Stanford Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Team
Lawrence Steinman, MD
Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences
Dr. Steinman’s research focuses on what provokes relapses and remissions in MS and the nature of the genes that serve as a brake on brain inflammation in his quest for a vaccine against multiple sclerosis. He has taken several therapies from the bench to the bedside, including work directly related to the development of natalizumab, and two experimental therapies, statins and DNA vaccines, are in trials. He received the John M. Dystel Prize in 2004, and the Charcot Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2011. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science. A graduate of Harvard School of Medicine, Dr. Steinman has been on the Stanford faculty since 1980. He served as Chair of the Immunology Program from 2002 to 2011.
Jeffrey Dunn, MD, FAAN
Professor of Clinical Neurology Division Chief, Clinical Neuroimmunology Director, Neurology Clerkship
Dr. Dunn specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and research of clinical neuroimmunologic diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica. He has served as Principal Investigator in more than twenty clinical trials of emerging MS therapies, and works collaboratively in translational research to identify biomarkers of disease activity and metrics of treatment response. Dr. Dunn is the elected Vice Chair to the Executive Committee of the MS Section of the American Academy of Neurology. He graduated from Haverford College and received his medical training in Neurology at the University of Washington. He is a two time winner of the AUPN recruitment award, the Lysia Forno Award for teaching excellence to Neurology residents, and the Arthur L. Bloomfield Award recognizing excellence in Teaching Clinical Medicine.
Les Dorfman, MD
Emeritus (Active) Professor, Neurology and Neurological Sciences Director, Residency Program in Clinical Neurophysiology Director, Stanford Neurodiagnostic Laboratories Director, SHC/LPCH Evoked Potential Laboratories and Electromyography Laboratories Director, Stanford Multiple Sclerosis
Dr. Dorfman has served as director of Stanford’s MS Center for more than 25 years and is the medical director of the Stanford Neurodiagnostic Labs. He is past president of the American Association for Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and of the Association of California Neurologists, and he served on the clinical advisory board of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the National MS Society. He has published more than 50 scholarly papers on topics in neurology and neurophysiology. Dr. Dorfman received his medical training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, his neurology residency at Stanford and his fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology at the National Hospital for Neurological Diseases in London and at the Mayo Clinic.
Christopher Lock, MB, BS, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Dr. Lock is interested in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological conditions. Dr. Lock studied medicine at King’s College London and Westminster Hospital Medical School. He worked in the Neurology Department at King’s College Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital, and at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund laboratory, in London. After coming to Stanford, he did immunology research with Dr. Hugh McDevitt, neurology residency, and then fellowship in Dr. Lawrence Steinman’s lab. With Dr. Steinman, he worked on microarray profiling of multiple sclerosis lesions. He joined the Stanford MS Center in 2015.
May Han, MD
Assistant Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Dr. Han is a Clinician-Scientist whose research focuses on identification of biomarkers and therapeutic targets in Multiple Sclerosis and demyelinating diseases. She utilizes Systems Biology approach such as proteomics and transcriptomics. She received her medical degree in Myanmar and completed Neurology residency at University of Washington in Seattle. She did a Translational Fellowship in Neuroimmunology at Stanford with Dr. Steinman. She joined the Neurology department and MS Center in 2009.
Keith P. Van Haren, MD
Assistant Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Dr. Van Haren is a Clinician-Scientist dedicated to advancing care for children and adults affected by myelin-based disorders. He runs two multidisciplinary clinic at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital dedicated to patients with leukodystrophies and neuroimmunological disorders ranging from multiple sclerosis to autoimmune encephalitis. His laboratory research focuses on the role of myelin lipids, macrophages, and microglia in immune demyelination. His primary disease model is X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. His clinical research is dedicated to improving the quality and efficiency of complex care delivery to leukodystrophy patients. Dr. Van Haren completed his medical degree at the University of Rochester, his pediatric neurology training at Mass General Hospital and Stanford, and his post-doctoral training in the Stanford labs of Bill Robinson and Larry Steinman. He joined the Stanford faculty in 2010.
Raymond A. Sobel, MD
Professor, Pathology
Dr. Sobel is a board certified neuropathologist with a longstanding research interest in immune responses in the brain. He received his MD from the University of California San Francisco and was trained in Anatomic and Neuropathology at UCSF, UC Davis and Stanford. Following a fellowship in Immunopathology at the Massachusetts General Hospital he served on the faculty at MGH and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sobel came to Stanford in 1992 and is the neuropathologist at the Palo Alto Veterans’ Affairs Health Care System. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology and is the current President of the American Association of Neuropathologists (2011-2012). His research focuses on mechanisms of MS pathogenesis and studying the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, with many collaborators.
Y. Joyce Liao, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Director of Neuro-Opthalmology
Dr. Liao is an assistant professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford. She played a key role in the creation of the Stanford Center for Vision and Blindness Prevention—a group of vision scientists spanning a range of disciplines. The center’s goal is to develop practical solutions for restoring vision and precluding blindness.
Dr. Liao attended Harvard for her undergraduate studies and the University of California, San Francisco, for her MD and PhD. She completed neurology training at Stanford and then specialized in neuroophthalmology because she wanted to attack challenging clinical problems that lack effective treatments.
