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The brain and the spinal cord are the most complex and unexplored parts of the body. Our brains tell our vital organs to work, store our memories, process math problems and control our emotions. All at the same time. Further, our brains tell our spinal cords how to move our arms and legs in order for us to walk, run and play musical instruments.
Because the brain and spinal cord are so complex, caring for them requires experts in a multitude of specialties. When one thing goes wrong with the brain or the spinal cord, it takes more than just one physician to treat the patient. For example, a neurologist may be able to determine the effects of a stroke, but a surgeon may need to remove a blood clot or decompress the brain. Then, a psychologist may need to address a patient’s resulting depression. And a rehabilitation specialist can help the patient regain the motor skills the stroke damaged so she can tie her shoes and walk unassisted once again.
At the UW Medicine Neurosciences Institute based at Harborview Medical Center we offer patients coordination of care within our world class comprehensive health care system that includes Harborview, UW Medical Center, Northwest Hospital, UW Neighborhood Clinics, UW School of Medicine, UW Physicians and Airlift Northwest.
The multidisciplinary team of experts includes neurosurgeons, neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, psychiatrists, neuro-radiologists, neuro-oncologists, and neuro-ophthalmologists working together to provide patients with the best possible health outcomes. By carefully coordinating the care we provide to our patients, we can ensure more effective, efficient and safe quality care.
Our institute is focused on evaluating, treating and managing neurological disorders in patients. We help our patients by making available the latest diagnostic and treatments – many of which were pioneered right here at UW Medicine. We are improving neurosciences worldwide through our ongoing medical research and by educating the next generation of physicians, scientists and health-care professionals.
UW Medicine Neurosciences Institute these areas of interest:
- Aging/Neuro-Degenerative
- Epilepsy
- Headache
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuro-Genetics
- Neuro-Imaging
- Neuro-Muscular
- Neuro-Oncology
- Neuro-Opthalmology
- Neuro-Psychiatry
- Neuro-Trauma
- Neuro-Rehabilitation
- Neuro-Spine
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders
- Stroke/Cerebrovascular
Our physicians are researchers who constantly study the brain and spinal cord, discovering new ways to diagnose disease and pioneering techniques and treatments that result in improved quality of life for their patients. As the No. 1 state-supported recipient of National Institutes of Health funding for research, the University of Washington fosters innovation, creativity and multi-disciplinary teamwork. Our scientists work directly with our clinicians -- and even bio-engineers -- to identify problems and search for solutions. For example, brain mapping, pioneered by UW Medicine neurosurgeon Dr. George Ojemann, enables surgeons to perform surgery on patients with epilepsy and those with brain tumors without damaging vital portions of the patient's brain.
The neuro-genetics clinic, established in 1974, was the first neuro-genetics clinic for adults in the United States and has remained at the forefront of the ongoing genetic revolution in medicine. Neuro-genetics experts have made many important advances in the field, including discovering genes that cause specific hereditary diseases of the nervous system, such as familial Alzheimer’s disease, a form of Frontotemporal Dementia, two forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth hereditary neuropathy, a form of hereditary cerebellar ataxia and a type of hereditary sensory and motor neuropathy with ataxia.
Because UW Medicine is an academic health care system, our physicians lead teams of providers, including fellows, residents and medical students. Teams of doctors examine each patient’s films, analyze problems and discuss solutions. Through our partnership in the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, along with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Children’s, we bring the latest research in cancer care to our patients.
Patients travel from across the region, the country and even the world to the UW Medicine Neurosciences Institute for the care and expertise we provide to patients with complex neurological conditions. Through our patient- and family-centered approach, we involve patients and their loved ones throughout treatment, every step of the way. Because the brain and spinal cord impact the entire body, we treat the whole patient.
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