School of Medicine
Showing 301-400 of 436 Results
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Katherine Jane Ryan
Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatrics - Hematology & Oncology
Clinical Assistant Professor (By courtesy), Adult NeurologyCurrent Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Katherine “Katie” Ryan is a pediatric neuro-oncologist whose research focuses on developing and translating cellular immunotherapies for children with malignant brain tumors. She leads the first-in-human trial of GPC2-directed CAR T cells for CNS Embryonal Tumors. As a member of Stanford Children’s world-renowned pediatric brain tumor team, she diagnoses and treats children with CNS tumors while advancing innovative trial design, intracerebroventricular delivery, and correlative science.
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Zahra Sadat-Hossieny, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Adult Neurology
BioZahra Sadat-Hossieny, MD, is a board-certified neurologist who completed her fellowship in clinical epilepsy at Stanford University Hospitals and Clinics. She finished her residency in neurology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She obtained her medical degree and a certificate in global health from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
She has extensive experience treating patients with epilepsy and currently provides care through the Comprehensive Epilepsy and Comprehensive Neurology Programs at Stanford Health Care. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Sadat-Hossieny also teaches future generations of clinicians as an assistant professor at Stanford School of Medicine in the Department of Neurology, Epilepsy, and Comprehensive Neurology.
Dr. Sadat-Hossieny has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. She has presented her research orally and through posters at various conferences. During her fellowship at Stanford University Hospitals and Clinics, she used advanced diagnostic techniques including video-EEG monitoring, computerized brainwave mapping, diagnostic imaging, neuropsychiatric testing, and functional mapping to accurately diagnose epilepsy and conditions imitating epilepsy. She also gained expertise in the most advanced forms of epilepsy treatment including neuromodulation, epilepsy surgery and medications specific to epilepsy. Her research focused on the cognitive effects of anti-seizure medications on patients with epilepsy and their children. She has also published on the importance of nutrient supplementation on cognition in patients taking anti-seizure medications. Her collaborations include projects that assess and improve patients’ understanding of their own seizure types. -
Sarada Sakamuri, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Adult Neurology
Clinical Associate Professor (By courtesy), NeurosurgeryBioDr. Sarada Sakamuri is a neurologist, neurophysiologist, and sonographer who specializes in the care of patients with nerve injuries and other neuromuscular disorders. As Co-Director of the Center for Peripheral Nerve Surgery, she oversees coordinated care in conjunction with the Neurology Clinic, Neurodiagnostic Lab, and Neurosurgery Clinic. She serves on multiple interdisciplinary teams focused on the care of patients with nerve conditions, including the Stanford Nerve Team, Stanford Facial Nerve Center, Stanford Women's Neurology Program, and Stanford Periprocedural Nerve Symptom Pathway.
She is an expert in the use of nerve and muscle ultrasound to diagnose and manage neuromuscular conditions. She performs advanced diagnostic evaluations of peripheral nerve conditions, integrating nerve and muscle ultrasound and neurophysiologic EMG/NCS testing at the bedside. She has advanced training in nerve and muscle ultrasound has served on the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM)'s Neuromuscular Ultrasound Committee and Neuromuscular Ultrasound Exam Committee.
She also plays an active role in graduate medical education. She serves as the Program Director of the Stanford Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship and Associate Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology/EMG Fellowship, with a total of five ACGME-accredited positions. She supervised residents in the weekly neurology resident continuity clinic for many years. She been awarded numerous teaching awards, including the Lysia S. Forno Award for outstanding contributions to resident teaching, and the American Academy of Neurology's A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award.
Dr. Sakamuri completed her undergraduate studies at Rutgers University, where she earned a degree in psychology with Phi Beta Kappa distinction. She completed medical school at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ, where she led multiple community service and medical education activities and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies. She moved to the Bay Area to pursue neurology residency at Stanford and served as Chief Resident in her final year of training. She then completed two years of fellowship at Stanford and the Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research Center in EMG/Clinical Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular Medicine.
