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UPMC and Pitt Neurology at AAN 2025

March 21, 2025

UPMC and University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology faculty, residents, fellows and medical students will participate in a number of presentations, lectures and clinics at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting scheduled for April 5 to 9 in San Diego, California. 

We also invite you to join us at our evening reception on Tuesday, April 8 from 7 to 9pm. RSVP here.

Below, we highlight each session featuring our distinguished faculty and department members:

Title

Author

Emerging Neuronfectious Disease

Sejvar, James, MD

Demo: Ambient AI for Clinical Report Generation. Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Clinical Practice and Neurology’s Future. American Academy of Neurology

Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD

Critical Care Consultations for Neurohospitalists

Steinberg, Alexis, MD

Case Studies: Challenges in Stroke Treatment and Prevention

Wechsler, Lawrence, MD

Endovascular Management of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke

Kenmuir, Cynthia, MD, PhD

Autoimmune Neurology: Central Nervous System

Linnoila, Jenny, MD, PhD

Mild Cognitive Impairment/Subjective Cognitive Impairment

Lopez, Oscar, MD

Coffee Connect—Researchers in Small and Solo Practice (Research Hub)

Betterman, Kerstin, MD, PhD

Re-optimizing Performance and Well-being: The Role of Sleep and Sleep Tracking Continued (Innovation Hub)

Fong, Joanna, MD

Subspecialty Sales Pitches (Trainee Hub)

Kenmuir, Cynthia, MD, PhD

Optimizing Performance and Well-being: The Role of Sleep and Sleep Tracking Wearables (Innovation Hub)

Fong, Joanna, MD

Futures in Neurological Research Boot Camp

Betterman, Kerstin, MD, PhD

Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Representation Among US Neurology Faculty From 1972 to 2021

Hu, Chen, PhD

Angiopoietin2 (Ang2) Levels are Associated with Increased Severity and Unfavorable Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A TRACK-TBI Study

Okonkwo, David, MD, PhD

What Features Are Most Important for the Diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome?

Hu, Chen, PhD

The Impact of Cognitive Function on Health-Related Quality of Life in Persons with Post-COVID-19 Condition: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Vortioxetine

Rhee, Greg, PhD

Predictors of Seizure Freedom in the Postpartum Period: Findings from the MONEAD Study

Osterhaus, Emma, MS3
Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD
Pennell, Page, MD

Management of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in Pregnancy

Kendall, Curtis, MS3
Kottapalli, Srividya, MS4
Kemp, Eria, PA
Waters, Janet, MD, MBA

Children with Peri-Optic Neuritis Have Favorable Visual Outcomes After Steroid Treatment: A Singe-Center Pediatric Case Series

Benjamin, Nicholas, MD
Cleves, Catalina, MD
Shelton, Levi, MD

Folic Acid in Pregnancy and Neuropsychological Outcomes at Age 6-Years-Old in the MONEAD Study

Pennell, Page, MD

AAN Section Showcase: Busting Myths in Sleep, Headache, and Concussion: Pro/Con Debate

Fong, Joanna, MD

Preferences of Adolescents and Young Adults with Epilepsy and Caregivers on Reproductive Health Counseling by Neurologists: A Concept Mapping Study

Kirkpatrick, Laura, MD
Friel, Erin, Research Assistant
Rivero-Guerra, Jasmin, Student Worker
Pennell, Page, MD
Burke, Jessica, PhD, MHS
Baumann, Sara, PhD, MPH
Kazmerski, Traci, MD, MS

The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Fatigue in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Hamza, Ahmad, MD

Futility in Survival: Predictors of 90-Day Poor Outcomes (mRS 4-5) After Endovascular Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke

Doheim, Mohamed Fahmy, MD
Almast, Anmol, BS
Al-Quday, Abdullah, MD
Rios Rocha, Lucas, MD
Bhatt, Nirav, MD
Starr, Matthew, MD
Lima, Jussie Correia, MD
Lang, Michael, MD
Gross, Bradley, MD
Nogueira, Raul, MD
Al-Bayati, Alhamza, MD

Pregnancy-related Anticipatory Guidance for People with Epilepsy in Pediatric and Adult Neurology

