ANA Investigates

Women are reshaping leadership in academic neurology, representing a growing share of the field yet remaining underrepresented in its most senior roles. In this episode of ANA Investigates, we had the privilege of speaking with two former women presidents of the American Neurological Association. Dr. Elizabeth Ross is a professor of neurology and neuroscience and director of the Center for Neurogenetics at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Frances E. Jensen is professor and chair of the Department of Neurology and co-director of the Translational Neuroscience Program at the University of Pennsylvania. Together, they discuss lessons learned, mentorship, strategic engagement, work-life balance, and how the next generation of women can build meaningful and consequential careers in leadership. The discussion was led by Dr. Sarah Nelson, an assistant professor at Tufts Medical Center.

In this episode, we are discussing one of the most rapidly evolving areas in acute stroke care, mechanical thrombectomy for medium vessel occlusions, or MEVO. While thrombectomy is well established for large vessel occlusions, whether patients with smaller, more distal occlusions benefit has remained an important unanswered question. In the recent years, several landmark trials have evaluated endovascular treatment for MEVO with differing results, some suggesting benefits while others suggesting no benefit. Together, these studies have shifted the conversation from whether thrombectomy should be performed to which patients are most likely to benefit. To discuss how these findings are reshaping clinical practice and the future of thrombectomy stroke trials, we spoke with Dr. Mayank Goyal, professor of radiology and clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary. He was interviewed by Dr. Omar Al-Janabi, a stroke neurologist at Baptist Health.

Disclosures: Dr. Goyal discloses consulting fees from Medtronic, Penumbra, Jacob's Institute, Silvercreek Pharma, Microvention, and grant funding from Medtronic and Cerenovus

In this episode, we'll discuss pediatric epilepsy surgery. Pediatric epilepsy surgery has undergone a remarkable evolution, moving from a treatment of last resort to a critical option for children with drug-resistant epilepsies. Yet major barriers remain, including delayed referrals, fear of brain surgery, and uncertainty around risks and benefits. At the same time, advances in imaging, genetics, and neuromodulation are shaping the utility of epilepsy surgery. For an update in pediatric epilepsy surgery, we spoke with Dr. Ahsan Moosa Naduvil Valappil, a pediatric epileptologist and an associate professor of neurology at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Moosa is internationally recognized for his work in pediatric epilepsy surgery and complex hemispheric epilepsy syndromes. Dr. Moosa and his colleagues at Cleveland Clinic have helped advance our understanding of how surgical interventions can improve outcomes for children with epilepsy. Dr. Moosa was interviewed by Dr. Howard Goodkin, the Shure Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at the University of Virginia.

Disclosures: None

In this episode, we will focus on the latest in the research on ALS. ALS remains a devastating disease, but the field is now at an inflection point with a growing pipeline of precision therapies, trial-ready sites, and a new generation of clinician scientists - yet barriers persist. There is disease heterogeneity, limited trial access for patients, and rising development costs. For an update on ALS clinical trials and the Healey ALS MyMatch program, a centralized platform that matches participants to trials, we spoke with Dr. Suma Babu. Dr. Suma Babu is an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Neurological Clinical Research Institute at Mass General Brigham. She was interviewed by Dr. Ryan Jacobson, an associate professor of neurology at Rush University.

Disclosure: This episode does not award CME.

ANA Investigates is the official podcast of the American Neurological Association, featuring conversations that highlight the latest discoveries, controversies, and trends in academic neurology. After the successful release of over 80 podcast episodes, In today's episode, we'll explore the creation and evolution of the ANA Investigates podcast since its launch in September 2019. We have the privilege of hosting four legends who were instrumental in bringing this podcast to life.

First, Dr. Adeline Goss, Assistant Professor at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California, whose background as a radio host uniquely positioned her to serve as ANA investigates Executive Producer for six years.

We are also joined by Dr. Megan Richie, Associate Professor at UCSF, and Dr. Romer Geocadin, Professor at Johns Hopkins—both of whom played central roles in shaping the podcast from its earliest days through its evolution.

Finally, we're joined by Jennifer Hurley, Education and Accreditation Manager for the American Neurological Association, who has been integral to the editing, production, and sustained success of every single episode.

Disclosures: This episode does not award CME credit.