She is board-certified in Neurology and in Neuromuscular disorders by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). She is certified in EMG/NCS by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (ABEM), and holds the ABEM Certificate of Added Qualification in Neuromuscular Ultrasound. She is a member of numerous societies, including the Performing Arts Medicine Association. -
Jacinda Sampson
Clinical Professor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Jacinda Sampson received her MD and a PhD in biochemistry from University of Alabama at Birmingham, and completed her neurology residency and neurogenetics fellowship at the University of Utah. She served at Columbia University Medical Center prior to joining Stanford University Medical Center in 2015. Her areas of interest include myotonic dystrophies, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and neurogenetic disorders such as neurofibromatosis, hereditary spastic paraparesis, spinocerebellar ataxia, among others. She is interested in clinical trials for treatment of neurogenetic disorders, and in the clinical application of next-generation genomic sequencing to genetic testing.
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Niyatee Samudra, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Samudra is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is one of a small number of neurologists nationwide who is board-certified and fellowship-trained in epilepsy as well as in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry.
Dr. Samudra leads a clinic at Stanford for the treatment of older adults with epilepsy. In addition, she has clinical interests in the treatment of atypical Parkinsonism and in women’s brain health across the lifespan. She co-leads the CurePSP Center of Care and is a member of the Menopause Collaborative of Practice at Stanford. Her varied research interests include clinical trials in neurodegenerative disease and in epilepsy; improving treatment for older adults with epilepsy; understanding the cognitive and neuropsychiatric consequences of epilepsy; and treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders.
Prior to coming to Stanford, Dr. Samudra was a fellow in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She completed her undergraduate degree at MIT and obtained her medical degree and neurology residency training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Dr. Samudra has published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease; Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports; Journal of the Neurological Sciences; Seizure; and Epilepsy and Behavior, among others. She is a member of the American Epilepsy Society and the American Academy of Neurology. -
Calvin Santiago, MD, FRCPC, MSc (he/him)
Clinical Assistant Professor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Santiago is a board-certified neurologist with Stanford Health Care. He is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Division of Comprehensive Neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Santiago diagnoses and treats a wide range of neurological conditions, including headache, epilepsy, memory disorders, movement disorders, and neuropathy. He has a special focus on improving access to neurological care, including reducing patient wait times and directing patients to the most appropriate care provider by streamlining physician referrals. He also provides LGBTQ+ care.
His research interests include executive functioning and processing speed in older adults with coronary artery disease and using CT angiography in patients with acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. He has also researched speech-language changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Santiago has published in multiple peer-reviewed journals, including Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, and Cureus: Journal of Medical Science. He has presented to his peers at national and regional meetings, including the Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting, History of Medicine Days at the University of Calgary, and the Advanced Learning in Palliative Medicine Conference at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Santiago is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Canadian Neurological Sciences Foundation, and Ontario Medical Association. -
Robert Sapolsky
John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor, Professor of Biology, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and of Neurosurgery
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsNeuron death, stress, gene therapy
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Birgitt Schuele
Associate Professor (Research) of Pathology and, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Schuele lab focuses on neurogenetics, human stem cell modeling, and gene therapy approaches to uncover disease mechanisms and pathways involved in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
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Neil Schwartz, MD, PhD
Clinical Professor, Adult Neurology
Clinical Professor (By courtesy), NeurosurgeryCurrent Research and Scholarly InterestsMy clinical interests involve inpatient and outpatient care of patients with neurovascular diseases, mostly ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. I have a particular interest in cervical artery dissection, non-atherosclerotic vasculopathies, and stroke in the young.
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Muhannad Seyam, MD
Clinical Instructor, Adult Neurology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Seyam develops phenotyping, biomarker, and computational methods for measuring disease activity and predicting treatment response in neuromuscular disease. His work spans immune-mediated neuromuscular disease, ALS, and muscle disease, and applies artificial intelligence across the neuromuscular diagnostic workflow and in translational research.
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Sharon Sha, MD, MS
Clinical Professor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Sha is a Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University where she serves as Chief for the Memory Disorders Division and the Stanford Memory Disorders Center, Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Director of the Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence and Ataxia Clinic, Co-Director of the Lewy Body Disease Association Research Center of Excellence, and Clinical Core Co-Leader of the Stanford Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Her clinical time is devoted to caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders and her research is devoted to finding treatments for these cognitive disorders. She also served on the California Governor’s Alzheimer’s Prevention and Preparedness Task Force Chaired by Maria Shriver in 2020. She has been featured in international media and documentaries such as the BBC "How to Stay Young" and the Docuseries "Limitless with Chris Hemsworth".
