Neurology
Telemedicine Service
UBMD Neurology is a premier neurology group in Western New York dedicated to delivering high-quality patient-centered care through the advancement of neurologic research. Our practice provides comprehensive neurological evaluation, diagnosis, and management for both adults and children with a wide variety of neurologic disorders.
With locations in Buffalo and Williamsville, we offer a full range of procedural services including EEG, EMG, adult and child neuropsychologic testing, an infusion clinic for intravenous therapies and neuroimaging interpretation. We are closely allied to two Kaleida Health hospitals, Buffalo General Medical Center and Oishei Children's Hospital.
Why Choose UBMD Neurology
Many of our programs receive national recognition, including:
- our child neurology program, rated in the top 50 in the country by US News & World Report
- our stroke program, recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
- our neuromuscular program, recognized by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and the GBS/CIDP Foundation
- our multiple sclerosis program, listed on numerous national top 10 lists
- our Huntington's disease program is recognized by the Huntington Study Group
Services We Provide
We have nationally and internationally recognized expertise in:
What is general neurology?
General neurology covers a range of neurological disorders and symptoms.
A general neurologist can address a variety of neurologic concerns, as well as aid in diagnosis of subspecialty conditions:
- dizziness
- imbalance
- altered gait
- numbness
- tingling
- neuropathy
- new onset headache
- trigeminal neuralgia
- cervical stenosis
- neck and back pain
- recurrent falls
General Neurology Providers:
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes many brain cells to die. This affects a person’s ability to remember things, think clearly, and use good judgment. It often begins slowly and can be difficult to detect at early stages. Some people may blame their forgetfulness on old age; however, their memory problems get more serious over time.
If you or someone you know thinks your forgetfulness is getting in the way of your daily routine, it’s time to see your doctor. Seeing the doctor when you first start having memory problems can help you find out what’s causing your forgetfulness. If you have Alzheimer’s, finding the disease early gives you and your family more time to plan for your treatment and care.
What are memory disorders?
There are many types of memory disorders that exist. While Alzheimer's Disease may be the most well known, other memory disorders include types of dementia, cognitive impairment and encephalitis.
It's important to have a thorough evaluation in order to determine which type of memory disorder a person may have as it impacts which treatments and medications may be effective.
Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorder Provider:
What services does child neurology try?
Our Child Neurologists are dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing and development of children with neurological concerns.
Our team provides care for all neurologic conditions, including, but not limited to:
- Concussions
- Epilepsy (Seizures)
- Muscular dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Attention disorders
- Cerebral palsy
- Brain tumors
- Developmental delays
- Sleep disorders
- Headaches
Child Neurology Providers:
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disorder that causes a person to have two or more unprovoked seizures that occur more than 24 hours apart.
Epilepsy may occur as a result of a genetic disorder or an acquired brain injury, such as a trauma or stroke. Epilepsy is usually treated by medications and in some cases by surgery, devices, or dietary changes.
At UBMD Neurology, we provide specialized care for patients with epilepsy, offering comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management to improve quality of life.
Epilepsy Providers:
What are headache disorders?
Headache disorders, which are characterized by recurrent headaches, are among the most common disorders of the nervous system. A headache itself is a painful, and sometimes disabling, feature of a small number of primary headache disorders, such as migraine, tension-type headache and cluster headache.
Headaches can also be caused by or occur as a symptom to many other conditions.
Headache Disorder Providers:
What are movement disorders?
Movement disorders are neurologic conditions that cause issues with movement, such as:
- Increased movement that can be voluntary (intentional) or involuntary (unintended)
- Decreased or slow voluntary movement
There are many different movement disorders. Some of the more common types include:
- Ataxia: the loss of muscle coordination
- Dystonia: involuntary contractions of your muscles cause twisting and repetitive movements. The movements may be painful.
- Huntington's Disease: an inherited disease that causes nerve cells in certain parts of the brain to deteriorate, including nerve cells that help to control voluntary movement.
- Parkinson's Disease: causes issues such as tremors, slowless of movement or trouble walking; it slowly worsens over time.
- Tourette syndrome: a condition causing sudden twitches, movements or sounds (tics)
- Tremors and essential tremors: involuntary trembling or shaking movements that may be in one or more parts of the body.
Movement Disorder Providers:
What is Huntington's Disease?
Huntington's Disease is an inherited condition in which nerve cells in the brain break down over time, typically showing symptoms in a person's 30s or 40s.
Usually, Huntington's Disease results in progressively worsening sytmptoms that include movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric symptoms.
UBMD Neurology's Huntington's Disease team consists of a movement disorder neurologist, a social worker and a genetic counselor.
Huntington's Disease Provider:
What is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's Disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement and often includes tremors. Nerve cell damage in the brain causes dopamine levels to decrease, leading to the symptoms of Parkinson's.
Parkinson's often starts with a tremor in one hand. Other symptoms are slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance.
Parkinson's Disease Providers:
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves, resulting in nerve damage that disrupts communication between the brain and the body.
Multiple Sclerosis causes many different symptoms, including vision loss, pain, fatigue, and impaired coordination. The symptoms, severity, and duration can vary from person to person. Some people may be symptom free most of their lives, while others can have severe chronic symptoms that never go away.
