Message from the Chair
The Yale Department of Neurology is a world-renowned research, teaching, and clinical center devoted to exceptional patient care; education of medical and graduate students; and neurological research. I am proud to report our continued growth in our 2020-2022 annual report.
The tireless efforts of our 138 faculty have resulted in overall percent age increases in active grants, ultimately securing a sixth-place ranking in total NIH funding in 2021 for Neurology. Once again, Neurology recruited an outstanding class of new residents, in spite of the limitations posed by COVID-19. Our clinical work also continues to expand across southern New England.
Our department has made breakthrough advances in clinical and basic neurological research. Key accomplishments include an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Award and a Human Immunology Project Consortium Grant; two separate $9 million ASAP grants to investigate Parkinson’s disease; and a $22 million investigator-initiated grant from Genentech to study early immune intervention in patients with multiple sclerosis. We integrated our translational and research efforts with basic sciences across neuroscience, cell biology, and inflammation in relationship to the new Wu Tsai Institute for the study of human cognition. We also continue to expand our NIH-funded clinical trial networks: NeuroNEXT Infinity, StrokeNET Spirit, and ASPIRE, a phase III clinical trial of an anticoagulant medication.
Our faculty continue to play a pivotal role in training the next generation of neurologists. Neurology adopted a hybrid virtual and in-person education model during the pandemic, allowing for strengthened teaching and learning tools for our residents and clinical fellows. The virtual format also extended to recruitment, which resulted in more than 550 residency applications. Virtual grand rounds took advantage of the Zoom format to host renowned speakers, both national and internationally. This wealth of expertise and perspectives facilitated more comprehensive discussions and proved to be an integral part of our medical education program.
Neurology continues its massive expansion in Connecticut and neighboring states. A new, multispecialty, outpatient clinical was opened in Guilford, Conn., which provides the following services: General Neurology, Headache, stroke, Epilepsy, Memory Disorders, and Neuromuscular Medicine, including EMG. Likewise, a new infusion center was established at our ambulatory practice in Fairfield, Conn. Under the leadership of Serena Spudich, MD, MA, we also developed one of the first clinics in the country dedicated to the diagnosis and management of neurologic complications associated with COVID-19, and inpatient services have reached or surpassed pre-COVID levels. The second neurointensive care team now provides consultations to patients after cardiac arrest. A multidisciplinary neurotrauma service has been established under the leadership of Emily Gilmore, MD and Sacit Bulent Omay, MD, and patient with brain trauma are cared for from the point of acute injury to outpatient follow-up. Our neurovascular services was split into two teams to accommodate an ever-increasing volume of acute stroke codes within Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) and telestrokes in one of our ten spoke hospitals.
We were also able to enhance the care we provide on our General Neurology services by expanding the team with two advanced practice providers. Neurology inpatient-based services are now available at five of the six YNHHS Hospitals, the latest additions being the Neurology program at Bridgeport Hospital. In collaboration with Neurosurgery, an interventional stroke program has been established at Greenwich Hospital. A third interventional stroke program is being launched at Bridgeport Hospital, which recently treated its first patient.
We hope that this annual report provides a comprehensive picture of our values, dedication to our pursuit of knowledge, and compassion for the community we serve. We are grateful to every member of our department who made our work possible, and we look forward to continued success in the year ahead.
Sincerely,
William S. and Lois Stiles Edgerly Professor of Neurology and Professor of Immunobiology
Chair, Department of Neurology
Neurologist-in-Chief, Yale New Haven Hospital