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Rushna Ali, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon with expertise in all salient aspects of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. This includes advanced surgical treatments to treat chronic and cancer-related pain, facial pain and other neuralgias, movement disorders, stroke rehabilitation and recovery, as well as surgical management of epilepsy. Dr. Ali earned her medical degree from Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. She completed neurosurgery residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and her Stereotactic, Functional, Pain and Epilepsy surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is an Associate Professor and Fellowship Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Melissa brings more than 25 years of experience in marketing and communications, having worked in both corporate and small business environments. She has spent the last 11 years with a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of people with a rare disease. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Ohio University and is determined to use her varied background to lead the FPA and provide essential resources to people living with facial pain.
Cheryl Bemel, PhD LP is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Dentistry, addressing psychophysiological management for chronic pain conditions. Additionally, she sees patients for Presurgical Psychological Evaluations (PPE’s) at Allina Health’s Surgery Center. She also has her own Private Practice. Dr. Bemel is an Approved Consultant with the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and teaches as a faculty member for both ASCH workshops & NPHTI workshops (The National Pediatric Hypnosis Training Institute). ‘Engaging in play’ is important to her, so feel free to ask her about her recent storytelling experience on “The Moth Radio Hour” — or about her recent experience winning prizes on “The Price Is Right” TV show hosted by Drew Carey. For more information about her work, you may visit www.drcherylbemel.com
Dr. Boulis is the Lerner Endowed Professor of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine. He is a surgeon/scientist who has devoted much of his research and clinical work to the treatment of severe craniofacial pain. Dr. Boulis has treated Trigeminal Neuralgia throughout his career, applying all of the standard surgical approaches including Microvascular Decompression, Radiosurgery, Radiofrequency Rhizolysis, Balloon Compression, Glycerol Rhizolysis, Open Partial Rhizotomy, and Internal Neurolysis. In addition, he is an expert at Caudalis Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning. He also applies all conventional surgical approaches to occipital pain including nerve decompression, ganglionectomy, and both high spinal cord and nerve stimulation. Beginning in 2003, Dr. Boulis began to apply off-label neuromodulation to facial pain focusing on the trigeminal ganglion, peripheral trigeminal and occipital branches, the trigeminal root, and nucleus caudalis. He has designed novel electrodes to improve craniofacial neuromodulation, and is working to get support from Neuromodulation Companies to help advance these approaches toward FDA labeling. In 2014, Dr. Boulis cofounded CODA Bio which was the first biotech to attempt to commercialize chemogenetics, a gene therapy approach to neuromodulation for application to facial pain. He continues to consult for Kriya Bio as they continue to push toward launching the first chemogenetic trial for Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Dr. David Darrow is an award-winning neurosurgeon/researcher who joined the department as an Assistant Professor after completing his residency at the University of Minnesota. He earned his MD and MPH (Master’s in Public Health) from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston; and a BS in physics and mathematics from Texas A&M University in College Station. As a clinician, Dr. Darrow treats patients with pain (trigeminal neuralgia, facial pain, chronic pain), movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia), neuropsychiatric disease, and epilepsy. Thanks to support from MnDRIVE (Minnesota’s Discovery, Research, and InnoVation Economy) and the Institute of Translational Neuroscience, most of Dr. Darrow’s time will be devoted to research and continuing the work he is doing with in the Herman Darrow Lab with Dr. Alex Herman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “Alex and I are focused on the main systems of the brain – reward, cognitive, and mood,” he said. “We want to know how all these systems affect one another to better understand how we can treat chronic pain, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction.”
Andrew Grande, MD graduated from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN) with a BA in chemistry and then attended the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Grande completed his neurosurgical training at the Mayfield Clinic and University of Cincinnati. During his training, he worked very closely with Dr. John Tew, learning the nuances of trigeminal neuralgia treatment, including both microvascular decompression and radiofrequency ablation. He then went on to complete a fellowship with Mario Zuccarello, Andrew Ringer, and Todd Abruzzo at the University of Cincinnati in both endovascular and cerebrovascular neurosurgery. During this time, Dr. Grande was exposed to intracranial bypass surgery for treating moyamoya disease and to cutting-edge endovascular treatments such as the use of Onyx glue for treating cerebral aneurysms.Dr. Grande joined the University of Minnesota Department of Neurosurgery in 2011. His clinical interests are in treating cerebral vascular diseases, using either open vascular or endovascular techniques. He has specific interests in treating complex aneurysms, moyamoya disease, and trigeminal neuralgia.
