Movement disorders providers at the MDC use a team approach to make sure our patients have access to the best care possible. Physicians work closely with advanced practice providers, fellows, nurses, and other specialists. Our multidisciplinary clinics allow patients to see many different specialists in one visit. In addition to a movement disorders provider, these specialists can include physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, chaplains, and others.
To find out more about our locations and learn how to make an appointment, please see our additional clinic information. Please note that not all providers and clinics are available in all locations.
In Our Clinic
Attending physicians are board-certified neurologists responsible for treating a patient’s movement disorders. The movement disorders physicians at MDC have all completed sub-specialty fellowship training. Additionally, they help train future neurologists and movement disorders specialists, such as residents and fellows.
Fellows are licensed doctors who have completed their medical education and neurological training. Instead of going straight into practice, they have chosen to complete an additional one or two years of training to become specialists in a more specific area.
Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants who have completed their medical education at an accredited university. They are state-licensed and board-certified. APPs are supervised by an attending physician, although you may not see the physician at your visit. They can provide most of the same services as a physician.
Nurses assist doctors and APPs in providing care to patients. They help educate and monitor patients and can assist with medications. Nurses complete at least two years of formal education and are state-licensed and board-certified.
Medical Assistants (MAs) support the movement disorders providers by performing administrative and clinical tasks. These can include taking patients’ weight or drawing blood. They obtain certification through an accredited college program.
Residents are trainees who have completed medical school and have earned their degrees (e.d. MD or DO). This “residency” is required before being able to obtain a license to practice medicine. UCH is an academic teaching hospital. Therefore, training residents is part of our commitment.
Movement Disorders Providers
Amy Amara, MD, PhD (she/her/hers)
Professor of Neurology
Head, Movement Disorders Section
I earned my MD and PhD, with distinction, at the Medical College of Georgia and completed Neurology residency and fellowship in both Movement Disorders and Sleep Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I treat patients with movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and other forms of PArkinsonism. I also treat sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder, restless leg syndrome, and idiopathic hypersomnia. My research interests include non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise for sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction in patients with Parkinson’s disease. I am funded by the NIH and have served as site investigator on several multi-site trials.
Alexander Baumgartner, MD (he/his/him)
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
I am a board-certified neurologist with fellowship training in movement disorders and a particular focus on deep brain stimulation (DBS). I obtained my medical degree at Brown University and completed my internship and residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School, where I served as chief resident in my final year. I completed my movement disorders fellowship at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
My clinical expertise includes the management of movement disorders including Parkinson disease, atypical parkinsonism, tremor, ataxia, dystonia, chorea, tics / Tourette syndrome, restless legs syndrome, and myoclonus. I perform procedures including botulinum toxin injection and DBS programming. I also perform electrophysiological monitoring and intraoperative assessments during DBS surgery. My research interest is in non-motor Parkinson disease symptoms, with a particular interest in how these symptoms might be affected by advanced therapies including DBS. I am a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society, and the Society for Neuroscience.
I see patients at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and UCHealth Lone Tree Medical Center.
Jeanne Feuerstein, MD (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor of Neurology
I am a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurologist specializing in Movement Disorders. My research focuses on non-motor features of dystonia, essential tremor, and Parkinson’s disease. I am particularly interested in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and PTSD. The majority of my clinical practice is at the Eastern Colorado VA Medical Center, although I also see patients at the University of Colorado Hospital.
Emily Forbes, DO, MS (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Director, HDSA Center of Excellence at the University of Colorado Movement Disorders Center
I am a board-certified neurologist with fellowship training in movement disorders. I attended medical school at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. During my time in medical school, I was awarded an Academic Medicine Scholarship and earned a Master’s Degree in addition to a Medical Degree. I went on to complete an internship in medicine and a residency in neurology at the University of Colorado Hospital. I then completed a two-year fellowship at The University of Pennsylvania Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center (PDMDC) and the Philadelphia VA Medical Center Parkinson’s Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center (PADRECC).
During my fellowship training I developed clinical expertise in movement disorders, as well as expertise in performing procedures including botulinum toxin injections for dystonia and spasticity. My clinical interests include Parkinson’s disease, Atypical Parkinsonism, Ataxia, Balance Disorders, Chorea, Dystonia, and genetic causes of neurologic diseases. I also program deep brain stimulators for Parkinson’s disease, Essential tremor, and Dystonia.
My research interests include understanding factors that affect the progression of Parkinson’s disease, cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease, and understanding the genetic basis of neurologic diseases.