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Mehrdad Shamloo
Professor (Research) of Neurosurgery and, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe ultimate goal of the Shamloo laboratory is to rapidly advance our understanding of brain function at the molecular, cellular, circuit and behavioral levels, and to elucidate the pathological process underlying malfunction of the nervous system following injury and neurologic disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease, and autism. We have been focusing on the noradrenergic system and approaches leading to restoration of brain adrenergic signaling in these disorders.
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Irina Skylar-Scott
Clinical Associate Professor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Skylar-Scott is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cognitive and behavioral neurologist and clinical assistant professor at Stanford University. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry.
Her clinical interests include the treatment of cognitive and behavioral impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, posterior cortical atrophy, primary progressive aphasia, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, primary age-related tauopathy, and limbic-predominant age-associated TDP-43 encephalopathy, among other disorders of cognition and behavior.
Her research interests include clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and how social and intellectual engagement can affect cognition. She has also investigated impaired consciousness in epilepsy and biomarkers for assessing Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Prior to joining Stanford, Dr. Skylar-Scott was a fellow in the Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (CART) in the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She also completed her undergraduate degree at MIT, her MD at Yale, and her residency at Harvard.
Dr. Skylar-Scott’s work has appeared in Neurology, Alzheimer's Research and Therapy, Pediatric Neurology, the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Muscle & Nerve, and Epilepsia. She also has also been invited to write book chapters on Alzheimer’s disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, Parkinson’s disease dementia and Lewy body dementia, and the cognitive and psychiatric consequences of neuroimmunological disorders published by Elsevier and McGraw-Hill.
Presentations by Dr. Skylar-Scott have focused on prevention of cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people, cognitive and neuropsychiatric manifestations of Parkinson’s disease, human prion diseases, and other topics. She has presented at meetings held by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the American Neurological Association (ANA), and the American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM).
For her research and scholarship, Dr. Skylar-Scott has earned honors from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). She was honored to receive the Golseth Young Investigator Award from the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine. In addition, she won the Action Duchenne International Conference First Prize Poster for her research in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Dr. Skylar-Scott is a member of the American Neurological Association and American Academy of Neurology. Every year, she walks to raise money for Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. -
Yuen So, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences (Adult Neurology), Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsResearch in the diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of peripheral neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, motor neuron diseases including ALS and SMA, nerve injuries and muscle diseases. Application of clinical neurophysiological methods to neurological diagnosis. Development of evidence-based medicine pertaining to the practice of neurology.
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Aditya Srivatsan
Affiliate, Department Funds
Fellow in Neurology & Neurological SciencesBioStanford Neurology Physician Resident, PGY-4
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Kristen K. Steenerson, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery)
Clinical Associate Professor, Adult NeurologyBioDr. Kristen K. Steenerson is a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, specializing in vestibular neurology and neuro-otology. She directs clinical care within the Vestibular Neurology Clinic at the Stanford Ear Institute, where she focuses on the diagnosis and management of complex dizziness and vestibular disorders, including vestibular migraine, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Ménière disease, bilateral vestibulopathy, and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness.
Her academic program integrates translational research with clinician education to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular disorders. Her research focuses on the development and validation of objective, technology-enabled tools to measure vestibular function in real-world settings. She leads initiatives evaluating wearable electro-oculography platforms for ambulatory nystagmus detection, as well as sensor-based systems using inertial measurement units to assess mobility, fall risk, and functional engagement. Her work leverages multidisciplinary collaboration across neurology, otolaryngology, audiology, engineering, and data science, with the goal of establishing scalable digital biomarkers and vestibular-specific clinical trial endpoints.
In parallel, Dr. Steenerson is deeply engaged in national and international clinician education. She serves as course director and faculty for multiple continuing medical education programs in vestibular neurology and neuro-otology, with a focus on bedside examination skills, acute dizziness evaluation, and diagnostic reasoning. She has developed interdisciplinary curricula and clinical training pathways designed to expand vestibular expertise among neurologists, otolaryngologists, advanced practice providers, and trainees.
