Board Certification
|
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurology)
|
Patient Rating
Patients consistently praise Dr. Testini for her clinical expertise, thorough assessments, and strong follow-through. Many note she listens well, explains tests and treatment options clearly, and spends ample time teaching and answering questions with compassion. Commenters report feeling confident in her care, grateful for definitive diagnoses and treatment plans, and commonly recommend her. A few reviews mention long wait times and at least one delayed video appointment.
Generated via Patient Reviews
The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers. The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments |
Neurology
-Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
|---|---|
| Board Certification |
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurology)
|
Education history
| Professional Medical | Medicine - Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele | M.D. |
|---|---|---|
| Clerkship | Neurology - San Raffaele Hospital | Clerkship |
| Clerkship | Neurology and Surgery - University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health | Clerkship |
| Clerkship | Neurosurgery - San Raffaele Hospital | Clerkship |
| Other Training | Pediatric Neurosurgery - NYU Langone Health | Clinical Observership |
| Internship | General Surgery - Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education | Preliminary Intern |
| Internship | Internal Medicine - State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University | Intern |
| Residency | Neurology - State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University | Resident |
| Fellowship | Movement Disorders - Emory University School of Medicine | Fellow |
Selected Publications
Journal Article
- Testini P, Wang A, Cole ER, Miocinovic (2026). Motor evoked potentials as a side effect biomarker for deep brain stimulation. Clinical neurophysiology, 183, 2111499.
- Al Ali J, McKay JL, Nocera JR, Isbaine F, Tran JT, Testini P, Triche SD, Esper CD, Aia P, Scorr LM, Higginbotham L, Tripathi R, Au Yong N, Miocinovic S, Buetefisch C (2026). Bilateral Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus or Globus Pallidus Internus Improves Gait Impairment in Parkinson's Disease. Movement disorders, 41(3), 699-708.
- Tripathi R, McKay JL, Factor SA, Esper CD, Bernhard D, Testini P, Miocinovic (2024). Impact of deep brain stimulation on gait in Parkinson disease: A kinematic study. Gait & posture, 108, 151-156.
- Jo HJ, McCairn KW, Gibson WS, Testini P, Zhao CZ, Gorny KR, Felmlee JP, Welker KM, Blaha CD, Klassen BT, Min HK, Lee KH (2018). Global network modulation during thalamic stimulation for Tourette syndrome. Neuroimage Clin, 18, 502-509.
- Ahmed AT, Abdel-Rahman O, Morsy M, Mustafa K, Testini P, Aleem IS, Murad MH, Nassr A (2018). Management of Sacrococcygeal Chordoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 43(19), E1157-E1169.
- Settell ML, Testini P, Cho S, Lee JH, Blaha CD, Jo HJ, Lee KH, Min HK (2017). Functional Circuitry Effect of Ventral Tegmental Area Deep Brain Stimulation: Imaging and Neurochemical Evidence of Mesocortical and Mesolimbic Pathway Modulation. Front Neurosci, 11, 104.
- Testini P, Zhao CZ, Stead M, Duffy PS, Klassen BT, Lee KH (2016). Centromedian-Parafascicular Complex Deep Brain Stimulation for Tourette Syndrome: A Retrospective Study. Mayo Clin Proc, 91(2), 218-25.
- Gibson WS, Jo HJ, Testini P, Cho S, Felmlee JP, Welker KM, Klassen BT, Min HK, Lee KH (2016). Functional correlates of the therapeutic and adverse effects evoked by thalamic stimulation for essential tremor. Brain, 139(Pt 8), 2198-210.
- Knight EJ, Testini P, Min HK, Gibson WS, Gorny KR, Favazza CP, Felmlee JP, Kim I, Welker KM, Clayton DA, Klassen BT, Chang SY, Lee KH (2015). Motor and Nonmotor Circuitry Activation Induced by Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Patients With Parkinson Disease: Intraoperative Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Deep Brain Stimulation. Mayo Clin Proc, 90(6), 773-85.
Review
- Testini P, Factor S (2024). Treatment of tardive dystonia: A review. Dystonia (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2(10957),
- Testini P, Min HK, Bashir A, Lee KH (2016). Deep Brain Stimulation for Tourette's Syndrome: The Case for Targeting the Thalamic Centromedian-Parafascicular Complex. [Review]. Front Neurol, 7, 193.
Outstanding Doctor
Very knowledgeable, very kind
Very competent, kind, and seemed to truly care.