Tao, Amy, Research Assistant
Rivero-Guerra, Jasmin, Student Worker
McFarlane, Katherine, Systems Analyst
Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD
Pennell, Page, MD
Chang, Judy, MD
Kazmerski, Trac, MD, MS
Harrison, Elizabeth, MD, MS
Kirkpatrick, Laura, MD

Biological Characteristics of Individuals with RBD: A Multicenter Prospective Longitudinal Cohort

Chahine, Lana, MD

Evaluating the Neurological Patient Population at the Birmingham Free Clinic, a Neurology Clinic for Uninsured Patients

Voltz, Lindsay, DO, PGY-4 Resident
Sadasivan, Alexandria, MD
Herbert, Mary, MS
VanCott, Anne
Clemens, Paula, MD

Using Paroxysmal Electrographic Slowing for Prediction of Posttraumatic Epilepsy Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Pease, Matthew, MD - Resident
Okonkwo, David, MD, PhD
Puccio, Ava, RN, PhD
Eagle, Shawn, PhD
Castellano, James, MD, PhD

Comparison of EEG Signal Characteristics Between Subdural and Depth Intracranial EEG Electrodes

Isitan-Alkawadri, Cigdem, MD
Bagic, Anto, MD, PhD
Alkawadri, Rafeed, MD

Pulmonary Manifestations in Patients with Dermatomyositis - Effect of IVIG Treatment: Data from the ProDERM Study

Aggarwal, Rohit, MD, MS

Benign Variants on Intracranial EEG: A Systematic Review

Jena, Rahul, MBBS - Research Fellow
Mahgoub, Rawan, MBBS - Research Fellow
Bagic, Anto, MD, PhD
Alkawadri, Rafeed, MD

Impact of Direct Transportation to a Thrombectomy Center vs Closest Primary Stroke Center on Treatment Times Among Non-Urban Patients Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy in a Large Healthcare System

Al-Qudah, Abdullah, MD
Martin-Gill, Christian, MD, MPH
Doheim, Mohamed Fahmy, MD
Rios Rocha, Lucas, MD
Sultany, Abdullah, MD
Rocha, Marcelo, MD
Starr, Matthew, MD
Lima, Jussie Correia, MD
Al-Bayati, Alhamza, MD
Guyette, Frank, MD, MS, MPH
Nogueira, Raul, MD
Bhatt, Nirav, MD

Postinfectious Paraneoplastic Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) Encephalitis in an Adolescent: Complexities in the Appropriate Diagnosis and Treatment

Heller, Ariel, MD, MPH
Shelton, Levi, MD
Montanagh, Samaneh, MD
Linnoila, Jenny, MD, PhD

Intraoperative Somatosensory and Motor Evoked Potentials in Predicting Postoperative Neurological Deficits in Neuromuscular Scoliosis: A Study Level Meta-analysis

Ezhuvathra, Priti, Volunteer
Al-Qudah, Abdullah, MD
Anetakis, Katherine, MD
Balzer, Jeffrey, PhD
Thirumala, Parthasarathy, MD

Plasma Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) is Elevated After Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Okonkwo, David, MD, PhD
Puccio, Ava, RN, PhD

CSF aSyn-SAA and Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers: Presentation and Progression in the Dementia with Lewy Bodies Consortium

Lopez, Oscar, MD
Berman, Sarah, MD, PhD

Levels of Evidence of Comorbid Epileptic Seizures in Patients with Functional Seizures.

Iyer, Shruti - PGY2 Resident
Pucci, Gabriela Figueiredo - PGY3 Resident
McFarlane, Katherine, Systems Analyst
Israel, Alex, MD
Carns, Danielle, PsyD
Vighetti, Lianne, LCSW
Concilus, Brittany, MSW, LCSE
Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD

Neuropathological Correlates of Amnestic Dysfunction in Fronto-Temporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD)

Patira, Riddhi, MD
Tandon, Medha, MD PGY4 Resident
Gogniat, Marissa, PhD
Snitz, Beth, PhD

Understanding the Incidence, Prevalence, Characteristics, and Healthcare Resource Utilization for Patients With Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut Syndromes

Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD

A Retrospective Claims Study Evaluating Mortality in Patients With Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet Syndromes in the United States

Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD

Time to Prerandomization Seizure Count Design Sufficiently Assessed the Safety and Tolerability of Perampanel for the Treatment of Focal Seizures

Biju, Lavanya, Data Science
Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD

