When I meet with a patient, I’m honest about what can and can’t be done for their headache disorder. Although we don’t have a cure for most headache disorders, I can help patients lead a more normal life by helping them function better at work, school, and in social and family activities.

I listen carefully to my patients so that I can understand their headaches and the impact they have on their lives. Then I work with them to formulate a plan of care to get them the best results from their treatment. This process is different for each patient, which is what makes this such a fascinating and rewarding field of medicine.

Communicating with the people who live with the patient is also important to this process. They need to understand the diagnosis and treatment plan, so they can help evaluate and provide support for the patient. Their perspective on the patient’s medical history and headache problem is very valuable.

I enjoy the long-term relationships that headache doctors have with their patients. Following up with patients and fine-tuning their treatment is rewarding. It also gives me an opportunity to keep learning how to improve treatment for them and my other patients.

When I hear that a patient is going back to school or work, or is enjoying better family and social relationships because of their headache treatment, it is enormously rewarding. My goal is for every patient to be able to manage their headaches so that they can go back to leading the kind of life they want to lead without headaches limiting what they want to do.

Neurology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock
The Department of Neurology aims to provide you with compassionate and expert neurological care. We work collaboratively within our specialties and across disciplines in order to provide an evidence-based practice approach. Whether your neurological issues are cognitive/behavioral, epilepsy, headache, movement, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular, stroke/cerebrovascular or general, we will work with you and your family to provide the best possible medical outcomes.