Staff

Medical
Behavioral Medicine
Physical Therapy
Research and Education
Nursing

Medical

Joel R. Saper, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.A.N.
Dr. Joel Saper is Founder and Director of the Institute and the inpatient Head•Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital. A board-certified neurologist and pain medicine specialist, Dr. Saper is past President of the American Association for the Study of Headache, past Chairman of the American Council for Headache Education, and an educator in the American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Headache Society, and the American Pain Society. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine (Neurology) at Michigan State University and a former Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Saper is an invited lecturer to universities, medical centers, government and business groups, and lay audiences throughout the world. He is featured in major television and newspaper media as an authority in headache and pain and their personal, social, and economic impact. Dr. Saper is the author of eight books and over 200 medical articles and textbook chapters, and has been cited repeatedly in the Best Doctors in America and The Best In Medicine.

 

C. David Gordon, M.D.
Dr. David Gordon has been with MHNI since 1990 and was formerly an attending physician at the John R. Graham Headache Center in Boston. Dr. Gordon is a graduate of Boston University School of Medicine, completed his internal medicine residency training at Tufts University Hospital program at the Faulkner Hospital in Boston, and went on to complete formal specialty training at the Graham Headache Center. In addition to providing medical care at the Institute and the inpatient unit at Chelsea Community Hospital, Dr. Gordon directs internal medicine services and is involved with clinical research projects at MHNI. He has published numerous articles on migraine and headache management and recently co-authored several headache textbooks, published both domestically and internationally, including a textbook co-authored with Dr. Saper.

 

Robert L. Hamel, P.A.-C
Mr. Robert Hamel, a certified physician assistant, is Clinical Assistant to the Director at MHNI and Assistant Director of the Head•Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital. He also serves as the Head Injury Services Coordinator at MHNI. Mr. Hamel is involved in patient care activities, clinical program development, and a variety of administrative duties at the Institute. Prior to joining MHNI, Mr. Hamel had extensive training and experience in general and internal medicine. He collaborated with Drs. Saper and Gordon in a published headache textbook and is an invited lecturer at regional and national professional conferences.

 

 

Henry C. Hooker, M.D.
Dr. Henry Hooker, board-certified in both neurology and headache medicine, completed medical school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and his residency at the Pennsylvania Hospital/Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining MHNI, Dr. Hooker was the Founder and Director of the Headache Center at East Tennessee Medical Group in Alcoa, Tennessee and the Founder and Director of the Comprehensive Headache Center at the Clinics of North Texas in Wichita Falls, Texas. Over the past 15 years, he has received numerous honors and awards for his work, most recently being voted “Best of Knoxville,” by physicians in the Tennessee area. Dr. Hooker is also a former professional musician, having received a master’s in music performance degree from Northwestern University Music Conservatory and performed throughout the United States and Europe. Dr. Hooker has lectured extensively to physicians and lay audiences on topics in the field of neurology, particularly headache medicine. He has a special interest in New Daily Persistent Headache and has a primary clinical role at the Institute and in the inpatient program at Chelsea Community Hospital. Dr. Hooker is also actively involved as a principal investigator in the Research Division of MHNI.

 

Shamas Moheyuddin, M.D.
Dr. Shamas Moheyuddin, a board-eligible anesthesiologist, graduated from Punjab Medical College at the University of Punjab in Pakistan. He subsequently completed his internship and residency in anesthesiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. During his fellowship in interventional pain management where he obtained significant experience and training under the tutelage of renowned specialists in the field, Dr. Moheyuddin received the Pfizer Scholars in Pain Management Award from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Moheyuddin provides invasive and noninvasive treatment options for a wide range of painful disorders in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Adrian, Michigan.

 

Alicia R. Prestegaard, M.D.
Dr. Alicia Prestegaard, board-certified in neurology and pain medicine, completed her neurology residency at the University of Illinois, St. Francis Medical Center, and Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Prestegaard also completed a fellowship in electromyography and pain management at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Before coming to MHNI, she was a staff member at Suburban Heights Medical Center in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Dr. Prestegaard, a native of Poland and educated in Europe, has a primary clinical role at MHNI and in the hospital program.

 

 

James R. Weintraub, D.O.
Dr. James Weintraub, a board-certified neurologist and sleep disorders specialist, attended Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Weintraub completed a fellowship in sleep disorders at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and a fellowship in electro-myography at the Cleveland Clinic. He is Medical Director of Sleep Well Centers in Ann Arbor and former director of the sleep disorders programs at Chelsea Community Hospital and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. In addition to his teaching role in academic programs for medical students and residents, Dr. Weintraub has lectured extensively to physicians and lay audiences on topics in the fields of neurology and sleep disorders. He has a primary clinical role and oversees the electrophysiology lab at the Institute.

Behavioral Medicine

Alvin E. Lake III, Ph.D.
Dr. Alvin Lake, a licensed psychologist, received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The University of Michigan. He is Director of the Behavioral Medicine Division at the Institute, Senior Research Psychologist, and Associate Program Director of the Head•Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital. Dr. Lake has achieved both national and international recognition for his clinical work, research publications, and patient-oriented articles on headache and is an invited lecturer to professional audiences across the nation. He is a former Board member of the American Headache Society and the American Council on Headache Education (ACHE), and served on the editorial board of the scientific journal Headache from 1992-2003. Dr. Lake is a Senior Fellow of the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA). He is a founding member of the Institute and has been an influential force in its direction and accomplishments since 1978.

