Clinical Neurosciences Center

The Motor Neuron Disease Clinic focuses on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and other forms of motor neuron disease. It is certified by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) as a multidiscliplinary clinic.

The University of Utah Center for Alzheimer’s Care, Imaging and Research (CACIR) is the most comprehensive Alzheimer’s program in the Intermountain West. The Center hopes to improve dementia care by combining education and awareness with the latest advances in research and imaging technology.

The Epilepsy Program at the Clinical Neuroscience Center is committed to delivering world-class care for patients with epilepsy by providing excellent clinical management and the use of state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and approaches. Our staff conducts clinical and translational research to improve the knowledge and treatment of epilepsy.

Functional Neurosurgery/Epilepsy has a long history at the University of Utah. Functional neurosurgery includes treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's disease and essential familial tremor. We have treated many patients successfully with deep brain stimulation (placement of electrodes in certain structures of the brain) to help alleviate their symptoms. Surgery for reducing the severity of and sometimes curing seizures is also performed at the University.

The Neurology Outpatient Clinic is one of many specialty clinics that is staffed by Neurology specialists at the University Health Care. Located on the east edge of Salt Lake City, it is the only academic medical center in the intermountain west. Its unique location attracts referrals throughout the state of Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, western Colorado, northern Nevada and Arizona, and eastern Oregon.

Neurosurgery has a long tradition at University Health Care. Neurosurgeons at the University of Utah have been providing specialty care to patients in the intermountain west for decades.

The Headache Clinic receives the most requests for neurologic consultation. The clinic focuses not only on pharmacologic treatment but also the psychological factors associated with chronic pain.

The Magnetic Source Imaging Lab at the University of Utah Clinical Neurosciences Center is a state-of-the-art diagnostic center for the evaluation of brain diseases, particularly epilepsy and tumors.

The Movement Disorders Clinic specializes in Parkinson disease and less common types of movement disorders, including progressive supranucular palsy, multisystem atrophy, and tremors. In addition to pharmacologic treatment, the clinic includes collaboration with the Department of Neurosurgery for placement of deep brain stimulation electrodes when appropriate. The clinic includes a representative from the American Parkinson Disease Foundation and an educational resource center that provides information to the patient and family.

NCCU is the only dedicated Neuroscience Critical Care Unit in the Intermountain West. We are a 12 - bed adolescent and adult Intensive Care Unit, directed by Neurological Intensivists and an expert team of specialized healthcare professionals.

The Neuromuscular Clinic specializes on disorders of nerve and muscle. The clinic can evaluate numbness and weakness to determine if they are caused by diseases of nerve, neuromuscular junction or muscle. Diseases include peripheral neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, and myopathies.

Neuroradiology is a subspecialty of radiology focusing on the diagnosis and characterization of abnormalities of the central nervous system, spine, and head and neck. Primary imaging modalities include computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Plain radiography and ultrasound are utilized on a limited basis.

The neuroradiology department enjoys close collaboration with the Department of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Otolaryngology, and Radiation Oncology. The department hosts over 10 ultidisciplinary conferences per week. These conferences include teaching conferences, tumor boards and grand rounds.

The Neuro Spine Care Center at the University of Utah provides comprehensive patient care from initial diagnosis through post-treatment and rehabilitation. Our team of spinal neurosurgeons is well recognized around the world and treats the full spectrum of spinal and spinal cord disorders, including degenerative spine conditions, spine and spinal cord tumors, spinal trauma, and deformity.

Neuro Acute Care is a dedicated inpatient neuroscience acute care unit. We serve a wide range of patients with neurosurgical, neurological and general medical/surgical diagnoses.

Neuro-Interventional Radiology (Neuro IR) is a medical specialty that uses the latest minimally-invasive technologies to treat diseases involving the central nervous system and spine.

The Neuro-Interventional Radiology group at the University of Utah utilizes endovascular techniques to treat a variety of vascular disorders involving the brain and spine. By working from inside blood vessels, which serve as natural conduits to lesions in the brain and spine, the procedures are minimally invasive. Procedures can often be performed on an outpatient basis, cause minimal or no scarring. They are associated with a much shorter recovery time compared with open surgery.

Our group also performs a range of spinal pain management procedures including vertebral augmentation with vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. We are part of the multidisciplinary Brain Attack Team and maintain a 24 hours/day, 7 days per week call schedule.

Children with neurological disorders often require treatment and management options that are different from adults. Our pediatric neurologists give special care to infants and children under the age of 18.

Pediatric Neurosurgery is provided by dedicated pediatric neurosurgeons including Drs. Jack Walker, Doug Brockmeyer, John Kestle, and Jay Riva-Cambrin. Their practice is located at Primary Children's Medical Center, which is located adjacent to the University Hospital.

The Stroke Center emphasizes acute intervention and is engaged in clinical trials with the goal of optimizing outcomes for stroke patients. The "Brain Attack" Team is notified as soon as a stroke is suspected, often before the patient reaches the hospital.

Our neurosurgeons participate in a multidisciplinary approach that includes neurologists, oncologists, and radiologists in determining an individual treatment plan for each patient. We also offer the latest in experimental protocols. Primary and metastatic brain tumors, spinal tumors, and peripheral nerve tumors are all treated by our neurosurgeons.

Vascular Neurosurgery (including carotid artery stenosis, intracerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and stroke) is treated by specialty-trained neurosurgeons.

We are proud to offer the services of our cerebrovascular neurosurgeons to the community. Our state of the art Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital makes us uniquely qualified to handle any cerebrovascular disorder.