Very through and caring
Have been only seeing her for a year and I am pleased for her patience, time and support she has given me. Left today feeling better and everything was explained and well to my understanding of what is going on. Thank you Dr. Testini you know your business and I am looking forward to our future visits. Gracias!
Wry caring and knowledgeable.
She tries. I don't think I got really the best care being the last patient of the day when both of us were tired. I've run the medical gamut and ultimately feel exhausted and discouraged by the whole rat race.
very knowledgeable and interested in my concerns.
Dr Testini is incredible. She listens . She explains. She does though tests on you every time and compares them to previous ones. She is so intelligent yet explains everything so I understand.It is scary going to a neurologist but she makes me feel confident I am getting the best care possible. My husband had heard me talk about how good she is. He came for the first time and was so impressed.
She is an amazing person. She is compassionate and knowledgeable in her field.
Paola always seems interested in my feelings and well-being,and she is!!
Very patient and understanding. caring and thorough
Exceptional care both medically and a great bedside manner.
excellent doctor
Dr. Testini is an excellent physician cares about her patients.
Great doctor. Very knowledgeable and concern about my health. Examinations are not rushed.
She is the BEST
Professional and personable. I feel privileged to have such an accomplished doctor.
She really cares about you
Dr Testini is very thorough and listened to my concerns. She was very professional.
She was very personal and I thought really listen to my concerns and the treatment so felt good about it
Dr. Testini, was very helpful with my husband's care. She explained to me what go look out for, and she was also concerned about my wellbeing.
An excellent neurologist with a command of her field & solid knowledge of related fields as well. Listens carefully to the patient and makes good recommendations.
This was a very good visit. She is thorough and explained everything that I should continue doing and not do. She was patient with me and listened to my questions. Thank you! Gracias!
I am so greatful for my time with her and her expertise. Well worth waiting for.
Very nice and polite
With the experience we have had trying to find what is wrong with our son I would not recommend this institution or Doctor to anyone.
Dr. Testini is amazing, kind and very caring!
Dr. Testini is a true professional, with compassion and concern for her patient's well-being. She listens well, answers your questions in easy-to-understand responses, and explains things in a way anyone can understand. She is friendly and clearly cares about her patients. My wife and I recommend her highly.
Dr Testini listens to my concerns and treats me with respect and kindness.
She is awesome
The only reason I rated difficulty of obtaining needed care a bit lower was simply because of the long wait times to be seen initially, but this is applicable to all neurologists and is not their fault. I understand it's simply the nature of the field and the high patient demand for neurologists.
Dr Testini is very thorough, personable, and great!!!
Dr Testini is easy to work with and very knowledgeable.
Understand my feelings
Paola is incredibly professional, organized and talented. I trust her more than any other neurologist I've seen.
Thank you Dr Testini for your support for my health! You're the best.
Caring, warm, encouraging, informative. I trust her.
Very unsatisfactory performance by her team
She's caring and amazing. Great personality!
Not only was Dr. Testini, concerned about my husband, and explained the tests that she wanted to do, she also took the time, to speak with me about my wellbeing and my mental state, seeings where I'm the main care giver for my husband.
Dr Testini is both professionally competent and also appropriately personable. I highly recommend her.
Dr Testini is a dedicated professional.
Dr. Testini is very kind, caring and thorough in her assessment.
She is excellent, she makes sure every aspect of my care was covered
Dr. Testini is the best. She is concerned with my best interest. My wife and I trust her completely. Very thorough, knowledgeable, and listens carefully.
Dr. Testini is an excellent doctor who I'm happy that she is my doctor.
Dr. Testini is very professional and kind. She explains things well and I appreciate her care.
Dr. Testini is one of the best doctors I have seen for the treatment of my Parkinson's Disease. She is kind and caring and answers all the questions with clarity. She is familiar with new and emerging treatment modalities and provides all information in a way that is easy to understand.
This was my first time to Neurology Clinic.I didn't know Dr. Testini. until now, I thought she was thorough and explained things well to me. Answered my questions or any concerns that I would like to know about. Her resident also was good and he made me feel comfortable and also answered my questions. Thank you both for making me feel better. I am glad to have been seen by Dr. Testini after my four days in the hospital back in October 2024. Long wait for an appt. but it was worth the wait. Thank you!! Gracias!!
An excellent neurologist. Thank you!
Dr. Testini in my opinion is very knowledgeable in the treatment of Parkinson's. She has been very helpful in treating my Parkinson's issues.