I am a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the Movement Disorders Society.
Michelle Fullard, MD, MSCE (she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Director of Research, Movement Disorders Center
Director, Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence
I am a board-certified neurologist who specializes in Movement Disorders at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. I completed undergraduate and medical school education at Vanderbilt University. Following medical school, I completed Neurology training at the University of Virginia and Movement Disorders training at the University of Pennsylvania. While at the University of Pennsylvania, I also obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology. My research focuses on disparities in outcomes and care for patients with Parkinson’s disease. I provide treatment and care for patients with Parkinson’s disease, atypical Parkinsonism, dystonia, ataxia, chorea, tics, restless leg syndrome, and myoclonus. I also perform botulinum toxin injections for dystonia, spasticity, and other neurologic conditions, as well as deep brain stimulation programming for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. I see patients at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Trevor Hawkins, MD (he/him/his)
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Director, Movement Disorders Fellowship Program
I am a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty expertise in movement disorders. I provide treatment and care for patients with Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson plus syndromes, Lewy Body disease, Huntington’s disease, dystonia, Tourette, tics, chorea, ataxia, Restless leg syndrome, myoclonus, drug-induced movement disorders, Essential Tremor, and tremor. In addition, I perform botulinum toxin injections for neurological disorders and has expertise in deep brain stimulation for movement disorders. I have particular research interests in genetic and clinical causes of ataxia as well as Huntington’s disease. I currently see patients at UCHealth at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, the Denver VA Medical Center, and is working to develop the movement disorders telehealth network through UCHealth.
Drew Kern, MD, MS, FAAN (he/him/his)
Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Co-director, Deep Brain Stimulation Program
I am a board-certified neurologist and a fellowship-trained movement disorders specialist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. I completed undergraduate and graduate education at the University of Colorado. I then obtained my medical degree from the University of Vermont and completed a translation research fellowship studying the effects of stem cell transplantation in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease at the University of Colorado under the mentorship of Dr. John Sladek. I completed my neurology residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and clinical fellowship in movement disorders at the Toronto Western Hospital under the mentorship of Dr. A. E. Lang. My research has focused on developing biomarkers, including colon and skin tissue as well as cardiac MIBG SPECT for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism. Currently, I study treatment options for advanced Parkinson’s disease, including novel drug delivery systems, carbidopa-levodopa enteral suspension (Duopa), and deep brain stimulation. I established the Movement Disorders Center’s carbidopa-levodopa enteral suspension (Duopa) and deep brain stimulation. I see patients at three different locations: UCHealth at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, UCHealth Boulder Health Center, and Denver Health.
Michael Korsmo, MD (he/him/his)
Assistant Professor of Neurology
I am a board-certified neurologist with fellowship training in movement disorders. I received my medical degree from Tulane University and completed my residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. I completed my fellowship at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
I see patients at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and UCHealth Boulder Health Center.
Jessica Barr, PA-C (she/her/hers)
Senior Instructor of Neurology
I am a board-certified Physician Assistant who graduated from the University of Colorado’s Physician Assistant Program. I specialize in Movement Disorders. I see patients with a variety of movement disorders at UCHealth at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and in Boulder. I work with deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor I also work with the Duopa program for Parkinson’s disease. I help facilitate and run the Parkinson disease Interdisciplinary Clinic which includes an evaluation with PT/OT/ST. I established and help run the Newly Diagnosed and Advanced Parkinson disease education visits. Her research is focused on Parkinson’s disease.
Dorothy Mathiesen MSN, APRN, FNP-C (she/her/hers)
Instructor of Neurology
I am a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who graduated from Regis University. I completed my graduate education with a Masters in Leadership in Health Care Systems and a certificate in Health Care Education. I returned to accomplish a post-Masters certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I have a special interest in the holistic treatment of patients with movement disorders. I currently see patients at UCHealth at Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and the UCHealth Lone Tree Medical Center.
Meghan Smith, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Instructor of Neurology
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked within the field since 2008. I earned my Master’s in Social Work in 2015 from the Metropolitan State University of Denver with a primary focus in Mental Health and an emphasis in grief counseling. For the past four years, I have worked in Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and UCHealth in different capacities. I currently serve individuals who have been diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease and their families in the education of disease, wellness, caregiver support, individual therapeutic interventions, brief counseling, and resources in our local and national community.