The diagnosis and management of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is evolving. However, skepticism about this diagnosis persists among neurologists based upon lack of disease specific pathology, overlap with other neurodegenerative processes, and a lack of uniform diagnostic criteria. Also, prior reports of minimal or transient improvement after treatment with an invasive procedure and lack of high-quality studies has concerned some neurologists. We are joined by 2 experts in the field of movement disorders and CSF flow – Dr. Alberto Espay and Dr. Michael Williams – to discuss advances in our understanding of idiopathic NPH, the PENS trial, and evidence still needed to convince neurologists that NPH is clinical syndrome that warrants timely evaluation and treatment.

• Guest(s): Dr. Alberto Espay, Professor of Neurology at the University of Cincinnati; Dr. Michael Williams, Professor Neurology and Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington
• Interviewer: Dr. Kara Wyant, Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan
• Disclosures:
  • Dr. Espay: Consultancies & Scientific Advisory Boards Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (formerly, Neuroderm), Amneal, Acorda, Abbvie, Bial, Supernus (formerly, USWorldMeds), NeuroDiagnostics, Inc (SYNAPS Dx), Intrance Medical Systems, Inc., Merz, Praxis Precision Medicines, Citrus Health, and Herantis Pharma.
  • Dr. Williams: I am a paid consultant to Aesculap regarding devices to treat hydrocephalus
  • Dr. Wyant: Biovie - consulting, (NEW 8/2025) ongoing, UCB Pharma - research support, ended 6/2025, PhotoPharmics - research support, ongoing

Last year, the FDA approved adaptive deep brain stimulation for the treatment of people with Parkinson's disease. This is a major step forward in neurology. It allows personalized therapy by adjusting deep brain stimulation settings in real-time based on an individual's brain signals.

Our guest on this episode is Dr. Helen Bronte-Stewart, the John E. Cahill Family Professor of Neurology and Director of the Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Lab at Stanford University. Dr. Bronte-Stewart was interviewed by Dr. Karlo Lizarraga, Associate Professor of Neurology and Director of the Motor Physiology and Neuromodulation program at the University of Rochester.

Disclosures: Dr. Bronte-Stewart disclosed equity in QDG Health. Dr. Lizarraga disclosed FHC: Consulting (Course Instructor), BlueRock: Research support.

In this episode, we'll focus on new onset refractory status epilepticus or NORSE, and its closely related presentation, febrile and infection related epilepsy syndrome, known as FIRES. NORSE and FIRES are clinical presentations where the evidence is limited, stakes are high, and treatment often has to begin before the diagnosis is clear. They also raise broader questions about how neurology can respond to rare but catastrophic illness, including how patients, families and researchers can work together to move the field forward. For an update on NORSE and FIRES, we spoke with Dr. Howard Goodkin and Dr. Larry Hirsch. Dr. Goodkin is the Shure professor of neurology and pediatrics at University of Virginia. Dr. Larry Hirsch is a professor of neurology at Yale University. They were interviewed by Dr. Ifrah Zawar, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Virginia.

Disclosures: Dr. Hirsch has received consultation fees for advising from Ceribell, Natus, & UCB and honoraria for speaking/training from Neuropace & Natus.

In this episode, we'll explore emerging strategies to enhance recovery after stroke. Stroke rehabilitation has long relied on physical, occupational, and speech therapy, but advances in neuroscience are opening new opportunities to directly modulate brain networks, promote plasticity, and hopefully help patients regain function. Dr. Sean Dukelow's work focuses on neurorehabilitation and the mechanisms of recovery after stroke. He's a professor and head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. Dr. Dukelow was interviewed by Dr. Cheran Elangovan, vascular neurologist at University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Series 7, Episode 3

Disclosures: Dr. Dukelow serves on the advisory board for Merz and Ipsen, provides consultation for AbbVie, receives speaker fees from Merz

Today, we'll talk with one of the true giants of stroke neurology - Dr. Louis Caplan, Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Senior Neurologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For decades, Dr. Caplan has shaped how we think about stroke. He's authored an enormous body of work -- landmark papers, books, and clinical descriptions that have changed how neurologists around the world recognize and classify strokes.

But today, rather than revisiting the past, we'll ask how he sees the future - of stroke, clinical reasoning in an era of AI, and of medicine itself. Dr. Caplan was interviewed by Dr. Sarah Nelson, neurointensivist and Assistant Professor of Neurology at Tufts Medical Center. Series 7, Episode 2

Disclosures: None