Dr Testini is absolutely wonderful! She is professional, intelligent, and very empathetic. I had to wait a long time to see her, but she is well worth the wait. The University needs more doctors like her.
good service
Dr Testini is the best. If you are lucky enough to get her as your doctor than you are in great hands. She works tirelessly to find the proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Words can't describe how truly brilliant she is. Amazing
Very thorough and caring. I had a lot of questions and she listened made sure all my questions were answered.
Dr. Testini is a wonderful doctor.
Dr Testini is very thorough, listens and is respectful.
Dr Testini is excellent, patient, and very good at listening to all concerns and questions on each visit. I appreciate her very much.
Engaged and receptive to my medical issues.
D. Testini is very detailed, professional and easy to talk to. She takes time to listen and provides understandable answers to any questions.
She was knowledgeable, caring, and actually listened to me. I don't think it's a secret that neurologists are strange ducks and generally egotistical. She is different. The university is very lucky to have her and so am I.
Dr. Testini and I were able to focus on my needs.
she is very professional.
Dr. Paola Testini is outstanding, sharing her deep knowledge of her specialty (and medicine generally) combined with a patient centered and engaged approach. I feel confident that I am receiving world-class care by her and her associates through the University of Utah.
She was very professional and knowledgeable in her field. She took the time to explain to me what she was doing and asked me if I was understanding her and the treatment.
She cares
Thank you for fitting us when we were late. Your care was excellent and your suggestions were spot on.
She is trying hard to figure out what is wrong with [NAME REMOVED].
Very attentive and caring.
Dr. Testini is an excellent physician and I have nothing but respect for her! She treated me like I was important to her and help me to understand more about this disease that I have. I would recommend her to anyone!
Great neurologist!
She is very caring and attentive to my needs
She was very compassionate.
Dr. Testini is a well-educated and professional neurologist who I completely trust with my dystonia diagnosis and treatment. She is highly knowledgeable in her field, and has a wonderful bedside manner. She is personable yet professional, while answering any questions I may have, and is genuinely concerned for my health and well-being. I recommend her highly!
She is very good
Dr. Testini is very competent and kind. She creates an environment that makes it easy to ask questions.
Dr. Testini is extremely compassionate, knowledgable, patient, understanding, brilliant, thinks over her plan of treatment carefully and meticulously without being fastidious, is compellingly confident, is humble in her approach, listens and adjusts her plan to what she observes to be true.
only in for money. Doesn't listen to what im saying
I have great confidence in her care. She has literally given me my life back - diagnosing and treating my Parkinson's Disease.
She is very concerned and dedicated to making sure I get the best care I have need.
Dr Testini is very knowledgeable, professional, kind, and patient. She has been everything I have needed her to be as my neurologist during this difficult transition for me, as I've come to terms with my new diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
Dr. Testini is a great doctor. I have complete trust in her ability to take care of my needs.
She is a very detailed, observant, and caring doctor.
She is very concerned about my overall health
Dr. Testini was very thorough and seemed super confident. I recommend her highly.
Dr Testini is an excellent doctor. She is extremely thorough making sure she doesn't miss anything. She is professional yet caring. She listens and lets me make informed decisions about my care that include her valuable advice.
I really appreciate the time she took with me. She's very caring and understanding.
The time I spent with Dr. Paola Testini was positive in every respect. She listened, explained, advised, and I left her office feeling fantastic. Looking forward to my next appointment. 100%
Dr Tettina is a fabulous doctor. She takes time to tell you everything
Dr. Testini is extremenly knowledgeable. She spends enough time to thoroughly diagnose and assess the status of the condition. She takes the time to explain symptoms and suggest treatment alternatives. The followthrough from visit to visit is amazing.
I would definitely recommend Dr. Testini to anyone looking for a doctor knowledgeable in Parkinson's . She is thorough and answers the patient's questions.
Dr. Testini is a very knowledgeable, kind, very helpful! I trust her with taking care of my health!
Dr Testini spent considerable time with me asking me questions and answering mine. She seemed genuinely interested and concerned about my medical situation.
Dr Testini is fairly new to me after my previous neurologist moved. I very much appreciate her thoroughness, patience and amount of time spent with me on our visits. I don't feel rushed at all and value our time spent together. I have nothing but praise and thankfulness!
I think finding Dr. Testini as a neurologist is quite a find. I feel like she listened, discerned and made a very workable plan, checking all the way that I was in agreement.
We could not have a better doctor. She is very caring and very thorough. She has our complete trust.
She's one of the best doctors I have ever seen.
Outstanding Doctor!
Spent quality time
Was running over an hour late, end of the day, was distracted by her cell phone a couple of times. Very kind. Seems very knowledgeable. This may just be a one off situation.
