We are led by remarkable physicians and scientists. Learn about our leaders and their programs.
Leaders
John Kissel, MD
Chair, Department of Neurology; Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics and Neuroscience; Director, Muscular Dystrophy Association and Spinal Muscular Atrophy Clinic
I specialize in peripheral nerve, muscle and anterior horn cell disorders. My interests include facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, various muscular dystrophies and inflammatory myopathies.
Division Directors
Miriam Freimer, MD
Director, EMG Laboratory; Co-director, Myasthenia Gravis Clinic
I am an associate professor in the Department of Neurology. My research is focused on neuromuscular diseases including myasthenia gravis (MG), chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP), dermatomyositis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), iodiopathic painful neuropathies and hereditary neuropathies.
Sandra Kostyk, MD, PhD
Director, Division of Movement Disorders
I am a professor in the Departments of Neuroscience and Neurology. My clinical interests are movement disorders and spinal cord injury. My research interests include neurodegenerative disease processes — neuroregeneration, neurorecovery, neuroadaptation and neuroprotection.
Michael Racke, MD
Director, Division of Multiple Sclerosis
I am a professor in the Department of Neurology. My clinical and research interests include neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis, specifically studying disease pathogenesis and developing novel therapies.
Douglas Scharre, MD
Director, Division of Cognitive and Memory Disorders
I am a professor of the Departments of clinical neurology and psychiatry. I specialize in cognitive assessment, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia and behavioral disturbances in dementia.
Michel Torbey, MD, MPH, FNCS, FCCM, FAHA, FANA
Director, Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases & Neurocritical Care
As medical director of the Neurovascular Stroke Center, I specialize in stroke, acute neurological emergencies, intracerebral hemorrhage, and TBI. My research focuses on neuroprotective strategies in TBI, global and focal ischemia.
Our Researchers
Our leaders
Punit Agrawal, DO
Assistant Professor – Clinical, Neurology
Dr. Agrawal completed his residency in neurology at Ohio State, as well as a fellowship in movement disorders. His research interests include investigation of deep brain stimulation for movement disorders and therapies for neurological diseases, including Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, movement disorders and neuromodulation.
David Arnold, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Dr. Arnold's research interests include the full spectrum of neuromuscular disorders, functional and rehabilitation aspects of neuromuscular disorders, and less commonly used neurophysiological techniques such as single fiber electromyography (EMG) and quantitative EMG.
Allison Daley, MS, CGC
Research Specialist, Research Genetic Counselor
Allison Daley's research interests include genetic counseling for Huntington’s disease and other movement disorders, and phenotype/genotype correlations in movement disorders.
Miriam Freimer, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Dr. Freimer has been on the staff at The Ohio State University since 1992 in the Division of Neuromuscular Diseases and has been the director of the Electromyography (EMG) laboratory since 1994. She is the co-director of the Myasthenia Gravis clinic.
Diana Greene-Chandos, MD
Director of Neuroscience Critical Care
Dr. Greene-Chandos participates in numerous clinical trials as both a principal investigator and co-investigator. She is interested in neurointensive critical care unit management of subarachnoid hemorrhage. In addition to a focus on the diagnosis and management of CNS vasculitis, she also focuses on stroke in women.
Yousef Hannawi, MD
Assistant Professor, Neurology
Dr. Hannawi is involved in research studies that utilize advanced neuroimaging techniques including Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and functional MRI (fMRI) to track the recovery of consciousness and cognition following brain injury. He also studies neuroimaging biomarkers of small vessel disease of the brain and the use of eye movements as a surrogate for brain functional status.
Chad Hoyle, MD
Neurology Clerkship Director, Assistant Professor of Neurology
Dr. Hoyle’s clinical interests are broad, ranging from neuromuscular medicine to EMG. He has an academic interest in education, starting as the Neurology clerkship director in 2009. His educational interests include creating clinical algorithms and web-based tools.
Jaime Imitola, MD
Assistant Professor, Neurology and Neuroscience
Dr. Imitola investigates the molecular basis for the responses of neural stem cells (NSCs) to injury and chronic neuroinflammation. His research seeks to identify and validate genes that mediate NSC responses to central nervous system injury in MS and brain cancer in injury-induced stem cell niches.
Maria Kataki, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Clinical
Dr. Kataki is an assistant professor of neurology. Her research interests include Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cognitive disorders in the spectrum of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, behavioral disturbances in the spectrum of dementias, mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, SAGE (Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination), pharmacogenomics in dementia and functional imaging in dementia.
