Past-President Eric Denys, MD receives UCSF Royer Award for outstanding contributions to neurology

In February Dr. Eric Denys (Past-President of the SFNS 2001-2003) officially received the Dr. J. Elliott Royer Award in Community Neurology from the Dean at UCSF.  The award is given for contributions to the field of Neurology in research, teaching and community services.   

Please visit this link in UCSF news:  http://medschool.ucsf.edu/news/news/20070919_Royer.aspx  for more information.

Dr. Denys participated in the first ever plasmapheresis treatment for Myasthenia Gravis and the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco.  Dr. Denys is credited to be the first to show that the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome could be transferred to animals, which led to the discovery of immunological mechanisms.   He also played a major role in emphasizing the need for temperature control in clinical electromyography and improved diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Denys has made numerous contributions to research and care of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).  He continues to be a resource for physicians and patients in the field of peripheral nerve disorders. He has been an active member of the SFNS for many years and was President of the Society from 2001 - 2003.

April 2008 Newsletter

President's Letter
Oscar N. Abeliuk, M.D., President, San Francisco Neurological Society

The San Francisco Neurological Society will continue to provide a very friendly atmosphere of fellowship and interaction for physicians in the neurosciences.  A series of dinner meetings throughout the year will include the latest in diagnosis, treatment and research in all aspects of neurological and neurosurgical conditions. This will culminate with our annual meeting, once again scheduled at the Hyatt Regency, Monterey to take place on February 27, 28 & March 1, 2009.  Again the annual meeting is evolving to be of the highest caliber.  Many of the speakers are already scheduled and we can expect to pursue discussions and great opportunities for interaction with those who are experts in the great variety of topics to be presented.  Our goal over the next year will be to continue on the path set by our most immediate Past President, Dr. Robyn Young.  We will continue to expand membership locally and open up our meetings to physicians in the neurosciences from all of California and the adjoining Western States. 

An added feature to the annual meeting will be a first time Neuro-Cinema Festival in which the public will have access to presentations and discussions of movies that relate to neurological illnesses, such as Awakening, My Left Foot, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Rain Man and Away From Her along with others.

I personally feel very confident that this will once again be a great year for the Society. I look forward to continuing the great tradition of blending academics and fellowship in an atmosphere of collegiality and friendship. 

Sincerely,
Oscar N. Abeliuk, M.D.

Letter from the Past President
Robyn G. Young, M.D., President, March 2007-2008, San Francisco Neurological Society

 The San Francisco Neurological Society embodies a unique blend of academics and fellowship for physicians in the neurosciences.  Our meetings cover broad areas of interest in the neurosciences, including the latest in research, diagnostics and in neurological and neurosurgical therapeutics.   All material is presented in an atmosphere of fellowship, with greater opportunity for interaction than in most medical symposia.  We have a chance to catch up on the research interests and clinical activities and experiences of our friends and colleagues.   We can freely pursue discussions on directions in research as well as interesting clinical cases, away from the daily pressures and imposed distractions of our daily work.   2007 and continuing in 2008 has been a period of growth and innovation for the San Francisco Neurological Society.  We expanded our database and our membership, increased programs and tried new locations, and we held our first 3 day Annual Meeting commemorating our 60^th year @ the Hyatt Regency Monterey, March 14 – 16, 2008.  Guest lecturers for the 60^th Annual Meeting were: 

• The Boldrey Neurosurgical guest lecture: Robert Dempsey, MD, Chair N/S, University of Wisconsin, “Rethinking Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease: New Frontiers from Molecular Biology to the Patient”

• The Neurology guest lecture: Charles H. Adler, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ, “Dystonia & the YIPS”

• The Saturday evening dinner speaker:  Don Allen, Past District Governor, Rotary International,  “Conquering the Global Epidemic of Poliomyelitis”

The 60^th Annual Meeting Resident/Fellow Research Awards went to:

• Boldrey Award:  Daniel Lim, MD, NS, UCSF, “Chromatin Remodeling Factor Mll Specifically Maintains Neurogenesis from Postnatal Brain Neural Stem Cells”

• Newman Award:  Ellen Mowry, MD, N, MS Center, UCSF, “Multiple Sclerosis Onset Location Predicts the Location of Subsequent Relapses”

• Kaiser Award:  Jennifer Armstrong-Wells, MD, MPH, N, UCSF, “Prevalence and Predictors of Perinatal Hemorrhagic Stroke”

Dues remained the same and registration costs were kept to a minimum.  As always the Annual Meeting was held in an area of interest to families and ample time was left for leisure, including the traditional golf tournament.  2008  golf winners were:

• First Place - John Barnes, MD

• Second Place - Michael McDermott, MD

 Photos

http://picasaweb.google.com/rgyoungmd/SFNeurologicalSociety60thAnnualMeeting_314162008_Monterey

 SF Neurological Society Programs 3/2007 – 3/2008 

Dinner Programs:

June 5, 2007 - Stanford Faculty Club
Victor Tse, MD, PhD, Stanford University School of Medicine

"The Current Concept of Brain Tumor Angiogenesis and its Practical Implication"

July 25, 2007 - Courtyard by Marriott Fairfield

Fredric Gorin, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, UC Davis Medical Center
"What Constitutes an Inflammatory Neuropathy?” and
Claudia Greco, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Pathology, UC Davis Medical Center
"The Neurodiagnostic Skin Biopsy: Will It Replace the Sural Nerve Biopsy?”

