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A New Class of Leaders: The 2018 Emerging Leaders Program

The Emerging Leaders Program is dedicated to identifying and developing leaders in the field of headache medicine and the Society.

The 2018 Emerging Leaders Program took place on November 14 as part of this year’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium. Launched in 2016, the program is a part of the Society’s greater mission to educate physicians and health care providers about the treatment and diagnosis of headache disorders. The 2018 class of Emerging Leaders includes six physicians from across the country. Read on to learn more about each participant.

Cynthia E. Armand, MD

Dr. Cynthia Armand is an Assistant Professor at The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, the Assistant Fellowship Director and Founder/Director of the Holistic Migraine Lecture Series at the Montefiore Headache Center. Additionally, Dr. Armand is a member of both the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society, and currently chairs the Society’s Underserved Populations in Headache Medicine Special Interest Section.

Dr. Armand is dedicated to patient education and is deeply interested in social media as a method of improving access to doctor-verified resources and empowering patients. In addition to her professional memberships, Dr. Armand serves as a medical reviewer for Migraine Again and  Headache®. She was also a 2016 recipient of the American Headache Society’s “Frontiers in Headache Research” Scholarship Award.

Thomas Berk, MD

Dr. Thomas Berk is a neurologist and Attending Physician at NYU Langone Medical Center. He specializes in treating a variety of headache disorders including migraine, cluster headache, cervicogenic headache and tension headache.

As an AHS member, Dr. Berk is highly involved in the Society’s Special Interest Sections. He is an active member of the New Investigators and Trainees, Migraine and Vascular Disease, Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias, Refractory, Inpatient & Emergency Care and Procedural Headache Medicine sections. Dr. Berk was also a 2015 recipient of the “Frontiers in Headache Research” Scholarship Award.

Meghan S. Candee, MD, MSc

Dr. Meghan Candee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Neurology at the University of Utah Health. Dr. Candee is also the Director of the University of Utah Pediatric Neurology Residency Program and is dedicated to ensuring medical students and residents receive adequate training in headache medicine, as well as improving the care of pediatric patients with neurological disorders.

Dr. Candee is a member of the American Headache Society’s Pediatric-Adolescent Headache Special Interest Section and was a 2014 recipient of the “Frontiers in Headache Research” Scholarship Award. Within her practice and research, Dr. Candee is particularly interested in multiple sclerosis/demyelinating disorders, seizure patterns in children with genetic syndromes, childhood headache and neonatal neurology.

Carrie O. Dougherty, MD

Dr. Carrie Dougherty is an Attending Physician at the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Headache Center, as well as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and the Program Director of the institution’s Headache Medicine Fellowship.

Dr. Dougherty is committed to her patients. As an active member of Miles for Migraine––a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of patients with migraine––Dr. Dougherty aims to empower patients and increase awareness of migraine as a neurological disease. Within the American Headache Society, Dr. Dougherty is a member of the Women’s Issues and Procedural Headache Medicine Special Interest Sections, as well as the Program Directors and Guidelines Committees.

Jessica Gautreaux, MD

Dr. Jessica Gautreaux is an Assistant Professor of Child Neurology at LSU Health New Orleans and specializes in Child Neurology at Children’s Hospital. While neurologists are in high demand, there is an even greater need for pediatric neurologists. Dr. Gautreaux appreciates the opportunity to work closely with patients and their family members, as pediatric patients often require long-term treatment and care.

Additionally, given the complex nature of the human brain and central nervous system, headache medicine is a continually evolving field. Dr. Gautreaux enjoys finding new opportunities to learn and expand her knowledge of the field, and is an active member of the Behavioral Issues, Refractory, Inpatient & Emergency Care, Pediatric-Adolescent Headache and Complementary & Integrative Medicine Special Interest Sections.

Niushen Zhang, MD

Dr. Niushen Zhang is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Stanford Health Care, where she also serves as the Director of the Headache Fellowship Program. Dr. Zhang specializes in the treatment of headache and facial pain, and is particularly interested in complementary medicine and alternative treatments.

As a member of the New Investigators and Trainees Special Interest Section, Dr. Zhang is an active participant in the Society’s efforts to advance the field of headache medicine through mentorship, leadership training and professional development.


The Emerging Leaders Program is just one of the many educational opportunities offered by the American Headache Society. Through mentorship, educational lectures and networking opportunities, the program provides young health care providers with the resources to thrive both within our Society and the field of headache medicine. Congratulations to this year’s class of Emerging Leaders, and thank you to everyone who made this year’s program a success.

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