medicine specialists and five dedicated nurse practitioners work together with qualified nurses and supporting staff to assure consultations and long-term management of patients in the Headache clinic. Our Headache program is accredited by the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties (UCNS) for
fellowship to train future Headache Medicine specialists. We participate in clinical research and in local and national advocacy initiatives for patients with headache and migraine.
We collaborate closely with the excellent Headache clinic at the Children’s Hospital Colorado for the transition of adolescents with headache to specialized adult care and for headache education. We also work together with Neurosurgery and other services within the comprehensive Concussion program, assisting with the management of headache after traumatic brain injury. The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a top academic medical center, and we collaborate with the
American Headache Society for maintaining high quality and standard of care. Our group is also actively involved in the activities of the
Colorado Headache Society
, which strives to provide the best care to patients with headache disorders in our community.
Headache Medicine faculty:
Abigail Anderson, MD
Marius Birlea, MD
Haley A. Burke, MD
Heather Free, PA-C​
Kyle Jenkins, MD, PhD
Kathyrn Kerrigan, NP
Betty Rudisaile NP
Danielle Wilhour, MD
To schedule a patient appointment in the Headache/Pain Medicine Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital, call 720-848-2080.
For Headache Medicine Fellowship information, please click here.
Amy Amara, MD, PhD
Section Head
The University of Colorado Movement Disorders Center (MDC) provides state of the art interdisciplinary clinical care and community outreach to patients and families in the Rocky Mountain Region, pursues research to treat and prevent movement disorders and educates the next generation of clinicians and researchers in this field. The University of Colorado has a distinguished history of excellence including the first and largest trial of cell transplantation for Parkinson’s disease, development of the most widely used specialized speech therapy for Parkinson’s disease, ground-breaking work in the description of Fragile-X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome, development of the first palliative care clinic in the United States focused on movement disorders and one of the largest deep brain stimulation surgery centers in the country.
More than 5,000 movement disorders patients are served by the University of Colorado Hospital MDC clinics annually - by far the Rocky Mountain Region’s largest referral center for these conditions. In addition to outpatient visits, our practitioners also provide specialized services such as Deep Brain Stimulation surgery (DBS), botuliunum toxin injections (Botox), physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, neuropsychological testing and psychiatric services.
University of Colorado Movement Disorders investigators are conducting 30-50 research studies at any time, funded by the National Institutes of Health and other governmental agencies, Michael J. Fox Foundation and other private foundations and industry. These studies include: basic research, translational and clinical trials; multi-center and investigator initiated trials; and collaborations across our department, medical school, campus, and local, national, and international institutions. Our faculty engages students and graduates of all levels in these research projects.
As well as educating students in research, our faculty teaches health care students and professionals locally, nationally and internationally. The MDC sponsors a monthly campus multidisciplinary lecture series and co-sponsors a quarterly video rounds and an annual CME event for local physicians and neurologists. MDC members have an educational conference every other week, which includes journal club, lectures and video rounds. Further, the MDC actively participates in and educates community lay movement disorders groups.
Movement Disorders Center faculty:
Jessica Barr, PA
Alexander Baumgartner, MD
Ece Bayram, MD, PhD
Drew Kern, MD, MS
Michael Korsmo, MD
Dorothy Mathieson, FNP
Christina Vaughan, MD, MHS
Maureen Leehey, MD (Professor Emerita)
To schedule a patient appointment in the Movement Disorders Center Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital, call 720-848-2080.
For Fellowship information, please click here.
Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD
Section Chief and Director, Rocky Mountain MS Center
The Neuroimmunology group of the Department of Neurology at the University of Colorado is comprised of six physicians, two physician assistants, three RNs and a host of associate staff. The physicians include a neuro-ophthalmologist, autoimmune specialist, pediatric neuroimmunologist, and neuro-immunologically trained hospitalist. We provide clinical care at four sites in Denver and the surrounding region, with the bulk of patients seen at the University of Colorado Hospital. This year we will complete over 10,000 patient visits for multiple sclerosis and other immunological conditions affecting the central nervous system. We provide state-of-the-art care, and partner with dedicated experts in numerous related fields including neuro-ophthalmology, neuro-radiology, neuro-urology, physical therapy, neuro-otology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology and many others. Through an affiliation with a longstanding patient advocacy organization, the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center, we offer local, regional, national and international education for patients, their families, and their providers (through professional education).
In addition, we have a robust basic and translational science program dedicated to a greater understanding of MS and related conditions, with several labs within the department of Neurology and related departments. We run the Rocky Mountain MS Center Tissue Bank, providing CNS tissues to international researchers for over 30 years. Our clinical research program is one of the largest in the U.S., with over 40 active clinical research projects focused on both clinical trials as well a greater understanding of these conditions.