Her scholarly work also includes clinical outcomes research and care delivery innovation, particularly in vestibular migraine and episodic vertigo disorders. She has led initiatives to standardize triage, referral pathways, and multidisciplinary care models for patients with dizziness, translating evidence into practical frameworks that improve access, diagnostic accuracy, and patient outcomes.
Through the integration of clinical innovation, translational research, and clinician education, Dr. Steenerson’s work aims to modernize vestibular care and expand the reach of specialized expertise beyond tertiary referral centers. -
Gary K. Steinberg, MD, PhD
Bernard and Ronni Lacroute-William Randolph Hearst Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurosciences and Professor, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory investigates the pathophysiology and treatment of cerebral ischemia, and methods to restore neurologic function after stroke. Treatment strategies include brain hypothermia, stem cell transplantation and optogenetic stimulation. Our clinical research develops innovative surgical, endovascular and radiosurgical approaches for treating difficult intracranial aneurysms, complex vascular malformations and occlusive disease, including Moyamoya disease, as well as stem cell transplant.
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Lawrence Steinman, MD
George A. Zimmermann Professor and Professor of Pediatrics
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory is dedicated to understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis. We have developed several new therapies for autoimmunity, including some in Phase 2 clinical trials, as well as one approved drug, natalizumab. We have developed microarray technology for detecting autoantibodies to myelin proteins and lipids. We employ a diverse range of molecular and celluar approaches to trying to understand multiple sclerosis.
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Minhui Su
Instructor, Pediatric Neurology
BioMinhui Su, PhD is a postdoctoral fellow at the Neurology Department. She is investigating neuronal activity-regulated glioma growth, specifically how membrane depolarization regulates glioma growth in the tumor microenvironment.
She obtained her PhD in Molecular Biology, with a focus on neuroimmunology, at the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) at Georg August University Göttingen, Germany. Her PhD research discovered that inflammation is an essential early step of myelin regeneration, and uncovered the roles of microglia (the resident immune cells of the central nervous system) in myelin damage response.
She enjoys science, art and hiking in her free time. -
Thomas Sudhof
Avram Goldstein Professor in the School of Medicine, Professor of Neurosurgery and, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsInformation transfer at synapses mediates information processing in brain, and is impaired in many brain diseases. Thomas Südhof is interested in how synapses are formed, how presynaptic terminals release neurotransmitters at synapses, and how synapses become dysfunctional in diseases such as autism or Alzheimer's disease. To address these questions, Südhof's laboratory employs approaches ranging from biophysical studies to the electrophysiological and behavioral analyses of mutant mice.
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Chenxi Sun
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsArtificial intelligence for time-series data; clinical EEG foundation models; machine learning for neurophysiology
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Simon Tan, PsyD, ABPP
Clinical Associate Professor (Affiliated), Adult Neurology
BioSimon Tan, PsyD, ABPP, ABAP, MS is Clinical Assistant Professor (Affiliated) in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is a Diplomate in Clinical Neuropsychology, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and American Board of Assessment Psychology. He received his bachelor's degree at Dartmouth College, doctorate in clinical psychology from Yeshiva University, and completed a pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Tan also completed post-doctoral fellowships specializing in clinical neuropsychology in both adult inpatient and outpatient settings at the Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Cambridge Hospital at Harvard. He later obtained a postdoctoral master of science in clinical psychopharmacology from Alliant International University. Before coming to Stanford, he was a rehabilitation neuropsychologist at NYU Medical Center.
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Chris Tarver, MD, FAAPMR
Clinical Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Assistant Professor (By courtesy), Neurosurgery
Clinical Assistant Professor (By courtesy), Adult NeurologyBioDr. Tarver is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Medicine, with an emphasis on stroke rehabilitation. He is also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and a clinical assistant professor (by courtesy) in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Tarver completed a PM&R residency at Loma Linda University Health. Prior to that, he received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Doctor of Medicine degrees from Texas A&M University.
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Ryan Taylor, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Taylor is a fellowship-trained neurologist and assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Memory Disorders Division. He provides patient care at the Stanford Center for Memory Disorders.
