Christina Szperka: Member Spotlight
October Member Spotlight honoree Szperka discusses what drives her work in pediatric headache treatment This month, the American Headache Society is proud to spotlight Christina Szperka, MD, MSCE, FAHS, an AHS member whose work focuses on pediatric care. She is the Chair of the Clinical Informatics Special Interest Section, and also participates in the Pediatric-Adolescent Headache and the Procedural Headache Medicine Special Interest Sections. Szperka’s interest in headache medicine comes from a personal place. She is the parent of two children with migraine, and also developed chronic pain during her sophomore year of college. She says “it turned my life...Read More
Time’s Up in Headache Medicine: Q&A
Former AHS President Elizabeth Loder, MD, MPH, FAHS, speaks about how to keep up the momentum for Time’s Up and Me Too in health care As movements like Time’s Up and Me Too continue to gain traction, a number of industries are reckoning with how the women among them are affected by bias. This extends well beyond Hollywood and into health care. In medicine, more women are being candid about their experiences and propelling a conversation about gender equality. https://youtu.be/Wa-2QsabCHE Elizabeth Loder, MD, MPH, FAHS, is the chief of the Division of Headache in the Department of Neurology at Brigham...Read More
Noah Rosen, MD, FAHS: September Member Spotlight
Treating headache and migraine patients is a ‘calling’ and a ‘mission,’ Rosen says Our September Member Spotlight is Noah Rosen, MD, FAHS. Rosen has been involved in the Refractory, Inpatient and Emergency Care Special Interest Section, of which he is the former Chair. He is also a member of the Behavioral Issues, Procedural Headache Medicine, and Underserved Populations in Headache Medicine Sections. He says he also enjoys attending the New Investigator and Trainee Section meetings “to see the future of our field.” Additionally, Rosen recently won the Above and Beyond Award at the American Headache Society Annual Meeting for his...Read More
Advanced Practice Providers: SIS Profile
Find out more on how this section works to educate and network to improve patient care The American Headache Society is home to a variety of Special Interest Sections that connect members with shared expertise and interests to collaborate on research efforts. These sections, like the Advanced Practice Providers section, develop practice models and provide multidisciplinary participation in support of the Society’s mission. The Special Interest Section focused on Advanced Practice Providers is made up of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. It aims to connect and educate nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the field of neuroscience, specifically within headache...Read More
Member Spotlight: Andrew Russo, PhD
As our August Member Spotlight, Russo shares his passion for research and his connection to migraine Our August member spotlight is Andrew Russo, PhD, a member of the American Headache Society. Russo's dedication to research has helped change the headache field’s understanding of CGRP gene regulation. An AHS member since 2012, Russo is a Professor of Molecular Physiology, Biophysics and Neurology at the University of Iowa. His research focuses on migraine prevention, treatment and understanding its debilitating effects. “As a scientist, I am intrigued as to why a person living with a migraine brain is more sensitive to sensory input,”...Read More
Red Flags in Headache History
Brian Plato, DO, FAHS, talks about when healthcare professionals should be concerned about a secondary headache disorder Brian Plato, DO, FAHS, is the medical director of headache medicine at Norton Neuroscience Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. He recently discussed red flags in headache history providers need to look for that may indicate worsening health issues. Watch the full interview from the 2018 Scottsdale Headache Symposium here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGemr5c5R_4 Plato says changes in headache—or sudden onset of a new headache type—should concern medical professionals. “As a provider, I'm concerned when a patient who has had a stable history of headache has a sudden...Read More
61st Annual Scientific Meeting: New Frontiers in Headache
Recapping Highlights of the American Headache Society’s 61st Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia More than 1,300 health professionals congregated in Philadelphia for the American Headache Society’s 61st Annual Scientific Meeting: New Frontiers in Headache. Held from July 11 - July 14, 2019, the meeting drew researchers and healthcare providers from around the world to share cutting-edge research and hear insights from leading headache and migraine experts. Here are a handful of the many highlights from our conference: A Focus on Wellness https://twitter.com/RebeccaWellsMD/status/1149645039326261248 Provider wellness was a central theme during this year’s Annual Meeting. The 2019 Women’s Leadership Development Course chaired...Read More
Headache 101 with Dr. Andrew Hershey
Andrew Hershey, MD, PhD, FAHS, walks through the characteristics of headache and how to classify them Andrew Hershey, endowed chair and director of neurology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the director of the Headache Center, recently discussed the basics of headache diagnostics and treatment, and how to explain them to patients. Watch the full interview from the 2018 Scottsdale Headache Symposium here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-mEIZ6wKU4 There are a number of aspects that Dr. Hershey counsels his patients on when they see him for headache treatment. If a patient comes in with a secondary headache issue—one created by another condition—then treatment...Read More
July Member Spotlight: Manuel Vides-Rosales, MD
Manuel Vides-Rosales shares the importance of information accessibility This month, we are spotlighting Manuel Vides-Rosales, MD, a member of the American Headache Society whose work is focused on pediatric care and language accessibility. Vides-Rosales first became interested in migraine and headache during his pediatric residency, when he began experiencing headache. “I have experienced firsthand the impact of headache, which has helped me understand the burden,” he says. “It affects your family time and your daily activities, not only at work and studying but everything.” After working in the neurodevelopmental field for more than 15 years, Vides-Rosales changed course to focus...Read More