Brendan Kelley, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry; Vice-Chair for Clinical Affairs
Dr. Kelley's research interests include mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, vascular cognitive impairment and autoimmune encephalopathy/autoimmune dementia. In addition to clinical research, the Cognitive and Memory Disorders Program collaborates with researchers at Ohio State and other institutions to further the scientific understanding of these diseases.
Yasushi Kisanuki, PhD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Kisanuki received his MD from the University of Tokyo and completed his medical internship at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, followed by a neurology residency and neurogenetics fellowship at the University of Michigan. His postdoctoral research at Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Texas focused on peptides involved in vascular and sleep physiology.
John Kissel, MD
Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology; Director, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine
Dr. Kissel has been on Ohio State’s staff since 1985 and is the chair of the Department of Neurology. He has published extensively on peripheral nerve, muscle and anterior horn cell disorders. His interests include facioscapulohumerol muscular dystrophy, and clinical trials in muscular dystrophies and inflammatory myopathies.
Meena Khan, MD
Assistant Program Director, Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program
Dr. Khan has a particular interest in sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, parasomnias and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. In addition to general neurology, Dr. Khan is working to build programs to evaluate sleep disorders in neurology patients, particularly in those with stroke or neuromuscular disease.
Stephen J. Kolb, MD, PhD
Director, ALS/MND Multidisciplinary Clinic and Translational Research Program
Dr. Kolb is an associate professor in the Departments of Neurology and Molecular & Celluar Biochemistry. His clinical interests include neuromuscular disorders, motor neuron diseases and hereditary neuropathies.
Sandra Kostyk, MD, PhD
Director, Movement Disorders Division, Neurology; Assistant Professor, Neurology and Neuroscience
Dr. Kostyk's clinical interests include movement disorders, including Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury. Her research interests include neurodegenerative disease processes, neurodegenerative disorders, neuroprotection and neurorecovery.
Joanne Lynn, MD, MPH
Staff Neurologist of Neuroimmunology
Dr. Lynn is a professor of neurology and the associate dean of student life. Her research interests include multiple sclerosis and transverse myelitis.
James McAuley, RPh, PhD, FAPhA
Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Neurology
Dr. McAuley is the associate dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Pharmacy. He provides administrative oversight for the PharmD and BS programs, provides leadership for the Office of Experiential Education and the Office of Student Affairs, and assists with faculty efforts related to teaching. His clinical interests include epilepsy, women’s issues and pharmacotherapy.
Jesse Mindel, MD
Assistant Professor, Neurology
Dr. Mindel’s recent research studies include investigation of sleep apnea, sleep duration and metabolic syndrome and ictal asystole. His research interests include sleep medicine and epilepsy.
Ariane Park, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Dr. Park is a professor in the Department of Neurology at Ohio State. She completed her fellowship in movement disorders at Duke University.
Adam Quick, MD
Associate Clerkship Director for Neurology, Assistant Professor of Neurology
Dr. Quick joined Ohio State's Department of Neurology in 2007. His research interests include ALS, peripheral neuropathy, stroke and myasthenia gravis. He's developed an ongoing study examining MRI correlates of motor and cognitive dysfunction in patients with ALS.
Michael Racke, MD
Professor of Neurology
Dr. Racke’s clinical and research interests include neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis. His focus includes disease pathogenesis and therapy development. He has served on the executive committee of the Multiple Sclerosis Cooperative Research Group and the scientific advisory committee of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Douglas Scharre, MD
Professor of Clinical Neurology and Psychiatry
Dr. Scharre conducts clinical research in dementia and mild cognitive impairment that has been funded by NIH, foundations and industry. He has many active grants including clinical drug trials using cognitive enhancers and behavioral therapies; functional neuroimaging studies and screening for mild cognitive impairment and early dementia diagnosis.
Jan Schwab, MD, PhD
Director, Division of Spinal Cord Injury; Professor, Neurology and Neuroscience
Dr. Schwab's research areas include protection of recovery potential after spinal cord injury, inflammation resolution and immune system control of the central nervous system. Current studies seek to understand and treat maladaptive immune response after spinal cord injury.