Very good doctor. Her role in my life ¿ programming my brain to increase my functionality and to minimize the negative effects of PD ¿ is critically important to me and probably will be for the rest of my life.
Without a doubt I don't think I could have found a better doctor to work with. I think she has a true understanding of what is happening with me and I totally believe in her. The U of U is very lucky to have her on their staff.
Dr. Paola Testini is a great doctor who knows how to make a difference in finding a diagnosis and treating the problem. She's the best neurologist I have seen.
Amazing MD. Extremely thorough and skillful. Communicated unpleasant information in a most tactful and caring manner.
She is awesome I feel very fortunate to have her as my doctor. She is very caring , understanding . Top notch physician!
I would definitely recommend her to anyone.She is a nice and caring person.
Dr Testini is very knowledgeable, informative and patient when discussing diagnoses and treatment plans. Very thorough testing.
I have been dealing for years with a neurological issue. I was referred to Dr Testini a few months ago and she has been extremely helpful and supportive on finding a solution to my problem. I am currently scheduled to finally have a procedure to resolve this problem. I'm so thankful!
This is a brilliant and caring person; she makes PD into something tolerable, and keeps bringing the world into focus in the process. I have had the utmost highest respect and gratitude for everything she has accomplished. THANK YOU FOR HER EXPERTISE!
Dr Testini is very thorough and attentive and does not seem rushed in our appointments
Dr. Testini is very caring and very thorough, she is truly interested and committed to your welfare.
I was seen by Dr Testini and she was amazing. She is knowledgeable, dynamic and patient with me. Answered all my questions. Though it was a heartbreaking diagnosis, but I am glad I have answers now. Dr Testini is brilliant with her patients and actually spend time to listen to their concerns. She was methodical with her assessment linking past and present to give me a conclusive diagnosis. The rest of the staff were courteous and helpful. I thoroughly recommend University of Utah Health who in my opinion puts the patient concerns in the forefront. Overall a great experience.
Dr. Testini is a very knowledgeable and capable Neurologist and helped us come to terms in a compassionate way with the diagnosis of dementia in my wife. Dr. Testini is a credit to her field of Neurology. Would certainly recommend Dr. Testini to family and friends who may unfortunately find themselves in the same circumstances.
Dr. Testini is a tremendous provider who has great care and concern for her patients!!!
Provided the info I was seeking in a professional and compassionate way.
Dr. Testini is very patience and takes all the time necessary to go over an issue. I never feel hurried. I never feel like she is trying to get rid of me in order to get to the next patient. She is very knowledgeable and very good at her job.
Dr Trstini is absolutely awesome. She is extremely detailed in her understanding of my conditions.
Very professional!
dr testini knows what she was doing why
Very thorough, knowledgeable, caring
Very Caring and Concerned and makes me feel that she is concentrating on the best course of action for my particular condition and progress.
Very professional and communicated well.
Dr. Testini is an excellent doctor. I totally believe she was concerned about my health. Very professional. I was happy that I was able to be seen by her.
Dr. Testini was thorough and attentive. Explained new research and treatment for my lifelong problem - Essential Tremor.
Dr. Testini is compassionate, caring & takes her time on our visits to make sure she understands my issues & explains to me next steps to take & why. You couldn't find a better doctor than Dr. Testini.
She's a very good doctor
She was friendly and very informative.
A wonderful Dr and very compassionate. An expert in her field!
She's very courteous and knowledgeable, demonstrating that she genuinely cares about me.
I respect her skills as a doctor, but I believe that her office should have rescheduled the video appointment if she was more than twenty minutes late. I waited for a little over an hour to be seen by her. My time is just as valuable as Dr. Testini's whether I had a video visit, or seen in the clinic.
The only suggestion would be to not overbook Dr. Testini since she is very thorough and sometimes the wait time is long!!
We are very happy with Dr. Testinis care.
We are very impressed with her she is an excellent doctor
I would definitely recommend Dr Testini to anyone with similar symptoms.
Outstanding Dr.
Dr. Testini is very thorough in her examination, very knowledgeable, answers questions thoroughly. She's a nice person who is easy to talk to.
Easy to interact with. Explained findings and answered questions about procedures. She addressed fears and possible misunderstandings as well as potential beneficial outcomes and possibilities. Appreciated finally feeling hopeful.
Very thorough.Obviously has a passion for what she is doing.Providing answers to my problems without creating significant side effects.Communicates well.....better than most health care providers.Thanks for her excellent care. Very pleased with my care.Dr Testini is an asset to your staff.
She always takes all the time she needs no matter how long it takes she has helped me immensely.