Juan M. Hincapie-Castillo is an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a graduate from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy where he earned his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Master of Science, and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences. His research is at the intersection of legal epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology, where he leverages real-world data to advance evidence-informed policymaking. Dr. Hincapie-Castillo’s work focuses on promoting fair and just prescribing practices in pain management and ensuring the safe use of psychotropic medications. In 2021, he joined the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University as a Research Fellow. He currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the National Pain Advocacy Center and as a board member for the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology. In 2023, he was honored with the Mayday Fellowship in recognition of his contribution to pain research and advocacy.
Dr. Marshall Holland is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He was born and raised in rural northern Illinois. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami in Florida with a focus in neuroscience. Following this, he attended Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, IL where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Then, he underwent his residency training in neurosurgery at the University of Iowa where he also completed a Masters of Translational Biomedicine. Prior to joining the faculty at UAB, he completed fellowships in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery with Dr. Kelly Foote at the University of Florida and Dr. Kim Burchiel at Oregon Health and Science University.
Dr. Holland’s clinical interests span all aspects of functional neurosurgery including deep brain stimulation, neuromodulation/surgical treatment of pain, and the surgical treatment of epilepsy. His translational research is focused on investigating neuromodulation of the autonomic nervous system, with a particular interest in the pathophysiology and treatment of restless legs syndrome with spinal cord stimulation. His clinical research interests involve investigating emerging indications for and optimization of deep brain stimulation. When not at work, Marshall enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and dog exploring the Birmingham area and keeping up with his favorite sports teams.
Dr. Alan Law received his Doctor of Dental Surgery and Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa. He also completed his PhD, “Mechanisms and Modulation of Orofacial Pain”, with the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Law has published over 40 articles in scientific and clinical journals, and has co-authored chapters on orofacial pain and regenerative Endodontics in Pathways of the Pulp and The Dental Pulp, is an editor of Endodontics: Principles and Practice, and has lectured at over 400 local, national and international meetings. He is a member the American Dental Association, American Association of Endodontics, and Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society, and a Fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. He is a Past President of the Minnesota Association of Endodontists, The American Association of Endodontists, and American Board of Endodontics. He is in full–time practice in the Twin Cities, President of The Dental Specialists, a multi-specialty dental practice with over 44 specialists, and Chief Clinical Officer-Specialty Practices for Park Dental Partners, Inc. He is also a Research Professor in the Division of Endodontics at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Liedtke is an Executive with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Genetic Medicines in their Global Clinical Development Unit, and member of their Scientific Council where he is Chair of Neurology, Psychiatry, Pain Medicine and Sensory Systems. Prior to joining Regeneron in 2021, he was a tenured professor at Duke University for 17 year. He conducted basic neuroscience pain research and co-founded the Duke University pain research group. He also founded two Duke clinics dedicated to pain medicine, one in neurology, one in anesthesiology, providing science-based yet empathetic clinical care to patients suffering from head face pain, generally refractory pain and pain in the context of complex comorbidities. He was clinically trained in neurology and psychiatry in his native Germany and in neuropathology in New York City, where he conducted neuropathology and molecular genetics research (Albert Einstein College of Medicine; The Rockefeller University), after coming to the US in 1994. Dr. Liedtke is a member of the FPA Medical Advisory Board, an elected member of the American Clinical and Climatological Association, a faculty member of the NYU Pain Research Center, Adjunct Professor of Neurology at Duke, and Adjunct Professor of Dentistry at NYU.
Dr. Rob Lasser is a seasoned biopharma executive with over 25 years of experience in the CNS space, spanning clinical practice, academic research, large pharma and biotech. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Noema Pharma with a focus on developing new therapeutics for trigeminal neuralgia. Most recently, he held an executive role at Sage Therapeutics, where he led the development of zuranolone (ZURZUVAE®) in depressive disorders. Before that, he was the CMO at MedDay Pharma. Prior to joining MedDay, he was the Head of Neurodegenerative disorders at Roche, where he oversaw the Phase 2 and 3 programs for gantenerumab through 2017. Earlier in his career, Dr. Lasser held various roles at pharmaceutical companies, including managing the medical launch and lifecycle of lisdexamfetamine (VYVANSE®) at Shire, the first medicine for treating Binge Eating Disorder, the launch of the first long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotic RISPERDAL CONSTA® at Johnson & Johnson, and developing iloperidone (FANAPT®) at Novartis in the late 1990’s. Dr. Lasser completed his Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health, and his residency in psychiatry at McLean Hospital. He obtained an M.B.A from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, a M.D. from Boston University School of Medicine, and a B.A. in Biochemistry from Dartmouth College.
Dr. Lim is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University School of Medicine, and a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in brain tumors and trigeminal neuralgia.