Robert Taylor, MD
Medical Director, Ohio State Center for Palliative Care
Dr. Taylor has been involved in diverse areas of research, including studies regarding diseases affecting teenagers and young adults. These include mapping adolescent cancer services. Other research includes a review of the use of technology to provide psychosocial support for children and young people with long-term conditions.
Michel Torbey, MD, MPH, FCCM, FAHA
Professor, Neurology and Neurological Surgery; Director, Division of Cerebrovascular Disease and Neurocritical Care; Medical Director, Neurovascular Stroke Center
Dr. Torbey's clinical interests include cerebrovascular diseases, neurocritical care, traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke treatment and ICU multimodal neuro-monitoring. His research focuses on neuroprotective strategies in TBI and ischemia models.
Yuhong Yang, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Yang is interested in understanding molecule mechanisms that regulate CNS autoimmunity, with the goals of both identifying therapeutic targets and developing innovative therapies to treat patients.
Staff
Pediatric Neurologists
Advanced Practice Providers
Christine Bogda, CNP
Nurse Practitioner
Family nurse practitioner Christine Bogda, CNP, specializes in MS diagnosis, management and treatment. She has both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in nursing. She also has experience caring for critically ill neurology and neurosurgical patients.
Mark Constable, MSN, RN, AGACNP-BC
Certified Nurse Practitioner
As a CNP, I focus on diagnosing and treating patients with neurologic diseases requiring neurological surgery. I provide leadership on a multidisciplinary team to help drive quality outcomes and continuity of care. I'm involved in every aspect of care including inpatient and outpatient, pre- and post-operative follow-up and consultation. I completed my BSN at the University of Akron and my MS in Nursing at Duke University. Before joining Ohio State, I was the stroke program coordinator at Duke University Hospital.
Marissa DeJesus, MS, RN, FNP-BC
Certified Nurse Practitioner
I received both my BSN and MS in Community Health Nursing from Ohio State. I later completed my Family Nurse Practitioner certification in 2005 from Ohio State. I joined the Department of Neurological Surgery in 2008. My clinical interests include recovery and transitions in care of stroke and neurosurgical patients. I currently facilitate the Aneurysm and AVM support group. I am on the executive board of the Philippine Nurses Association of Central Ohio and a member of American Association of Neurological Nurses.
Nicole Elking, MSN, RN, CNP
Neurocritical Care Unit
In 2013, I joined the Neurocritical Care Unit, where I manage the critically ill neuroscience patient population while providing individualized care. I completed my BSN at the University of Toledo and my Masters of Science in Nursing: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Ohio State. I joined the OSU Wexner Medical Center in 2008 as a nursing intern in the medical and surgical ICU. Following my internship, I joined the Neuroscience/Trauma Progressive Care Unit.
Jennifer Fisher
Neurocritical Care Nurse Practitioner
I completed my BSN, magna cum laude with research distinction in nursing, from Ohio State. I went on to receive my master's in Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Ohio State. In 2009, I joined The OSU Wexner Medical Center as a registered nurse in the medical intensive care unit. After working in the University Hospital operating room, I joined the Neurocritical Care Unit, where I work as a certified nurse practitioner. I am a member of the Neurocritical Care Society and certified in the NIH Stroke Scale.
Noah Grose, RN, CNP, ACNP
Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases & Neurocritical Care
I received my BSN at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia. Following graduation, I worked as an intensive care nurse at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and received my Master of Science degree in Nursing and Acute Care Nursing Practice. I have been a member of the Stroke and Neurocritical Care team since 2011. My clinical interests include acute management of hemorrhagic strokes, hydrocephalus, acute hypertensive management and neurocritical care.
Renee Kovesci, MS, CNP
Nurse Practitioner
I graduated from Ohio State in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I have held nursing positions at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital. I graduated from Ohio State in 2009 with a Master of Science, and became certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I am board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. My clinical interests include the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of memory disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia.
Thomas Lawson, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC
Neurosciences Critical Care
In 2006, I joined the Ross Heart Hospital at Ohio State as an acute care nurse practitioner in Cardiothoracic Surgery and later worked in the Medical ICU. I currently serve in the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit. I also assist with clinical teaching and mentorship of junior nurse practitioners, residents and medical students. My clinical interests include the critical care management of all neurologic conditions and safe performance of procedures. I currently serve on the ethics committee of the Neurocritical Care Society.
