Neurology

The Neurology Department of Excellence is a primary area of medical expertise for Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Led by world-renowned neurologists and neurosurgeons, the multidisciplinary neuroscience team is composed of leaders in advanced diagnostic capabilities on the cutting-edge of technology and procedures — many available only at Jackson Memorial.

Schedule a Neurology Appointment

Our neurology and neurosurgery departments, in affiliation with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, provides care under several specialty areas including: stroke services, neurocritical care, epilepsy, neuroendovascular surgery, neuro-rehabilitation, pediatric neurology, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuro-oncology.

Schedule a Neurology Appointment

Our neurology and neurosurgery departments, in affiliation with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, provides care under several specialty areas including: stroke services, neurocritical care, epilepsy, neuroendovascular surgery, neuro-rehabilitation, pediatric neurology, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuro-oncology.

Jackson South Medical Center

Call 305-256-4492.

Jackson North Medical Center

Call 305-654-3140.

Jackson Memorial Hospital

Call 305-585-4362.

Primary Neurology Services

International Comprehensive Epilepsy Center

The International Center for Epilepsy at the University of Miami, in association with Jackson Memorial Hospital, is a national and international leader in epilepsy. The center, designated by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a Level 3 Center, is dedicated to providing the most advanced treatment, research and education for epilepsy across all ages and types of seizures and epilepsy syndromes.

Our medical and surgical teams have access to the most advanced and modern tools for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and the underlying cause for the seizures. The comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating epilepsy includes:
A 24/7 response to patient emergencies and EEG video monitoring for adult neurology and pediatric neurology patients. In these units, patients are monitored for extended periods of time (1) as part of a pre-surgical evaluation for epilepsy surgery and (2) to establish the diagnosis in patients with episodes of loss of consciousness or with unusual behavior.

Outpatient Clinics: A large number of patients receive specialized care and treatment in the epilepsy outpatient clinics. Our medical team is experienced in classification of the epilepsies, selection of the appropriate medical therapy, and adjusting the therapies for optimal outcome.

Active Surgical Program: For more than 30 years, the epilepsy center has had an active surgical program for the treatment of individuals with medically refractory epilepsy.

Neurophysiological Laboratory: Besides routine electroencephalograms, the neurophysiology laboratory at ICE has the ability to record outpatient ambulatory EEG recordings and all day EEG/video recordings.

Neuroimaging: A broad range of neuroimaging is available.High magnet strength MRI imaging is available using specially constructed techniques which provides both structural and functional images. PET and SPECT imaging is available on both an outpatient and inpatient basis.

Interventional Radiology and Gamma Knife: Experienced interventional radiology and Gamma Knife groups are present to assist in the non-surgical treatment of patients with intracranial tumors and vascular malformations.

Movement Disorders & Parkinson’s Clinic: Inpatient consultation services for patients with movement disorders and Parkinson’s disease are provided at Jackson Memorial Hospital through the Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, a division of the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Jackson Memorial has an active program for implanting deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical treatment involving the implantation of a medical device called a brain pacemaker, which sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the brain. DBS can offer therapeutic benefits for patients who suffer from movement and affective disorders including chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, tremor and dystonia.

The DBS team includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, anesthesiologists, research personnel, and therapists.

Neurocritical Care: The 24-bed Neurocritical Care Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital is one of the largest units of its kind in the United States. The unit offers advanced invasive and non-invasive multi-modality neuromonitoring such as ICP, brain oximetry, microdialysis, cerebral perfusion, in addition to monitoring such as TCD, CT, and MRI scanning.

As one of the largest and busiest trauma centers in the United States, Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital provides care for a large number of neurotrauma patients. In association with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s critical care team, it is one of our primary aims to provide excellent critical care to these patients to improve their outcomes and limit subsequent disability.

Neurosurgical conditions we treat include:

  • Severe head injury (traumatic brain injury)
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Intracranial hemorrhage: subdural, extradural and intracerebral hemorrhage
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Neurological conditions we treat include:
  • Severe stroke
  • Tumors with large mass effect
  • Meningitis/Encephalitis/Cerebritis
  • Myasthenic crisis
  • Guillain Barre Syndrome
  • Severe seizures: status epilepticus

Neuroendovascular Care

Neuroendovascular surgery is a relatively new subspecialty that has been evolving since the mid-1970s. Neuroendovascular surgery, a subspecialty within the fields of radiology and neurosurgery, is the management and treatment of complex neurologic lesions using minimally invasive techniques.