Dr. Lim’s clinical interests include the treatment of benign and malignant brain tumors, with special interest in gliomas, meningiomas, metastatic tumors, and skull base tumors. Dr. Lim also specializes in surgical treatments for trigeminal neuralgia. During his time at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Lim built one of the largest brain tumor and trigeminal neuralgia practices and utilized the most advanced surgical technologies and techniques for his patients.
As a passionate voice for patient experience, he has been recognized by his peers and patients for his integrity and compassionate care, including a Service Excellence Award from HealthNetwork Foundation. Dr. Lim is a member of the FPA Medical Advisory Board.
Mark E. Linskey, MD is a Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of California Irvine and a member of the FPA Medical Advisory Board. His clinical interests encompass brain and spine arteriovenous malformation, cerebral aneurysm, cranial nerve disorders, gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery, trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, skull base microsurgery and microvascular decompression surgery. Dr. Linskey has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles.
Ana Moreno received a B.S. in biosystems engineering with a focus on biosensors and a B.A. in French literature from the University of Arizona. She went on to earn an M.S. and Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego, where her research focused on developing epigenetic gene therapy platforms using CRISPR-dCas9 and zinc-finger technologies. Ana has authored multiple high-impact research papers, holds six patents and received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships, including the CONACYT and UC MEXUS Graduate Fellowships, the Engelson Ph.D. Thesis Award, the Mitchell Max Award from the NIH Pain Consortium, the 2024 Biocom California Catalyst Award, the 2025 Transatlantic Connections Award, and is a 2025 Termeer Fellow.
In 2018, Ana founded Navega Therapeutics, a company dedicated to transforming patients’ lives through AI-enabled epigenetic therapies, with a focus on treating intractable pain and inflammatory disorders. She is also deeply passionate about mentoring and promoting diversity in STEM and has served as a mentor at San Diego Squared (SD2), the Basement at UC San Diego and Scientella.
Dr. Mulford received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, where he conducted research on ultrahigh field MRI, artificial intelligence, and Trigeminal Neuralgia while working under Pierre-Francois Van de Moortele MD PhD, Donald Nixdorf DDS, Andrew Grande MD, David Darrow MD, and Can Ozutemiz MD. He received a fellowship from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science from 2020-2022.
Dr. Mulford has worked at the Orthopedic Surgery Artificial Intelligence Lab at Mayo Clinic as a senior data science analyst since 2022. His work primarily deals with image-based artificial intelligence algorithms, and he is always thinking about how research translates to clinical practice. Outside of work, Dr. Mulford enjoys tending to his native wildflower gardens, riding his bikes, and reading bike infrastructure planning documents.
Dr. Nixdorf is a Professor and Director of the Division of TMD & Orofacial Pain at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. His clinical and teaching interests include the diagnosis and management of chronic TMD pain, headaches and neuropathic pain. His research is focused on the topic of persistent non-odontogenic “tooth” pain, looking at issues related to classification (e.g., consensus building), diagnosis (e.g., development of criteria, imaging, screening questionnaires), epidemiology, (e.g., determining predictive factors, assessing of impact), exploration of mechanisms (e.g., sensory testing, functional imaging), and treatment options.
Dr. Raymond Sekula is the Director of Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery and a Professor of Neurological Surgery at the Columbia University Department of Neurological Surgery. He has published more than 100 scientific articles and is a co-editor of the textbook Microvascular Decompression Surgery, a comprehensive look at MVD surgery, widely accepted as an effective remedy for cranial nerve hyperexcitability disorders including hemifacial spasm, trigeminal neuralgia, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Dr. Sekula is the chair of the Medical Advisory Board of the Facial Pain Association.
Dr. Konstantin Slavin is the board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in treatment of complex pain, facial pain, movement disorders, Parkinson’s disease, spasticity, epilepsy, Chiari malformation, spine and brain surgical conditions, and stereotactic radiosurgery. He is the head of Section of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery in the UIC Department of Neurosurgery and director of fellowship program in this neurosurgical super-specialty. With over 35 years of clinical experience, Dr. Slavin has dedicated his medical career to taking care of complicated patients that are in need of highly-specialized neurosurgical treatment.
Michael D. Staudt, MD MSc is an Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, where he is the Director of Epilepsy Neurosurgery and Co-Director of Neuromodulation and Pain. He holds the George R. and Constance P. Lincoln Endowed Chair in Brain Health. His clinical practice and research interests primarily include the surgical treatment of pain, epilepsy, and neurosurgical oncology. He has particular expertise in adult and pediatric neuromodulation.
He received a Master’s degree in neurobiology and a medical degree at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. He then continued his neurosurgical training at Western University, during which time he completed an enfolded fellowship in Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery at Case Western Reserve University, followed by a post-graduate fellowship at Albany Medical Center.
