Department of Neurology

The Movement Disorders Division of the Department of Neurology provides clinical care, research and education. The cornerstone of the Division is the Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders Center, a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence. Through this center, research, comprehensive care, and outreach are coordinated to care for people with Parkinson's, and to advance our ability to understand and treat the condition.

In addition, patients with other movement disorders, or with involuntary movements who are seeking a diagnosis, can find care through our clinics and faculty practice at Kings County Hospital Center, University Hospital of Brooklyn, and Long Island College Hospital. Often the person with uncontrollable movements (or difficulty making normal movements), has been seen by many specialists before evaluation by a movement disorders neurologist.

Although patients with movement disorders generally are treated as outpatients, the movement disorders physicians provide inpatient consultation. Resident training is provided through resident clinics and electives. Residents have the opportunity to learn Botox injection technique under supervision.

Our services include:

• Diagnosis (or second opinion) of Parkinson Disease, essential tremor, dystonia, or other movement disorder.
  • To do this we perform a detailed history, focused physical and complete neurological exam;
  • As indicated, we may order tests including CT scan, MRI, PET scan, EMG/Nerve conduction studies, EEG, laboratory tests, pulmonary function tests, speech and swallow evaluation, genetics testing, neuropsychological testing;
• Education about the diagnosis, and treatment choices.
• Treatment of movement disorders, newly diagnosed as well as those which have progressed. Treatments we offer or prescribe include:
  • Medications, either taken by mouth, injected or via "patch";
  • Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy;
  • Botulinum toxin injections for dystonia, sialorrhea (excess drooling), spasticity and other neurologic disorders;
  • Referral of carefully screened candidates for deep brain stimulation.

We are actively engaged in basic research and clinical trials in Parkinson's Disease.

Our capabilities include two attending physicians, a clinical trials coordinator, research fellows and assistants.

• Ivan Bodis-Wollner, MD, DSc
• Marta San Luciano, MD