During the past two decades, significant advances have been made in the field of minimally invasive therapy for the treatment of intracranial cerebral aneurysms; acute stroke therapy intervention; cerebral arteriovenous malformations; carotid cavernous sinus fistulas; head, neck and spinal cord vascular lesions; and other complex cerebrovascular diseases.

One distinguishing factor about the neuroendovascular service at Jackson Memorial Hospital is that it is the only hospital in Miami-Dade with two neuroangiography suites, both of which are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and devices including:

  • MERCI Clot Retriever
  • PENUMBRA Stroke System
  • GDC Coils
  • ONYX Liquid Embolic
  • X-act Carotid Stent
  • Emboshield Carotid Protection Device

Neuro-Oncology

Neuro-oncology physicians specialize in the diagnosis and medical treatment of tumors of the nervous system. At Jackson Memorial Hospital, neurosurgeons operate on approximately 200 brain tumors a year, which is more than the number performed at any other medical institutions in Florida. Jackson Memorial has the latest devices to ensure patient-focused, state-of-the-art care. These advanced devices include:

  • Stereotactic devices, both with and without frame
  • Lasers
  • Ultrasonic aspirators
  • Intraoperative CT scan
  • Ultrasound guidance
  • Intraoperative fluoroscopy
  • Angiography or arteriography, a medical imaging technique
  • Neuropsychology Rehabilitation
  • Neuro-Rehabilitation
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Stroke

Neuropsychology

The Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorialprovides inpatients and outpatients with a comprehensive array of neuropsychological, behavioral medicine and rehabilitation psychology services across the lifespan by an expert staff. Learn more.

Neuro-Rehabilitation

Neuro-rehabilitation is a complex medical process which aims to aid recovery from a nervous system injury, and to minimize and/or compensate for any functional alterations resulting from injury.

In case of a serious disability, such as one caused by a severe spinal injury or brain damage, the patient and his/her families’ abilities, lifestyle and projects are suddenly shattered. In order to cope with this situation, the person and his/her family must establish and negotiate a “new way of living,” both with their changed body and as a changed individual within a wider community.

This tertiary care center is able to not only provide for lower-level patients with significant medical needs, but is staffed with a full-time rehabilitation team from the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at Uhealth/Jackson Memorial, therapists trained to provide for the needs of those who are neurologically impaired.Services designed to meet patient needs include physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapists, neuropsychologists, rehabilitation nurses, and a full-time social worker and case manager.

Pediatric Neurology

Pediatric neurology relates to the study of the central nervous system of infants and children, including the brain and spinal cord, and the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system disorders, including neuromas (benign tumors), stroke, ticks, movement disorders, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.

At Holtz Children’s Hospital, patients are cared for in a state-of-the-art pediatric facility including an intensive care unit and the largest neonatal intensive care unit in Florida and one of the largest in the nation. Our team comprises an interdisciplinary team of neurology, neurosurgery and rehabilitation services.

Stroke

Jackson Memorial Hospital joins an elite group of healthcare organizations focused on highly-specialized stroke care. Learn more.

Additional Medical Services

Jackson Memorial Hospital works with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to provide a wide range of medical services for sub-specialties, as well as neurobehavioral disorders and other conditions.

Dementia & Clinical Neurobehavioral Disorders

The aging population is growing rapidly. By the year 2030, it is estimated that nearly 25 percent of Americans will be 65 or older, with millions suffering some form of memory loss. The mission of The Evelyn F. McKnight Center for Age-Related Memory Loss at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is to discover the causes of age-related disorders of brain function and memory, and ways to prevent these disorders.

Multiple Sclerosis

The Multiple Sclerosis Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine was established more than 30 years ago as the first center for multiple sclerosis (MS) in the southeastern United States, where attention has been focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and research of the disease..

Neuromuscular Disorders

At Jackson Memorial Hospital’s EMG Laboratory, electromyography provides diagnostic information by measuring the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. It is an excellent tool to evaluate muscle diseases (such as muscular dystrophy) or nerve disorder (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or peripheral neuropathies).

In collaboration with Jackson Memorial Hospital, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and other health professionals provide expert help for all aspects of diagnosis, treatment and management of complex neuromuscular diseases.

Neuro-Ophthalmology

Neuro-ophthalmology is a subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology concerning visual problems that are related to the nervous system. Neuro-ophthalmologists typically attend to diseases of the afferent visual system (most often involving the optic nerve), the efferent visual system (that controls eye movements), or the pupillary reflexes.

In association with the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Jackson Memorial Hospital offers neuro-ophthalmology inpatient consultations.

Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology is the applied scientific discipline that studies the structure and function of the brain related to specific psychological processes and overt behaviors.

Students: Interested in getting training for Neurology?