He serves on the Board of Directors for the North American Neuromodulation Society as a Director-At-Large, and is a Member-at-Large on the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pain. He also serves on the AANS/CNS Joint Guidelines Review Committee, and is the Pain Section Guideline Chair.
Dr. Maram Taema currently serves as an orofacial pain and sleep dentistry specialist at Hennepin Healthcare and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota. Her primary area of interest is the complex interplay between pain, headaches, and sleep disorders, particularly in medically complex patients. Dr Taema has over 15 years experience in clinical and academic dentistry. She is board-certified in Orofacial Pain and Sleep Dentistry as well as being a prosthodontist. A dedicated leader in her field, she serves as a council member for the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) and chairs its Industry Relations Committee.
Brandi is the Manager of Development, Research, and Advocacy for the Facial Pain Association (FPA). She also serves on the FPA’s Patient Registry Advisory Board and represents the FPA as a member organization on the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy’s Board. As a member of the facial pain community and a committed advocate for disability rights, Brandi’s passion transcends her personal experience as she strives to support, educate, and advocate for all people living with neuropathic facial pain. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from West Virginia University, Brandi brings over twelve years of diverse experience spanning corporate, small business, and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on marketing and nonprofit development. As a first-generation college graduate from a rural coal mining community, Brandi offers a distinct perspective in environments often occupied by those with generational wealth and multigenerational educational attainment. Committed to equity, she actively champions the inclusion and amplification of voices from marginalized and underserved communities.
Dr. Saranya Varun, BDS, MS is a board-certified specialist in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain. She practices at the Minnesota Head and Neck Pain Clinic, her primary focus being complex facial pain conditions, headache disorders and dental sleep medicine. Dr. Varun earned her dental degree in India, with advanced degrees in Oral Medicine and Radiology, laying the foundation for her expertise in oral health. She pursued advanced education at the University of Minnesota, completing specialized training in orofacial pain and TMD while earning her Master of Science degree. A committed member of the professional community, Dr. Varun is actively involved with the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP). She holds board certification, is recognized as a Fellow of the AAOP, and contributes her knowledge as a volunteer lecturer at the University of Minnesota.
Anna Williams experiences bilateral trigeminal neuralgia with concomitant continuous pain (type 2). She also experiences chronic cluster headache and migraine. This led to her becoming a patient advocate. She currently serves on the board of Clusterbusters as the Director of Support Services. Clusterbusters is a non-profit serving patients and caregivers of those experiencing cluster headaches. With the Programming Committee for the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy/The Headache Alliance (AHDA/THA) she works to provide education in the headache space as well as plan their advocacy events Headache on the Hill. As a patient opinion leader with Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP) she works with leading organizations to best elevate headache patient experience. She is also on the admin team for the Trigeminal Neuralgia Support Group on Facebook.
Richard S. Zimmerman, M.D., is professor of neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and staff neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. Dr. Zimmerman earned his B.A. with honors and M.D. degrees from Boston University. He completed an internship and residency in neurosurgery at Medical College of Virginia – Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a fellowship in neurovascular surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute
Dr. Zimmerman’s clinical work for over 30 years has focused on trigeminal and other cranial neuralgias, hemifacial spasm, vascular and skull base neurosurgery, and epilepsy surgery. Dr. Zimmerman serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the Facial Pain/Trigeminal Neuralgia Association and has championed innovations in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia surgery focusing on improving outcomes and increasing safety.
Dr. Zimmerman has received exceptional recognition for his leadership at Mayo Clinic, being noted as a Mayo Clinic Distinguished Educator in 2022, Mayo Clinic Distinguished Clinician in 2024, and receiving the Mayo Clinic Lifetime Achievement Award for Quality Improvement.
University of Minnesota
Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis
615 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Reservation phone number: (612) 379-8888, press 2 for reservations and ask for the UM Neurosurgery/Facial Pain Association room block (group code 91Z)
Hotel block available on a first come, first serve basis: $179/night + taxes and fees: https://book.passkey.com/e/50983517
Other hotels in the area:
Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis University Area
511 SE Huron Blvd,
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 504-3000
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/msputgi-hilton-garden-inn-minneapolis-university-area/
Home2Suites by Hilton Minneapolis University Area
2808 University Ave SE,
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 473-4662
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/msptcht-home2-suites-minneapolis-university-area/?SEO_id=GMB-AMER-HT-MSPTCHT&y_source=1_MjgzNjUzMDYtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D
Hampton Inn & Suites Minneapolis University Area
2812 University Ave SE,
Minneapolis, MN 55414
(612) 259-8797
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mspuahx-hampton-suites-minneapolis-university-area/?SEO_id=GMB-AMER-HX-MSPUAHX&y_source=1_MzgxMDkwMS03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D
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