The University of Florida Movement Disorders Center
(UFMDC) was established at the Evelyn F. and William
L. McKnight Brain Institute in July 2002, to bring together UF
doctors and researchers with special expertise in Parkinson's
disease, tremors, dystonia and other movement disorders. The UFMDC is a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, a Tyler's Hope Center for Comprehensive Dystonia Care and a National Ataxia Foundation Center of Excellence.
Filed under: medicine — Tags: clinic, dystonia —
Jennifer Reichwage on September 9, 2009
Together with Tyler’s Hope for a Dystonia Cure, the UFMDC invites you to view our new dystonia website dedicated to our Comprehensive Dystonia Care Center. Our team includes specialized physicians, a physician assistant, nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, researchers as well as other interdisciplinary specialists.
The new pages detail what is available at our Dystonia Center including information on becoming a patient, treatment options and details about our Dystonia team.
“Please,” Viviana remembers pleading. “Please. We can’t do this anymore.”
Sharma called Dr. Michael Okun, a neurologist at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville, medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation and valedictorian of the Palm Beach Lakes High School class of 1989.
He agreed to see Chris.
“In most cases, the dystonia presents as the turning of a foot, say, and progresses very slowly over many years,” Okun explains. “But for unexplainable reasons, we have patients like Christopher who progress very fast.”
Medicine -
Our physicians see dozens of patients each week in the UF Movement
Disorders Clinic.
Surgery -
University of Florida neurosurgeons use deep brain stimulation and
other techniques to treat patients with Parkinson's Disease and other
movement disorders
Education -
Fellows, medical students, graduate students and pre-meds learn about
movement disorders while working at the UFMDC and shadowing our physicians.
Research -
Researchers from multiple disciplines work together to find new and
better treatments for movement disorders while looking for causes
and cures.
Why go to the University of Florida for your Parkinson's or
Movement Disorders surgery?
Answer: Because the UFMDC has one of the largest interdisciplinary teams
in the world dedicated to making sure your deep brain stimulation device
is placed correctly.
You will see a fellowship trained movement disorders neurologist, a
fellowship trained movement disorders neurosurgeon, and you will receive
the best possible medical optimization. Additionally, you will have access
to a complete interdisciplinary team of experts in every area (speech,
voice, walking, balance, memory, depression/anxiety disorders, rehabilitation,
driving, occupational therapy, etc.) who specialize in the care of Parkinson's
and Movement Disorder Patients.
We will ensure you are the right candidate,
and discuss with you in detail what symptoms we think you can expect
to improve with a deep brain stimulation surgical therapy. Your case
will be discussed in detail with the interdisciplinary team prior to
any surgical intervention. In addition we will provide a top-notch operating
room experience with a neurologist, microelectrode multiple pass mapping,
and careful imaging and guidance for the proper placement of your device.
After it is implanted you will have full access to a dedicated staff
for programming and followup of your medication and DBS needs. Should
you have any problems we are always available to help you.