His areas of expertise include diagnosing and treating illnesses that impair thinking, memory, behavior, and speech. Dr. Taylor’s clinical focus includes Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, posterior cortical atrophy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, autoimmune encephalitis and other rapidly progressive dementias. He works with patients and families to provide diagnostic clarity and individualized treatment plans.
Dr. Taylor’s academic and research interests combine clinical and scientific understandings of dementia with a philosophical inquiry into the structure of conscious experience. His original clinical research includes diverse topics, such as advances in diagnosing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and the clinical characterization of adult-onset hereditary dementias. Dr. Taylor has published work instrumental in identifying the potential role of fentanyl in a syndrome of sudden onset amnesia that emerged during the opioid crisis.
He has presented research at the American Academy of Neurology and published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences and Methods in Molecular Biology. He has also published a chapter on the diagnosis and treatment of frontotemporal dementia and was a reviewer for Neurocase.
Dr. Taylor is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. He has taught residents and medical students clinical skills, neuroanatomy, neuro-imaging, and other subjects. He also has delivered Grand Rounds presentations on dementia, epilepsy, and pediatric neurology. -
Kate Therkelsen, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Therkelsen is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neuro-oncologist with the Stanford Medicine Cancer Center and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences.
She diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions including primary brain tumors and cancers of the central nervous system, metastatic disease to the brain and spinal cord, and neurologic complications of cancer. She prepares a personalized, comprehensive care plan for each patient she serves.
Dr. Therkelsen’s research interests include clinical trials of new therapeutics, as well as ways to reduce toxicities that some patients may experience when receiving cancer treatment. Her fellowship research projects included a study of survival and long-term function among patients treated for primary central nervous system lymphoma. She also received a pre-doctoral National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Training Award for her work with the Framingham Heart Study.
She has published in Current Treatment Options in Oncology and other peer-reviewed journals. She has presented to her peers at international, national, and regional meetings, including the annual meetings of the Society of Neuro-Oncology and of the American Academy of Neurology.
Dr. Therkelsen is a member of the Society of Neuro-Oncology and the American Academy of Neurology. -
Reena Thomas, MD PhD
Clinical Professor, Adult Neurology
Clinical Professor (By courtesy), NeurosurgeryCurrent Research and Scholarly Interests-Neuro Oncology Immunotherapy
-Medical Education -
John W. Thompson
Clinical Instructor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Thompson is a physician-scientist and Clinical Instructor in the Division of Comprehensive Neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine. He cares for adults across the full range of neurologic conditions. Deeply aware of how these conditions can reshape a person’s life, he is committed to partnering with patients and their families to navigate diagnostic and treatment challenges. He has a particular interest in caring for patients with complex medical comorbidities and those transitioning from inpatient to outpatient settings. His other areas of focus include neuroimmunology and the prevention of chronic neurologic diseases such as stroke and dementia.
Dr. Thompson earned his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA as part of the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program, where he received the Richard D. Walter Award for Excellence in Neurology. He completed his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology at the California Institute of Technology, studying how protein glycosylation affects neuronal signaling and metabolism. He went on to complete his neurology residency at UCLA, where he designed computational methods to resolve dementia subtypes in an unbiased manner. At Stanford, his research focuses on the development of novel multiomics technologies to understand the genetic and molecular underpinnings of frontotemporal dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders. Beyond the clinic and the laboratory, Dr. Thompson is a passionate educator dedicated to mentoring medical students and residents. Across all his work, his overarching goal is to help patients better understand and confront neurologic disease through the translation of high-dimensional data into meaningful clinical insights. -
Zachary D. Threlkeld, MD, FAAN
Clinical Associate Professor, Adult Neurology
Clinical Associate Professor (By courtesy), NeurosurgeryBioDr. Threlkeld cares for critically ill patients with acute neurologic illness, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and epilepsy. He completed his residency training in neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, and joined the Stanford Neurocritical Care program after completing fellowship training in neurocritical care at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Threlkeld has a clinical and research interest in traumatic brain injury and disorders of consciousness, with a background in neuroimaging and functional MRI research. In addition, he maintains strong interests in improvement science, quality improvement, patient safety, and medical informatics. He serves as Co-Medical Director of the Unit-Based Medical Director Program at Stanford Health Care, as well as the Associate Physician Improvement Leader for Inpatient Neurology. He also serves as the inaugural Patient Safety Director for Inpatient Neurology. -