Jan E. Bachman, Ph.D.
Dr. Jan Bachman, a licensed psychologist, came to MHNI from the University of Michigan Health System’s Multidisciplinary Pain Center, where he worked for 12 years. He also held the appointment as Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. During seven of those years, Dr. Bachman served as the clinical psychologist for the facial pain clinic in the University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry. His undergraduate degree in psychosocial science was obtained from Penn State University. In addition to obtaining both his doctorate and master’s degrees in clinical psychology, he completed specialty training in alcohol and drug abuse at Western Michigan University. His clinical internship was completed in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee – Memphis, which was followed by a fellowship in the Coordinated Chronic Pain Program at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Dr. Bachman has obtained significant experience in behavioral medicine, has published in the area of pain, and has made numerous presentations on a variety of behavioral medicine topics.

Barbaranne Branca, Ph.D.
Dr. Barbaranne Branca, a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and licensed psychologist, received her Ph.D. at the University of Michigan and completed her post-doctoral training in neuropsychology at Children’s Hospital in Detroit with a two year program at the Fielding Institute. Dr. Branca is the Supervisor of Neuropsychology Services and serves as chair of the Post-Trauma Team and the Work Status Committee. She has particular interest in the assessment and treatment of head injury, trauma related disorders, cognitive and memory dysfunction, and co-occurrence of chronic pain and head injury. Dr. Branca provides a comprehensive neurocognitive testing program at MHNI. She has extensive training in the evaluation and treatment of a broad range of psychological and neuropsychological conditions.

Jeffrey D. Pingel, Ph.D.
Dr. Jeffrey Pingel, a licensed psychologist and certified biofeedback practitioner, completed his doctoral education at Ohio University where he was actively involved in research and writing scientific publications related to headache. Dr. Pingel provides behavioral treatment for patients suffering co-existing pain, mood, and sleep disorders, and serves as a consultant to the Head•Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital. He is also co-editor of the MHNI newsletter, the Headliner.

Physical Therapy

Ellen Lecureux, P.T.
Ms. Ms. Ellen Lecureux, a licensed physical therapist, received her B.S. degree from the University of Michigan. She has 28 years’ experience working in primarily outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine settings, treating patients with acute and chronic conditions. Her extensive background includes manual therapy and a variety of exercise techniques. Ms. Lecureux has participated in community education as a speaker on a number of topics.

 

 

Julie Mills Roth, M.P.T.
Ms. Julie Roth, Physical Therapy Coordinator at MHNI, received her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Iowa. Prior to joining MHNI, Ms. Roth served as an Outpatient Musculoskeletal Clinical Specialist at the University of Michigan Hospitals. Ms. Roth specializes in utilizing manual therapies and specific exercises to treat patients with chronic and subacute pain. She has lectured at national conferences to physicians, therapists and lay audiences, and is published in the field of physical therapy and chronic headache.

Research and Education

Marjorie E. Winters, R.N., B.S.N.
Ms. Marjorie Winters, Director of Pharmaceutical Research, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at the University of Michigan. She directs pharmaceutical clinical studies evaluating medications for the treatment of pain and related disorders and coordinates MHNI staff original research projects. Ms. Winters is considered an authority on headache education and presents public service lectures for the community as well as teaching programs for health care professionals.

 

 

 

Shawn M. Szalay, R.N., B.S.N.
Ms. Shawn Szalay, Manager of Pharmaceutical Research at MHNI, has direct supervisory responsibility for the research coordinators and support staff of the Research Division. Along with Ms. Winters, Ms. Szalay is responsible for monitoring adherence to established policies, procedures, and protocols of care in the Research Division and she directs MHNI clinical studies evaluating various treatments for pain and related disorders. Ms. Szalay has experience in pharmaceutical sales and marketing and drug safety surveillance, and has an extensive clinical background in a variety of settings.

 

Nursing

Lucinda L. Bruggner, RN, B.S.N.
Ms. Lucinda (Cindy) Bruggner, Head Nurse at the Institute, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Indiana University. She supervises the nursing, laboratory, and neurodiagnostic staff and coordinates teaching and nursing staff development. Prior to joining MHNI in 1993, Ms. Bruggner had extensive training and experience in a variety of clinical settings and held several leadership positions.

 

 

Mary M. Kroll, R.N., B.S.N.
Mrs. Mary Kroll, Clinical Coordinator at MHNI, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Eastern Michigan University. She serves as clinical assistant to the Director as well as his liaison in promoting quality assurance and patient satisfaction. Mrs. Kroll has held numerous clinical and leadership positions at MHNI since 1990. She has past training and experience in high acuity, post-surgical, and intensive care nursing.

 

 

Dorothy B. Sims, R.N.
Mrs. Dorothy (Dottie) Sims, Assistant Head Nurse, is responsible for ongoing supervision and education of the nursing staff and, along with the Laboratory Supervisor, oversees environment of care activities. Mrs. Sims has particular interest in the interface between culture and chronic pain.