Developing Your Professional Self in 280 Characters or Less: a Qualitative Exploration of the Role of Social Media Engagement in Professional Identity Formation Among Neurology Trainees

Pucci, Gabriela Figueiredo, PGY-3 Resident

Comparison of B-cell Depletion and Natalizumab for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Semi-supervised Causal Analysis

Zhu, Wen, Research Associate
Xia, Zongqi, MD, PhD

ICI-Induced Encephalitis Secondary to Pembrolizumab use in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

Williams, Taylor
Malik, Kunal, MD, PGY-4 Resident
Linnoila, Jenny, MD, PhD
Polonski, Cori, MD

A Modern Design for a Phase 2/3 Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of BHV-7000 in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy with Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures

Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD

Outside Hospital Transfer Significantly Influences Clinical Outcomes in Octogenarians Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy for Vertebrobasilar Artery Occlusions

Rios Rocha, Lucas, MD
Doheim, Mohamed Fahmy, MD
Al-Bayati, Alhamza, MD
Al-Qudah, Abdullah, MD
Bhatt, Nirav, MD
Starr, Matthew, MD
Almast, Anmol, BS
Lima, Jussie Correia, MD
Lang, Michael, MD
Gross, Bradley, MD
Nogueira, Raul, MD
Rocha, Marcelo, MD

Reduced Time to Treatment After Implementation of a Standardized Guideline for the Diagnostic Evaluation and Acute Management of Suspected Autoimmune Encephalitis in Hospitalized Adult Patients

Linnoila, Jenny, MD, PhD

Association Between Body Mass Index, Early B-cell Repopulation and Clinical Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis

Abbas, Ahmed, Researcher
Song, Emily, Researcher
Kelly, Conor, MD
Osterhaus, Emma, MS3
Zhu, Wen, Research Associate
Xia, Zongqi, MD, PhD

Comparison of MK-6240 and Flortaucipir Tau PET for the Biological Staging of Alzheimer Disease

Medeiros, Marina Scop, MD
Ferreira, Pamela L., PhD
Bellaver, Bruna, PhD
Ruppert, Emma, MD
Zalzale, Hussein, MD
Soares, Carolina, PhD
Bauer-Negrini, Guilherme, PhD
Povala, Guilherme, PhD
Amaral, Livia, MSc
Pascoal, Tharick, MD, PhD
Tudorascu, Dana, PhD

Depressive Symptoms are Associated with APOE4 Carrier Status and Anti-Seizure Medication Polytherapy in Late-Onset Unexplained Epilepsy

Pennell, Page, MD

Real-World Use of Fenfluramine for Dravet Syndrome: a Retrospective Cohort Study Using a National Pharmacy Database

Kerr, Wesley, MD, PhD

Impact of Prehospital Stroke Severity Scale Acquisition on Treatment Times Among Non-Urban Patients Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy in a Large Healthcare System

Al-Qudah, Abdullah, MD
Martin-Gill, Christian, MD, MPH
Doheim, Mohamed Fahmy, MD
Rios Rocha, Lucas, MD
Sultany, Abdullah, MD
Rocha, Marcelo, MD
Starr, Matthew, MD
Lima, Jussie Correia, MD
Al-Bayati, Alhamza, MD
Guyette, Frank, MD, MS, MPH
Nogueira, Raul, MD
Bhatt, Nirav, MD

Emboguard Balloon Guide Catheter in Stroke Thrombectomy: Procedural Insights and Outcomes

Mahat, Bishow Chandra, MD
Almast, Anmol, BS
Doheim, Mohamed Fahmy, MD
Al-Qudah, Abdullah, MD
Rios Rocha, Lucas, MD
Rocha, Marcelo, MD
Bhatt, Nirav, MD
Starr, Matthew, MD
Lang, Michael, MD
Gross, Bradley, MD
Nogueira, Raul, MD
Al-Bayati, Alhamza, MD

Needles in Haystacks: A Cross-Sectional Study of Community-Engaged Research in High-Impact General Neurology Journals

Friel, Erin, Research Assistant
Rivero-Guerra, Jasmin, Student Worker
Ratnaseelan, Aarane, MD
Saba, Karina, Student Worker
Weissmann, Luiza, Student Intern
Ragavan, Maya, MD, MPH, MS
Kirkpatrick, Laura, MD