A “Deep” Dive into the lives of Neurologists using Deep Brain Stimulation

Captain Rick Schena, a former Air Force Pilot currently living with Parkinson’s Disease, joined a panel as a Parkinson’s patient with Dr. Giordano, Dr. Okun, and Dr. Pagan, leading neuroscientists on Deep Brain Stimulation.

Dr. Pagan, a renowned neurologist specializing in movement disorders, became Rick's primary physician. Despite the challenges posed by Parkinson's disease, Dr. Pagan was determined to help Captain Schena maintain his independence and enhance his quality of life. Along with conventional treatments, Dr. Pagan began exploring the potential benefits of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a cutting-edge surgical procedure that could offer significant relief to patients with Parkinson's Disease, and now uses this technique for many of his patients with movement disorders.

Deep Brain Stimulation is a neurosurgical procedure that involves implanting a medical device called a neurostimulator, similar to a pacemaker, into the brain. This neurostimulator delivers electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain responsible for motor control, effectively modulating abnormal neuronal activity associated with Parkinson's Disease. DBS has been found to alleviate motor symptoms, such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia, in individuals who have not responded optimally to medication alone.

According to Helene Li, “As Dr. Pagan mentioned, the important qualities of a doctor are not only knowledge, but also drive, empathy, care, and compassion. From the collaborative panel, I learned that there are deep connections and trust between patients and doctors, where patients should not be discouraged, and doctors should be understanding. I believe that movement disorder healthcare is very important to help maintain or improve the quality of life for those with motor disorders. In the coming years, I will work towards becoming a neuroscientist who can contribute my investigations on increased treatment specificity, neuroanatomy-wise and indirectly pharmacologically.”

We are so so proud of this week’s interns and cannot wait to see the work they have been working hard on all week.