The VA Neurology Service, headed by Dr. Paula Clemens, Chief of Service, continued to make significant contributions to the clinical, research and education missions of the Department of Neurology. In each of the past academic years, neurology faculty performed approximately 4000 new and follow-up outpatient clinic visits; approximately 300 new inpatient consults; many follow-up in-patient consults and emergency room consults; and admitted over 100 patients to the neurology in-patient service at the Pittsburgh VA at University Drive. The EEG laboratory performed approximately 400 in-patient and out-patient EEG studies this year. In-patient and out-patient consult services were also provided at the Heinz, Highland Drive and Butler VAMCs by Dr. Eric Ogren.

The VA Neurology Service served as a training site for two full-time neurology residents (all PGY-2 and PGY-3 neurology residents rotate through the VA clinical service), and a third position funded by the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) has allowed the establishment of continuity of care clinics for 4-5 of the first-year neurology residents. Approximately 30 third or fourth-year medical students completed their required three-week rotation on the VA service, and interns in psychiatry completed one-month elective rotations on the neurology service. Geriatrics fellows also rotated on the neurology service. Teaching conferences in neuropathology (Dr. Gutti Rao, Department of Pathology) and electrophysiology (EEG, Dr. Anne Van Cott) provided weekly didactic sessions directed specifically to resident education.

Neurology faculty with VA appointments contributed actively to the Neurology Department research program by writing book chapters, publishing articles in peer reviewed journals, and presenting at meetings nationally and internationally. These accomplishments are detailed in the individual faculty descriptions of research activity. Research carried out by VA neurology physicians ranged from investigation of basic mechanisms of cell death in ischemia and mechanisms of muscle cachexia to participation in epilepsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinical trials. In addition, several Neurology faculty were active participants in the VA-funded GRECC, directed by the Neurology Vice Chair for Research and VA staff physician, Dr. Steven Graham. Dr. Graham also holds the position of associate chief of staff for research, directing the entire research program at the VAMC.

Dr. Miguel Estevez holds a VA Research Career Development award. Drs. Steven Graham, Nic Bohnen, and Paula Clemens each have been awarded one or more VA merit review grants that have been active during the 2005-2006 period. During this year, Drs. Sasa Zivkovic and Anne Van Cott have enrolled subjects in VA-sponsored clinical trials.