Hulya Torun
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioHulya Torun is a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford Neurology and Neurological Sciences, continuing her specialization in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering. Her focus involves brain aging & neurodegeneration and diagnostic technologies for the accurate detection of brain tumors and diseases. Hulya is dedicated to making significant contributions to medicine through translational research using engineering techniques and artificial intelligence. Notably, she has been selected as Stanford Representative for a Pediatric Brain Tumor Fellowship Application, a finalist for the Stanford Biodesign MEDTech Spectrum Grant, and the recipient of the Stanford Cancer Institute Mikitani Cancer Research Grant as a Co-PI, OPTICA Zuegel Scholarship, ISEV 2024 International Researcher Award, 1st place in KUIMPACT 2023 Patent Competition, SNO 2023 International Outreach Scholar Award, 3rd place in KUIMPACT 2021 Patent Competition, and SPIE Student Travel Grant, underscoring her commitment to impactful translational research through innovation.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Hulya actively engages in mentorship programs, notably serving as a mentor in the Stanford Canary CREST Program, supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where she guides undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, she holds the esteemed position of President of Stanford Optical Society after her former position as the Co-Chair of the Stanford University Photonics Retreat (SUPR 2024), showcasing her leadership capabilities within the academic community. Her multidimensional engagement, strong research acumen, and dedication to advancing healthcare technology underscore her potential as a future leader in the realm of neuroengineering. Outside of her research endeavors, Hulya is an avid participant in professional extracurricular activities such as dancing and volleyball, reflecting her well-rounded approach to personal and professional development. -
Keith Van Haren, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences (Pediatric Neurology) and of Pediatrics
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur research team is working to develop new treatments for children at risk of neurodegenerative diseases. We are primarily focused on multiple sclerosis and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, two conditions that involve inflammatory and metabolic disruption of the myelin that insulates brain cells. A key area of interest for us is how nutrient deficiencies during childhood may contribute to the disease processes and whether nutritional interventions could play a role in prevention.
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Chitra Venkatasubramanian, MBBS, MD, MSc, FNCS
Clinical Professor, Adult Neurology
Clinical Professor (By courtesy), NeurosurgeryCurrent Research and Scholarly InterestsI am interested in the study of the radiological characteristics and temporal profile of edema/ tissue injury in the perihematomal area around spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. I am also interested in developing protocols for emergent reversal of anticoagulation in a life-threatening hemorrhage situation.
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Hannes Vogel MD
Professor of Pathology and of Pediatrics (Pediatric Genetics) and, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Neurological Sciences and of Comparative Medicine
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research interests include nerve and muscle pathology, mitochondrial diseases, pediatric neurooncology, and transgenic mouse pathology.
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Michael Von Gunten
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioMichael Von Gunten is a postdoctoral scholar in the Monje Lab at Stanford University studying neuron–glioma interactions in diffuse midline glioma (DMG/DIPG). His research focuses on how synaptic communication between neurons and glioma cells drives tumor progression, which he studies using patch-clamp electrophysiology.
Michael earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University, where he studied synaptic plasticity in the ventral tegmental area under Dr. Jeffrey Edwards. His previous work investigated the effects of cannabinoids, opioids, and psychedelics on neural plasticity and reward circuitry using electrophysiology, behavioral assays, and molecular approaches. -
Nirali Vora
Clinical Professor, Adult Neurology
BioDr. Nirali Vora is a Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurological sciences at Stanford University. She is board certified in Adult Neurology and Vascular Neurology after completing her residency and advanced fellowship training at Stanford. She provides comprehensive care for all stroke patients, as well as hospitalized adults with acute or undiagnosed neurological conditions. She specializes in treating vascular disorders including TIA, vasculitis, dissection, venous thrombosis, and undetermined or “cryptogenic” causes of stroke.
Dr. Vora directs the Stanford Global Health Neurology program, through which she collaborated to start the first stroke unit in Zimbabwe and gained experience in HIV neurology and other neuro-infectious diseases. Additional research interests include stroke prevention, TIA triage, eliminating disparities in health care, and neurology education. She is also the Director of the Stanford Adult Neurology Residency Program.