Shannon Linder, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Movement Disorders Division
A certified nurse practitioner, Shannon Linder specializes in neurology of movement disorders and deep brain stimulation treatment. She received her training at Ohio State, including a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Master of Science Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Lucretia Long, MS, RN, CNP
Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology; Epilepsy Nurse Practitioner
I received my BSN, MS and Nurse Practitioner Certification from Ohio State University. I have been on the OSU faculty since 1989. My areas of emphasis include epilepsy patient education and women's issues. I am well published in peer-reviewed nursing and medical journals, and I serve as a reviewer for Epilepsy and Behavior. I am a member of the local Epilepsy Foundation and the APP workgroup for the American Academy of Neurology. I am also national trainer for VNS (vagus nerve stimulation) therapy.
James McAuley, RPh, PhD
Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Neurology
In the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, I have the opportunity to interact with patients and healthcare providers, teach and collaborate on clinical research projects. I received my PhD in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh. I am the associate dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Pharmacy. My clinical interests include epilepsy, pharmacy, and patient outcomes. I also work closely with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine program, providing collaborative care to pregnant women with epilepsy.
Jennifer Roggenbuck, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor; Assistant Professor in the Division of Genetics (Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Neurology)
I specialize in the genetic evaluation of neuromuscular disorders such as muscular dystrophies, hereditary neuropathies and motor neuron diseases. I work to bring genetic testing technology to patient care for noninvasive genetic diagnosis, risk assessment and genetic counseling. My research interests include the genetic basis and genetic counseling for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Susan Yeager, MS, RN, CCRN
Clinical Instructor, Neurocritical Care Lead Nurse Practitioner
For nearly 10 years, I have worked in Neurosurgical Critical Care and Trauma as an acute care nurse practitioner before joining Neurocritical Care. I received my BSN from Capital University School of Nursing and my MS in Adult Cardiopulmonary from The OSU College of Nursing. I completed my MS degree in Acute Care Nursing Practice at Wright State University College of Nursing and Health. My clinical interests include cerebrovascular diseases, neurocritical care and traumatic brain injury.
Ye Zhou, MSN, RN, CCRN
Neurocritical Care Unit
I earned my BSN, magna cum laude, from Bob Jones University, and my master's degree in Acute Care Program from Wright State University. I am board certified in Emergency Neurological Life Support from the Neurocritical Care Society, an acute care nurse practitioner by The American Nurses Credentialing Center and certified critical care nurse by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. My clinical interests include cerebrovascular disease, neurocritical care and traumatic brain injury.
Cheryl Wall, RN, MS, CNP
Nurse Practitioner
I work in cooperation with all Neuromuscular attending physicians to provide opportunities to participate in research, continuity and quality care for individuals with myasthenia gravis and other neuromuscular junction defects, dermatomyositis, ALS, IBM, muscular dystrophies, myotonia, peripheral neuropathy (both acquired and inherited) and others.
Clinical Interests: ALS, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy
Erica Wright, MSW, LISW
Social Worker
I received my Master of Social Work degree from The Ohio State University. Since 2009, I have worked in the Columbus community, and have experience with case management, psychosocial assessments, community resources, caregiver issues and knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid.
Clinical Interests: ALS, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy
Staff
Staff
Amy Bartlett, BA, CCRC
NeuroNEXT Clinical Research Manager, Neuromuscular Disorders Center
Laura Buchwalder
Clinical Research Assistant, Comprehensive Stroke Center
Sharon Chelnick, MHSA, CCRC
Clinical Research Manager, Neuromuscular Disorders Center
Allison Daley, MS, CGC
Clinical Research Specialist, Center for Movement Disorders
Rebecca Davis, RN, LISW
Clinical Research Specialist, Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders
Sharon Hammond-Heaton, MA, BSN, RN
Associate Director, Comprehensive Stroke Center
Jennifer Icenhour, BA
Clinical Research Manager, Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders
Filiz Muharrem
Clinical Research Coordinator, Neuromuscular Disorders Center
Nirav Patel, Nirav.Patel@osumc.edu
Sr. Clinical Research Coordinator, Comprehensive Stroke Center
Stephanie Scarberry, RN
Sr. Clinical Research Coordinator, Multiple Sclerosis Center
Nicole Vrettos, BS
Clinical Research Coordinator, Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders
Georgia Weilbacher, BSN, RN-BC
Program Manager, Comprehensive Stroke Center
Karen Wiles, BSN, RN, CCM
Telestroke Program Manager, Comprehensive Stroke Center