Safa Hakim Elnazer, MD

Safa Hakim Elnazer, MD, specializes in neurology with a focus on vascular neurology. She diagnoses and treats conditions related to blood vessels in the brain, such as strokes, while emphasizing the identification and management of stroke risk factors.

As an assistant professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Elnazer contributes to both clinical and academic advancements in her field. Her early research included stroke genomics, where she investigates how specific genes influence stroke outcomes. Her current work focuses on optimizing stroke prevention and the management of cerebrovascular disease during vulnerable periods throughout a women’s lifespan, including pregnancy, post-partum, and menopause. She also studies the influence of hormonal factors on stroke risk.

She also has academic interests in women’s brain health and stroke care. Dr. Elnazer has robust community outreach efforts aimed at improving stroke awareness and prevention. She also works on developing education curricula for neurology trainees to enhance their knowledge and clinical care in women’s neurological health. Dr. Elnazer completed her medical degree at Stony Brook University. She pursued an internship in internal medicine, a neurology residency, and a fellowship in vascular neurology at Yale New Haven Hospital.