Did a excellent job of listening and did not rush you right out the door and worked with you on solving the problems and really worked on explaining it in details you could understand we need more doctors like her
She was very good and helpful
She was so great! Very very detailed in testing my body movement & explained everything. Very impressive
I appreciate that they are so courteous and professional.
Dr. Testini listens to my concerns and needs, then makes suggestions regarding to what they are. She inputs her ideas to mine if she disagrees with my ideas, we will come up with a plan that works for both of us. I went to another neurologist before her and was mis-diagnosed and given the wrong medication. So if you find a Dr. Testini hold on tight. You won't regret it.
Best neurologist ever seen and I am a physician.
i love my new Doctor!! Her evalutions of my Parkenson's far exceeds anything I had hoped for. I can't say that for my past two doctors. I found out what I was not getting.
Dr. Testini listens very well and takes the time to explain all topics of discussion. She is very professional and knowledgeable.
Great doctor!
Dr Testini and her assistant were very thorough and they asked a lot of questions and answered any questions I had
Very knowledgeable, patient and caring. Always took as much time as needed to answer all oiur questions. Trust her and caring advice
Very through and smart and kind
She's an excellent doctor.
I feel that Dr.Testini is extremely attentive to me and all my needs. Her examination is extremely thorough and thoughtful.
Dr Testini is very thorough, observant and perceptive. She is amazing.
Dr. Testini was Excellent! She made me feel that I was highly important...sometimes doctors don't do that... She was absolutely excellent!
I was very impressed by the thoroughness of the examination, from the explanations to the completion. Everything was done with courtesy and professionalism. Thank you!!
Dr. Testini listens well, takes her time and is very thorough.
I have recommended her to everyone in my care team and family!
Very considerate of my concerns.
Dr. Testing is is caring and listens to her pts needs.
She is a very special person. You will be blessed to be in her care.
Excellent care provider
Explained to me what others never told me about my situation.
Very good and very thorough
Very concerning
Dr. Testini Exceeded all my expectations. I am so happy I found her. She is my third Parkinson's doctor and the other two fell short of my expectations right from the first meeting. I am so Happy things worked out differently this time.
Very thorough, kind,good listener.
Very thorough and patient
Dr. Testini was thorough, caring, and provided me with a clear understanding of her treatment protocols.
Dr. Testini is very thorough. She carefully listened to my concerns . I was confident in her knowledge of tremors and how to treat the symptoms.
I was very pleased with this visit. She answered all of my concerns and explained everything in a way that I could understand. I highly recommend her.
I am so blessed that I found her as her to be my neurologist. She's so thorough, and I am very pleased with her and her staff.
¿World class¿ neuro service in Salt Lake City. Brilliant diagnostician¿ real life ¿House¿ As a physician this was best examination I have seen in my 40 years of teaching and practice. Excellent!
She is an excellent doctor, and cares for her patients well their health issues.
Dr Testini was very courteous and efficient making it a really good experience. She was knowledgeable in how different the areas tested were affected by my disease. I was so impressed with her patience in teaching and explaining to me the different things she was doing and how it all was affected by my disease. She even asked me to let her know by text how the medicine affects my symptoms if I take it late. I appreciated her time she took with me; I didn't know doctors took that much time with patients. She was so thorough and I was so grateful to have been seen by such an ama.ing specialist.
Thorough and very bright. Left me with no doubt of her ability to accurately diagnose and make precise treatment decisions.
I liked how down to earth she was. Very knowledgeable and knew her stuff. She was very kind.
Her examination was very thorough. I learned things I'd never heard about.
Vey friendly and honest and tested for problems I have
As a type A, highly involved motivated and 'hands-on' patient, I like to be kept informed of how my treatment is progressing. Dr. Testini is the perfect physician for treating me and giving me not only the 'what' we are doing by also the 'why'.
Helpful.
very friendly and helpful the way a caring doctor should be.
Excellent bedside manner. Explained my condition and the therapy she recommended clearly and succinctly. Took her time, didn't seem rushed. Expecting an excellent outcome.
Too rough, I was quite sore the next day I felt she didn't listen to me about my total shoulder issues.
Dr. Testini is very personable and caring. She made us feel very comfortable and confident in her ability to help Kristin with her neurological issues. It was certainly encouraging to find out that there is a treatment revision that could possibly yield an improvement in her condition.
Inspires confidence with her thoroughness, caring, and outstanding medical knowledge.
I went into this check up a little worried because I didn't know what to expect, but she was very kind and very professional and I felt no pressure at all