UH Neurological Institute Celebrates 10 Years of Firsts

Last fall, the world witnessed the first brain surgery aired nationally on live TV on the National Geographic Channel – one of many firsts since University Hospitals (UH) Neurological Institute was launched in 2006. The first institute of its kind in Northeast Ohio, UH Neurological Institute has expanded to more patients through 25 locations across Northeast Ohio.

In 2016, U.S. News & World Report continues to rank UH Cleveland Medical Center as one of the nation’s best neurology and neurosurgery programs. Personalized neurological care is delivered through 15 Centers of Excellence using the latest clinical advances and leading-edge technologies.

The UH Neurological Institute’s firsts include:

• First Comprehensive Stroke Center in Northeast Ohio
• First in Ohio to offer proton therapy for the treatment of brain and skull base tumors
• First in the world to test the diaphragm pacing stimulation system on patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• First in North America to perform deep brain stimulation of the thalamus to successfully treat symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome
• First in the U.S. to perform the epilepsy procedure known as multiple hippocampal transection, which can eliminate or reduce the occurrence and severity of seizures
• First comprehensive pediatric autonomic lab in the country
• First in Ohio to include both Gamma Knife technology in our stereotactic radiosurgery suite
• First institute in Northeast Ohio to offer Botox® injection therapy for a facial movement disorder known as pterygoid muscle dystonia

“We don’t just perform brain surgery, we do so much more,” said Nicholas Bambikidis, MD, Director, UH Neurological Institute. “All of the members of the NI, from the nursing teams to the administrative staff, on
to the physicians who care for our patients every day, put every effort into delivering the best possible care.”