Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

About DMRF How You Can Help Donate Promote Awareness Fundraise Join a Support Group Join the Junior Advisory Council Become a Legislative Advocate Become a Brain Donor Frequently asked questions Contact information Participate in a Clinical Trial Mission & History Board of Directors Medical & Scientific Advisory Council Musicians With Dystonia Staff For The Media Media Spokespeople About Dystonia See Dystonia Living with Dystonia: People Profiles Cure Dystonia Initiative Goal of the Cure Dystonia Initiative What Makes CDI Different? First Steps Funding 2011 Operating Plan IRS Form 990 Audited Financial Statement	Media Center Spokesperson: Ron Alterman, MD Click here for profile in PDF Ron Alterman, MD, is the Director of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He is well known for his work with deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, and tremor. During DBS surgery electrodes are implanted into specific regions of the brain. The electrodes are then connected to a battery pack that is implanted under the skin of the chest wall, like a heart pacemaker. Electrical pulses are thereby delivered to these discreet regions of the brain, altering their abnormal function. For many patients, DBS dramatically improves their abnormal movements allowing individuals to live more normal lives. Some patients who were wheelchair dependent can now walk and run. Dr. Alterman has performed DBS procedures in more than 250 patients. Among these he has operated on more than 60 dystonia patients, one of the largest series of such patients in the U.S. His clinical interests also include image-guided surgery for brain tumors and benign spine disease. This August, Dr. Alterman will participate at the 4th Children & Family Dystonia Symposium hosted by the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF). At the conference, Dr. Alterman will speak with parents about dystonia and available treatments. Dr. Alterman also serves on the DMRF’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, setting the direction of research to find more effective dystonia treatments and ultimately a cure. Dr. Alterman joined the Department of Neurosurgery at Mount Sinai in 2004. He held previous academic positions at New York University School of Medicine (1995-1997), University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1997-1998), and Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1998-2004) where he was Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at Beth Israel Medical Center. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps. Return to main Media Center page

Donate Make the freedom to move a reality to everyone.
	Email this page Print this page

Make the freedom to move a reality to everyone.