Neuroimmunology faculty:
Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD
Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD
John Corboy, MD
Robert Gross, MD
Ryan Kammeyer, MD
Amanda Piquet, MD
Teri Schreiner, MD, MPH
Pauline Sok, NP
Andrew Wolf, MD
To schedule a patient appointment in the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital, call 720-848-2080.
For Fellowship information, please click here.
Section Chief
The Neuro-Infectious Diseases and Global Neurology Section in the Department of Neurology is a novel, cross-disciplinary group of physicians with expertise in neurology, infectious diseases, and global health. Within our section are
two groups: Neuro-Infectious Diseases Group and Global Neurology Group.
Our Neuro-Infectious Diseases Group is a multidisciplinary group whose goal is to better
understand infectious diseases that affect the nervous system. We are involved in various basic science, clinical, and epidemiologic research projects, many of which are collaborative with other institutions. We are also heavily evolved in education,
whether through our unique Neuro-Infectious Diseases/Autoimmune
Neurology Fellowship, giving educational talks, or providing media interviews. Finally, we have a specialty referral Neuro-Infectious Diseases Clinic staffed by our neuro-infectious diseases fellow in conjunction with the faculty.
Our Global Neurology Group is interested in collaborating with colleagues around the world in to improve neurologic care, education, and research
across the globe. We also have a global neurology elective rotation for senior neurology residents in the Republic of Fiji.
Would you like to help? The Neuro-Infectious Diseases and Global Neurology Section welcomes philanthropic gifts and partnerships to support our mission and projects. Learn more about philanthropic donations to our section here.
Dianna Quan, MD
Section Chief
The Neuromuscular Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) continues to serve as a regional referral center for the six-state area, with 1,200 new patients and 2,100 follow-up visits annually. The clinic and neuromuscular program are directed by Dr. Dianna Quan and includes Vera Fridman, MD, Stacy Dixon, MD, PhD, Laura Foster, MD​, Thomas Ragole, MD, Varun Sreenivasan, MD, Amanda Kennedy, MD, Debra O’Reilly, MS, PA, Marrisa Lafreniere, MS, CGC, Lydia Little, MPAP, Kaitlin Smith, MS, CGC, and a neuromuscular fellow. The clinic has a close working relationship with the Neuromuscular Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Colorado (CHCO), so that children with chronic neuromuscular conditions can seamlessly transition to adult care.
We interpret 180 muscle/nerve biopsies, perform 250 muscle and skin biopsies, and conduct 1,250 electrodiagnostic (EMG/NCVs) studies annually. Our multidisciplinary clinic for ALS and other neuromuscular disorders includes physical, occupational and speech therapy, a registered dietician, social worker, registered nurse, orthotist, clinical research coordinators, and durable medical equipment vendors. The clinic is sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the regional office of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA). Patient cases are discussed in a weekly staff meeting.
The Neuromuscular program and research center have been in existence for more than 50 years and have made major educational and research contributions in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic areas. We founded the Western ALS (WALS) Study group
and continue to participate in multi-university trials with this consortium, as well as with the NEALS consortium. We participate in various national and international research consortia and have been recognized by the following organizations:
ALS Association Care Center, Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) Association of Excellence, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America 'Partner in Care', Inherited Neuropathies Consortium member, Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) Clinical Trails
Research Network member & Center for Research Excellence, Myotonic Dystrophy Research member, GRASP-Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD) research consortium member, RYR1 Foundation 'Expert in Care' site. We are also a part of the DMD Center
of Excellence at Children's Hospital Colorado and a member of the TREAT-NMD Alliance Neuromuscular Network.
Dr. Quan is director of the neuromuscular fellowship program and electrodiagnostic laboratory, and Dr. Sreenivasan will direct the muscle pathology fellowship program beginning May of 2023. Our neuromuscular fellowship program is ACGME approved and includes rotations at University of Colorado Health and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. The muscle pathology fellowship program is UCNS accredited. Fellows are required to complete a performance improvement project and are given the opportunity to participate in clinical research. Over the years, some have conducted independent research in a second year of fellowship and are now academic physicians at other universities. Our pediatric and adult neuromuscular faculty physicians attend a monthly neuromuscular research conference and are integrated into all of the educational programs of the Department of Neurology.