Maureen Leehey, MD, FAAN (she/her/hers)
Professor Emerita
I am board-certified in Neurology and fellowship-trained in movement disorders. I received my medical degree from the University of Texas School of Medicine at Houston. For my residency and fellowship, I attended the University of Colorado.
I have mentored many neurologists throughout these years and have managed thousands of patients with Parkinson disease.
I was chosen by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to be a part of the Institute of Cannabis Research Governing Board.
One of my major areas of research is the methodology and conduct of clinical trials. I have done over 25 clinical trials; most of these have been on Parkinson disease. I am the lead investigator in the International Parkinson Disease Study Group. Right now, I am researching how well CBD treats the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Adjunct Movement Disorders Providers
Movement disorders are often complex, so we work closely with providers in other subspecialties. Below are specialists who play an important role in our Movement Disorders Center.
Heather Baer, MD
Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
I am a neurorehabilitation expert physiatrist with additional fellowship training in movement disorders. I see a diverse group of patients with impairments and disabilities that result from central and peripheral nervous system dysfunctions, including all forms of movement disorders. I see patients at UCHealth at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and at UCHealth in Boulder
Samantha Holden, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Neurology (Movement Disorders & Behavioral Neurology Sections)
I am a board-certified neurologist with fellowship training in Movement Disorders and Behavioral Neurology which were both completed at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. I am interested in conditions that present with symptoms affecting both cognition and movement, such as Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease with Parkinsonism.
Daniel Kramer, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
I grew up in Chicago before attending Northwestern University for undergraduate and the University of Pennsylvania for medical school. I completed my neurosurgical training at the University of Southern California, then attended Stanford University for a fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.
I have a clinical interest in surgical treatments for movement disorders, epilepsy, and facial pain. I have a particular interest in resections for epilepsy, laser therapy, responsive neural stimulators, MR-guided focused ultrasound treatments, new applications for deep brain stimulation, and microvascular decompressions for disorders like trigeminal neuralgia.
My research areas are focused on the interpretation of neural signals and the communication between brain areas, particularly to produce movement and somatosensation. I spent a dedicated research year under an NIH grant at CalTech, working on a brain-computer interface, where the human brain interfaces directly with machines to restore motor and sensory function to paralyzed individuals, and went on to continue this type of work at Stanford. I am currently collaborating to develop a brain-computer interface program at CU.
In my free time, I enjoy ultra-running, concerts, and finding an excuse to be outdoors.
Steven Ojemann, MD
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
Director, Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery
Co-director, Deep Brain Stimulation Program
Victoria Pelak, MD
Professor of Neurology & Ophthalmology
Christina Vaughan, MD, MHS, MS
Associate Professor of Neurology (Neuropalliative Care)
I joined the Neuropalliative team in August 2017. I took over as the program director in July 2019. I am a board-certified neurologist and am fellowship-trained in Movement Disorders and Palliative care. I practiced as a Movement Disorders specialist for several years before deciding to practice in a more comprehensive way. I completed a year-long fellowship in Palliative medicine and gained more in-depth experience in the management of physical, psychological, spiritual, and social symptoms in an effort to optimize the quality of life for patients and families.
I am particularly interested in self-image in the face of illness and knowing patients in the context of their lives. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to combine my passion for neurology with the palliative care approach and grateful to be working with an outstanding team. A native of Buffalo, NY, I am no stranger to winter weather and have been enjoying exploring the beautiful outdoors of Colorado.
Research Faculty
Our whole team is dedicated to advancing our knowledge of movement disorders and pursuing possible treatments through research. Below are our research faculty who dedicate their time solely to research.
Isabelle Buard, PhD
Assistant Research Professor of Neurology
Associate Director of Research, Movement Disorders Center
I am a neurophysiologist with a unique scientific trajectory from lab bench to pre-clinical and clinical research. I have studied brain correlates of motor development, function and dysfunction using diverse models, ranging from single brain cells to neuronal networks, in both animals and humans with or without neurological disorders.
The focus of my current research is on the neurophysiology of motor dysfunction in movement disorders, particularly understanding the underlying neuropathophysiology and testing novel treatment approaches using diverse brain imaging techniques such as magnetoencephalography (MEG), electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). I am also investigating the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a tool to modulate brain networks dynamic and assess excitation/inhibition (im)balance in cortical regions. Finally, I am integrating these state-of-the-art techniques with experimental paradigms relying on the neurophysiological analysis of sensorimotor control to provide an inclusive view of the neural control of movement.