PHYSICIAN HIGHLIGHT

Houston Methodist is a premier site nationally for neuromodulation, which involves altering the nervous system’s activity to treat a range of conditions. Our particular focus is on the newest techniques and technologies for patients with Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and epilepsy. Neuromodulation is also performed in the treatment of chronic pain or neuropathy. We have considerable experience with cell and gene therapy and emerging methods — such as magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound — for noninvasive treatment options. We also have a strong program in neural interfaces and are working to design future treatment options where none currently exist.

My PhD in chemistry focused on two aspects, drug delivery using nanotechnology and electric fields applied in the brain to drive fluid flow as a novel method of drug delivery. This fluid flow system was being used in the lab to sample small peptides for neurochemical analysis in model nervous system tissue — in other words, to use chemistry to manipulate the electric field in our brains. Given my interest in neurosurgery, we devised a way to reverse the electric field and create a therapeutic transport system that may allow us to target the delivery of medicine more directly and efficiently to a person in need of neurorestoration.

My clinics are full of success stories. I am able to routinely make lives better. This is the reason I went into medicine and neurosurgery, specifically. Each patient I treat reminds me of my grandmother or other relatives or friends who have had similar conditions. Houston Methodist has enabled me to have every resource to deliver the best patient care, to be involved in the most innovative research and to lead medicine in my subspecialty. The most incredible memories of my time at this hospital include the amazing friendships I’ve developed with patients, colleagues, staff and residents.