Kara Flavin, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. Kara Flavin is a physiatrist who specializes in the comprehensive rehabilitation of neurologic disorders. Her clinical interests include development of comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation plans, as well as management of spasticity, the neurogenic bladder, and the neurogenic bowel. Her research interests include pressure ulcer treatment and prevention, as well as improvement in functional outcomes after neurologic injury. Dr. Flavin earned her BA from Harvard University and attended the University of Virginia for medical school. She completed residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Stanford University, followed by a one year Spinal Cord Injury Medicine fellowship at the Palo Alto VA/Stanford program. Dr. Flavin is board certified in PM&R and Spinal Cord Injury Medicine
Lucas Kipp, BSc, MD
Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Fellow
Dr. Kipp is Stanford’s clinical neuroimmunology fellow. His clinical interests include the diagnosis and treatment of neuroimmunological disorders, particularly demyelinating conditions. His research emphasizes relevancy to patients by incorporating health service evaluation, meaningful outcome measure selection, and efficient implementation of proven therapies to deliver high quality care in clinical practice. Dr. Kipp completed a research fellowship at the Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK testing advanced MRI techniques to predict disability in MS patients. He trained in neurology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver and received his BSc and MD from the University of Western Ontario, London.
Jong-Mi Lee, NP
Nurse Practitioner for the Multiple Sclerosis Center
Jong-Mi Lee is a board-certified family nurse practitioner, specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and management of multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and other demyelinating diseases. She is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care through medical and complementary therapies. She has a special interest in international research for nursing care of patients with multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica disorders. She is a long-standing member of the International Organization of MS Nurses. She takes an active role in serving patients in the community and received the 2010 Community Partner Award from the National MS Society for dedicated service on behalf of persons living with MS. She has taken the lead to initiate MS patient support programs and to participate in MS community fundraising events. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing (family nurse practitioner program) at Samuel Merritt University. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from University of California at Berkeley. She joined Stanford Hospital and Clinics in 2005.
Heather Hua, RN, MSN
Clinical Nurse Coordinator
Heather joined Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ Multiple Sclerosis Team in February 2013 as the Clinical Nurse Coordinator. She started her nursing career at Stanford as one of 10 employees selected to participate in the 2010 New Graduate Nursing Program. She worked on G1 in neurosurgery for three years before joining the MS Clinic. On G1, Heather served as a champion for the vascular access device committee where she educated the unit on new products and research being developed in vascular access devices. She graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco in 2009 where she was granted membership into the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. At USF, Heather also received her certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader where she researched and promoted the importance of reducing hospital waste. Heather received her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley.
Pamela Triano, PT, NCS
Physical Therapist
Pam is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, and has been practicing physical therapy since 1992. She joined Stanford Hospital & Clinics in 2001 and is APTA Board Certified in Neurologic Physical Therapy. Pam has experience working with patients with neurological disorders in a variety of settings, and is knowledgeable in the areas of balance and gait abnormalities, fall prevention, orthotics, functional electric stimulation for foot drop, use of body-weight support systems, flexibility and strengthening exercises, and wheelchair seating and positioning. She has completed training in the Neurodevelopmental Approach to the Treatment of Adult Hemiplegia and has been involved in research projects at SHC, and is currently involved in balance and vestibular rehabilitation program development.
Margaret Dougherty, MHA, MS, OTR/L, CPHQ
Clinical Specialist, Occupational Therapist
A graduate of the University of Rochester, the Medical College of Virginia and California State University-Long Beach, Margaret has been practicing occupational therapy since 1986 and has been at Stanford Hospital & Clinics since 1992. She holds the title of Clinical Specialist in the Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation program and has a Masters in Healthcare Administration degree and holds a certification as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. Specializing in neurologic rehabilitation, she has worked in settings across the continuum of care, including hospitals, outpatient centers and in-home care. She holds advanced certifications in splinting, swallowing and modalities in the state of California.
Margaret has been involved in research projects at SHC and is the primary Occupational Therapist for the ALS/Muscular Dystrophy clinics. She considers treatments involving energy conservation, work simplification, wheelchair assessments, environmental adaptations, pre-driving evaluations and home modifications essential for persons to maintain independence in their daily lives. She has traveled nationwide delivering trainings sessions on the use of standardized outcome measures to rehabilitation units.
Julie Mello, DPT
Physical Therapist
Julie is a graduate of Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where she received her Doctor of Physical therapy degree in 2010. Julie has worked exclusively in the outpatient neurologic rehab setting. She joined Stanford Hospital and Clinics Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation program in 2011. She has experience with the evaluation and treatment of gait abnormalities and decreased functional mobility skills arising from a variety of diagnoses. Julie is one of the Physical Therapists for the ALS/muscular dystrophy and the Huntington’s/Ataxia clinics. She has also had training in the use of functional electrical stimulation to control foot drop and is knowledgeable in the treatment of vestibular disorders. Julie has a passion for Neurological Rehabilitation and feels that the neurological population is an extremely rewarding population to work with.
Judy Henderson, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech & Language Pathologist III
A graduate of Purdue University and San Francisco State University, Judy specializes in adult and pediatric speech and language pathology research, augmentative communication and assistive technology. She has been a member of the ALS/Muscular Dystrophy clinic for more than 10 years.