September 20, 2007 - Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel
Mitchel Berger, MD, Chairman and Professor of Neurological Surgery at UCSF,

”Maximizing Extent of Tumor Resection While Minimizing Morbidity: That’s Done, But Have We Impacted Outcome?”

November 1, 2007 - Aird Dinner Meeting, Hotel Nikko, San Francisco
Co-sponsored by UCSF, Department of Neurology

Martin A. Samuels, MD, Brigham and Womens’ Hospital / Harvard Medical School,

"Interesting Cases in Neurohematology”
 

December 3, 2007 - Soizic Bistro, Oakland, CA
Speakers: Eric Collins, MD & Michael Gibbs, MD,

"Myasthenia Gravis: Point-Counterpoint"

January 15, 2008 - Vintners Inn, Santa Rosa
Speaker: Eldan Eichbaum, MD,
‘Management of Thoracolumbar Fractures/Trauma’

60^th Annual Meeting:  (March 14-16, 2008 - Hyatt Regency, Monterey)

Friday March 14, 2008:

Robyn Young, MD, President, SFNS: Welcome & Overview

Dongwoo John Chang, MD, N/S, UCD: Approach to Skull Based Tumors

Michael Geschwind, MD, N, UCSF: Rapidly Progressive Dementia

Gary Steinberg, MD, PhD, N/S, Stanford: Treatment of Moyamoya Disease

Ari Green, MD, N, UCSF: Multiple Sclerosis: How Close Are We to Understanding Its Etiology?

Emmanuelle Waubant, MD, N, UCSF: Pediatric MS

Bruce Cree, MD, N, UCSF: Emerging MS Therapies

PAIN MANAGEMENT PANEL:  Approach to Treatment & Med-Legal Issues

  Wayne Anderson, DO, N - Pain Management: Neurology Practice & Treating Pain

  Phil Lippe, MD, N/S - Pain Management: Neurosurgery Practice & Treating Pain

  Richard Gracer, MD, Addiction Medicine: Pain and Addiction: New Insights & Treatment for Substance Addiction

   Jim Geagan, Attorney, Physician Responsibility to Treat Pain & Alleviate Suffering

   Jennifer Bolen, Attorney/Former DOJ: DEA, Legal Responsibilities and Liabilities

 PANEL DISCUSSION - Issues in Pain Management

Friday evening:  President's Welcome Reception

Saturday March 15, 2008
Robert Dempsey, MD, Chair N/S, University of Wisconsin: Boldrey Lecture: Rethinking Carotid Atherosclerotic Disease: New Frontiers from Molecular Biology to the Patient
Donna Ferriero, MD, PediN, UCSF: Neonatal Stroke - Cause or Consequence?
Peter Sun, MD,N/S Oakland Children’s Hosp: From Head to Tail: A Review of Pediatric Neurosurgery

Jim Tetrud, MD, N, Parkinson's Institute
Non-Motor Manifestations of Parkinson's Disease & Future Treatments

Charles H. Adler, MD, PhD, Prof/ of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ: Dystonia & the YIPS

Paul Larson, MD, N/S, UCSF: DBS & Surgical Treatment of Movement Disorders

Helen Bronte-Stewart, MD, N, Stanford: Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders

Saturday Afternoon: Annual Golf Tournament and Activities

Saturday evening - Annual Society Dinner:  Don Allen, Past District Governor, Rotary International: Conquering the Global Epidemic of Poliomyelitis

 Sunday March 16, 2008:
RESEARCH AWARDS:

• Boldrey Award:  Daniel Lim, MD, NS, UCSF, “Chromatin Remodeling Factor Mll Specifically Maintains Neurogenesis from Postnatal Brain Neural Stem Cells”

• Newman Award:  Ellen Mowry, MD, N, MS Center, UCSF, “Multiple Sclerosis Onset Location Predicts the Location of Subsequent Relapses”

• Kaiser Award:  Jennifer Armstrong-Wells, MD, MPH, N, UCSF, “Prevalence and Predictors of Perinatal Hemorrhagic Stroke”

Jon Katz, MD, N, CPMC:  CIDP - Does It Really Exist?

Mike McDermott, MD, N/S, UCSF:  Giant Meningiomas

Bruce Adornato, MD, N, Stanford: Sleep Disorders, Cataplexy & Narcolepsy

Larry Recht, MD, Neuro-Oncology, Stanford: Why Can't We Cure Glioblastomas?

Oscar Abeliuk, MD, N – Concord: History of Human Facial Expression from Darwin to Botox

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