Neuromuscular faculty:
Nicole Brock, DNP
Stacy Dixon, MD, PhD
Laura Foster, MD​
​Vera Fridman, MD
Amanda Kennedy, MD
Marrisa LaFreniere, MS, CGC
Lydia Little, MPAPDebra O'Reilly, PA
Kaitlin Smith, MS, CGC
Varun Sreenivasan, MD
To schedule a patient appointment in the Neuromuscular Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital, call 720-848-2080.
Learn about our Neuromuscular Pathology Laboratory, including the protocol for performing muscle and nerve biopsies, here.
For Fellowship information, please click here.
Section Chief
The Neuro-Oncology program at the University of Colorado is the regional tertiary referral base for the Rocky Mountain Region, serving a six state region of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. The University of Colorado Cancer Center is an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Member Institution. We offer the latest advances in care for adult patients with tumors of the brain, spinal cord, or meninges, genetic disorders that cause tumors within the nervous system such as neurofibromatosis, as well as neurologic complications of systemic cancer and its treatments.
Medical Neuro-Oncology works closely with a multi-disciplinary team including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, neuropathologists, and neuroradiologists to create a comprehensive treatment plan unique to each individual patient taking into account
the patient’s and family’s needs while providing state-of-the-art care and access to new developments and appropriate clinical trials. Neuro-Oncology patients are additionally supported by the availability of dietician, social
work, physical medicine, and neuropsychological services.
A major mission of our Neuro-Oncology Program is to contribute to advances in treatment of brain tumors through clinical trials. We offer our patients access to a range of clinical trials for various types and stages of brain and spinal cord cancers. We have participated in clinical trials of the following types of treatments:
The Neuro-Oncology program actively participates in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows with both didactic lectures and outpatient clinical rotations. The Neuro-Oncology Fellowship is a United Council for Neurological Subspecialties (UCNS) Accredited program.
Recent Publications:
Neuro-Oncology faculty:
Denise Damek, MD
Douglas Ney, MD
To schedule a patient appointment in the Neuro-Oncology Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital, call 720-848-9264.
For Fellowship information, please click here.
Section Chiefs
The Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology is focused on the advancement and delivery of care to patients with vision problems due to disorders of the nervous system. In the clinic, Drs. Victoria Pelak and Jeffrey Bennett deliver highly specialized subspecialty care to patients with optic nerve disorders, visual field loss, double vision, higher-order visual dysfunction, orbital diseases, and unexplained vision loss. In addition to individual care, clinical research in optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica, and visual-cognitive function is performed through participation in multicenter and investigator-initiated clinical trials. Outside of the clinic, the division of neuro-ophthalmology has active translational research and educational programs. Dr. Bennett conducts research on the pathophysiology of neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis, and Dr. Pelak investigates cortical visual processing, with a particular focus on the effects of aging and dementia on visual motion processing. Dr. Pelak directed the Neurology Residency program from 2007-2013, and both Dr. Bennett and Dr. Pelak are actively involved in training residents and medical students. Neuro-Ophthalmology education is offered during numerous resident education seminars in the neurology and ophthalmology departments, grand rounds, and elective and required outpatient clinic rotations.
Recent publications:
Neuro-Ophthalmology faculty:
Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD
Victoria Pelak, MD
To schedule a patient appointment in the Neuro-Ophthalmology clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital, call 720-848-2080.
For Fellowship information, please click here.
Section Chief
Neuro-Palliative Care faculty:
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses, and specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to focus on physical, psychosocial, and spiritual concerns, in addition to providing an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment. Learn more about Neurology Supportive and Palliative Care here.
To schedule a patient appointment in the Neuro-Palliative Care Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital, call 720-848-2080.
Section Chief
Neuro-Vascular/Stroke Faculty:
Katherine Alpogianis, PA
Jennifer Bitzan, FNP, MS
Dana Coutts, PA
Kelsey Eklund, MD
Nicole Gonzales, MD
Nicole Gonzales, MD
William Jones, MD
Sarah Kelly, PAC, MPAS
Jarrett Leech, MD
Michelle Hu Leppert, MD, MBA, MS
Elizabeth Matthews, MD
Darcy O'Banion, CNS
Karen Orjuela, MD, MSCR, MBA
Daniel Pastula, MD
Sharon Poisson, MD
Thomas Ragole, MD
Setareh Salehi Omran, MD
Brian Sauer, MD, PhD
Jennifer Simpson, MD
Matthew West, MD
Grace Yanosich, PA
To schedule a patient appointment in the Neuro-Vascular/Stroke Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital, call 720-848-2080.
For Fellowship information, please click here.
CU Anschutz
Research Complex II
12700 East 19th Avenue
5018
Aurora, CO 80045
303-724-4328