Multiple Sclerosis Providers:
Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD 716.829.4415
Svetlana Primma Eckert, MD 716.829.5055
David Hojnacki, MD 716.829.5049
Beth Tacca, RN, BSN, ANP-BC 716.829.5049
What are neuromuscular disorders?
Neuromuscular diseases affect the function of muscles, such as muscular dystrophy or peripheral neuropathy. The most common sign of neuromuscular disorders is muscle weakness. Numbness may also occur.
Our neurologists provide comprehensive evaluation of these diseases, including electrodiagnostic studies and other tests.
Neuromuscular Disorder Providers:
What is neuro-ophthalmology?
Neuro-ophthalmology is a subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology.
Neuro-ophthalmologists specialize in vision problems that relate to your nervous system, including issues due to brain injuries or diseases, including autoimmune related neurological conditions, a stroke or an infection.
Neuro-ophthalmology Provider:
What is neuropsychology?
At UBMD Neurology, our neuropsychology team assesses patients experiencing neuro-cognitive (related to memory, thinking and attention) and emotional difficulties.
Neuropsychological services that may be provided are:
- Diagnostic clarification
- Assessment of cognitive ability
- Capacity for work and disability qualification
- Presurgery evaluation (e.g. spinal cord stimulator, epilepsy surgery, bariatric surgery)
- Psychiatric status (e.g., personality disorder, psychiatric illness)
- Determine capacity to manage activities of daily living and live independently
Neuropsychology care may be needed following an injury or development of a condition, such as:
- Alzheimer's disease & other memory disorders
- Brain tumor
- Concussion
- Chronic headaches/migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety
- Seizure disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Stroke
Neuropsychology is concerned with how a person's cognition and behavior are related to the brain and the rest of the nervous system. Often focusing on how injuries or illnesses of the brain affect cognitive and behavioral functions.
Neuropsychology Providers:
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a medical emergency in which the blood supply to the brain is interuppted due to a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking/bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke) in the brain.
Symptoms of stroke include trouble walking, speaking, and understanding, as well as paralysis or numbness of the face, arm, or leg.
What are cerebrovascular diseases?
Cerebrovascular diseases refers to any disorders that involves a person losing blood flow to the brain. While strokes may be the most well-known cerebrovascular diseases, it is one of many. Cerebrovascular disease includes carotid stenosis, vertebral stenosis and intracranial stenosis, aneurysms, and vascular malformations.
Stroke & Cerebrovascular Disease Providers:
What are botox injections?
In neurology, botox injection therapy is used to treat neurological and neuromuscular conditions, such as muscle hyperactivity disorders, including headaches, migraines, dystonia, spasticity, cerebral palsy and hemifacial spasms, among others.
Botox Injection Providers:
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a violent shaking of the head and body.
Symptoms may include headache, confusion, lack of coordination, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, ringing in the ears, sleepiness and/or excessive fatigue.
UBMD Neurologists treat both children and adults for concussions, including preforming concussion evaluations in the office or at Oshei Children's Hospital.
Concussion Providers:
Adult concussion: Rick Magun, MD 716.932.6080 x193
Child concussion: Osman Farooq, MD 716.932.6080 x193
What is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)?
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure in which electrodes are implanted in the brain and electrical stimulation from the electrodes is used to treat and improve neuromuscular issues, such as tremors. DBS is used to treat movement disorders associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor, dystonia and other neurological conditions.
Deep Brain Stimulation Provider:
What are balance disorders?
Balance disorders may stem from various causes or conditions, such as:
- decreased blood flow to the brain due to stroke or a chronic condition such as aging
- traumatic brain injury
- multiple sclerosis
- hydrocephalus
- seizures
- Parkinson's disease
- cerebellar diseases
- acoustic neuromas and other brain tumors
What are inflammatory disorders of the brain and spinal cord?
Inflammatory disorders can be brought on by viral or bacterial infectious or some other immune response.
Inflammatory disorders to the brain and/or spine include conditions such as:
- encephalitis
- meningitis
- transverse myelitis
What does the UBMD Neurology infusion clinic do?
Infusion therapy, or intravenous therapy, is a way to treat or manage symptoms of neurological conditions or disorders.
Infusion therapy involves administering medication directly into the bloodstream. During infusion therapies, patients are monitored by a team of providers at the UBMD Neurology Infusion Center at our Conventus office. Infusion can be used to treat various neurological conditions such as:
- migraines
- multiple sclerosis
- muscular dystrophy
- demyelinating diseases
- ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease
Infusion Clinic:
What are electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies?
Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies are tests, which measure the electrical activity of muscles and nerves.
Nerves send out electrical signals to make your muscles react in certain ways and these tests can measure these signals.
- An EMG test records the electrical signals muscles create both when at rest and when being used.
- A nerve conduction study measures how fast and how well electrical signals travel down nerves.
EMG tests and nerve conduction studies can both help determine if a neurological disorder exists in the muscles, nerves or both. These tests can be done separately but are usually done at the same time.
These tests may also be referred to as an electrodiagnostic study, EMG test, electromyogram, NCS or nerve conduction velocity (NCV).
Study Providers:
Our Locations
Conventus
1001 Main Street, 4th Floor
Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: 716.829.5050
UBMD Neurology Pediatric & General Neurology Clinic
5851 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
Phone: 716.932.6080
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