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Nils Petersen, MD, PhD, MSc

Associate Professor Term
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Additional Titles

Staff Neurointensivist, Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit

About

Titles

Associate Professor Term

Staff Neurointensivist, Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit

Biography

Nils Petersen obtained his medical degree and a doctorate in neuroscience from Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany. He completed his residency in Neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY, where he also served as chief resident in his final year. He then pursued fellowship training in Vascular Neurology at Columbia University and simultaneously completed a Master's degree in Patient-Oriented Research at the Mailman School of Public Health. He next completed a fellowship in Neurocritical Care at Massachusetts General Hospital and also obtained certification in Neurovascular Ultrasound from the American Society of Neuroimaging.

He is the director of the Yale Cerebral Blood Flow Laboratory, which provides the infrastructure for advanced monitoring of brain physiology. His clinical and research interests are in using ultrasound and novel neuromonitoring modalities to better understand brain blood flow regulation. His ongoing clinical care of patients in the Neurologic Intensive Care Unit and Stroke Service continues to inspire his research pursuits, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and preventing neurologic worsening after acute ischemic stroke.

Last Updated on April 07, 2025.

Appointments

  • Neurology

    Associate Professor on Term
    Primary
    Neurology

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellowship
Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women's Hospital (2014)
MSc
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University (2013)
Fellowship
Columbia University/New York Presbyterian (2012)
Residency
Mount Sinai Medical Center (2010)
Residency
University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (2006)
PhD
Christian-Albrechts-University (2004)
MD
Christian-Albrechts-University (2004)

Research

Overview

Medical Research Interests

Stroke; Ultrasonography

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Nils Petersen's published research.

Publications

2024

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Clinical Trials

Current Trials

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Clinical Care

Overview

Nils Petersen, MD, PhD, is a neurointensivist in the neuroscience intensive care unit (NICU) of Yale New Haven Hospital. He treats life-threatening diseases that involve the brain, spinal cord and nerves, from stroke to central nervous system infections, neuromuscular diseases and neurosurgical post-operative care. “To be a skilled neurologist requires not only knowledge of how the brain works and the latest treatments,” he says, “but also the clinical acumen to pick up subtle exam findings, interpret complicated histories and apply critical thinking skills to compose the best treatment plan for each patient.”

He was recruited by Yale in 2014 to design and implement a state-of-the-art neurovascular ultrasound lab. “Hospitalization after stroke or in the NICU represents an important and vulnerable time for both patients and families, a time during which physicians have the most impact,” he says. “I feel privileged to be a part of this journey for my patients and their families, a journey that continues to inspire me both personally and scientifically on a regular basis.”

An assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Petersen hopes his research on brain blood flow and how it is affected by neurologic injury, particularly stroke, will help doctors improve functional outcomes after stroke.

Clinical Specialties

Neurology; Stroke; Neurocritical Care

Fact Sheets

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Board Certifications

  • Neurocritical Care

    Certification Organization
    United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties
    Original Certification Date
    2015

Yale Medicine News

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Locations

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