About me

I am a board-certified neurologist and clinical geneticist with special interest in movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, hereditary ataxias and spastic paraplegias, as well as other neurogenetic disorders. I have served as the medical director of the Struthers Parkinson's Center since 2000.

In addition to the care of patients and families with neurologic diseases, I am also involved in clinical research to develop better treatments for Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. I am interested in education for both patients and medical professionals. I am a long-time member of the Park Nicollet Ethics Committee and also serve on the Park Nicollet Foundation Board.  

My other current regional and national professional activities include: 

• Medical Advisor, Minnesota Chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America, 1992 – current

• Member, Steering Committees for KINECT-HD and GENEPD, Activate-PD, Cure PSP Genetics, and JOIN-HD

Member, Clinical Advisory Council, Huntington Study Group

Chair, Genetics-Environment Working Group, Parkinson Study Group

Associate Editor, Journal of Huntington’s Disease

Education

• Medical School: Medical College of VA – VCU Health System - 1984

Training

• Fellowship in Stroke: Hennepin County Medical Center – 1991
• Fellowship in Genetics: University of Minnesota – 1990
• Residency in Neurology: University of Minnesota – 1988
• Internship in Neurology: Regions Hospital – 1985

Certifications

• Am Bd of Med Genetics and Genomics-Clinical Genetics & Genomics
• Am Bd of Psych & Neuro-Neurology