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Gretchen Birbeck, MD, Neurology, Rochester, NY, Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester

GretchenLanoBirbeckMDMPH, DTMH

Neurology • Rochester, NY

Epilepsy

Professor, Neurology, U of Rochester Sch of Med & Dentistry Research Director, Strong Epilepsy Center Faculty, Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics and the Department of Public Health

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Summary

  • Since 1994, I have served as a physician, medical educator and researcher in sub-Saharan Africa. My overarching professional goal is to elucidate the mechanisms of common neurology disorders in the region and identify risk factors for the secondary medical and social morbidities resulting from these conditions so that feasible, affordable, evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing or ameliorating neurologic illness/injury can be evaluated and, if warranted, broadly implemented. My research priorities are directly informed by my experience as a clinician and educator in Zambia and Malawi. Having originally trained as an adult neurologist in the US, my postdoctoral studies in health services research, epidemiology, pediatric epilepsy, and tropical medicine were all selected based upon the skills needed to pursue my overarching professional goals. As an epileptologist and neuroepidemiologist with continuous NIH-funding since 2002, I have served as the Principal Investigator for observational epidemiological studies and clinical trials of common neurological problems in southern Africa including cerebral malaria, neuro-HIV and epilepsy. Neuroimaging has been an important aspect of much of my work. I mentor a broad range of post-doctoral trainees from both the US and Africa. My trainees are particularly diverse since my Africa-based research program engages several African Americans who are children of the African diaspora.
    1.    Birbeck GL. Zika virus: What the neurologist wants to know. Neurology. 2016 Apr 5;86(14):1272-4. PubMed PMID: 26896047.
    2.    Birbeck GL. Careers in global neurology. Ann Neurol. 2014 Jun;75(6):805-9. PubMed PMID: 24942697; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4116612.
    3.    Butcher J. Gretchen Birbeck: a Zambian experience. Lancet Neurol. 2007 Jan;6(1):24. PubMed PMID: 17166798.
    4.    Birbeck GL. A neurologist in Zambia. Lancet Neurol. 2002 May;1(1):58-61. PubMed PMID: 12849546.

Education & Training

  • Diploma in Tropical Medicine
    Diploma in Tropical MedicineDTMH, Trpopical Medicine, with Distinction, 2006 - 2006
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineFellowship, Epilepsy, 2004 - 2005
  • UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center
    UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical CenterFellowship, Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, 1998 - 2000
  • UCLA
    UCLAMPH, Epidemiology, 1998 - 2000
  • Johns Hopkins University
    Johns Hopkins UniversityResidency, Neurology, 1995 - 1998
  • Johns Hopkins University
    Johns Hopkins UniversityInternship, Internal Medicine, 1994 - 1995
  • Indiana University
    Indiana UniversityBA, Chemistry & Psychology, 1990 - 1994
  • University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine
    University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of MedicineClass of 1994, MD, with Honors and AOA

Certifications & Licensure

  • NY State Medical License
    NY State Medical License 2013 - 2025
  • MI State Medical License
    MI State Medical License 2000 - 2016
  • MD State Medical License
    MD State Medical License 2004 - 2006
  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 1998 - 2000
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Neurology
  • Health Professionals Council of ZambiaMedical Registration as physician
  • Malawi Medical RegistrarSpecialist physici

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Richard T. Johnson Lecturer in Neurological Infectious Diseases University of Liverpool, 2020
  • Global Achievement Award Johns Hopkins Alumni Association, 2019
  • Soriano Lectureship Award American Neurological Association, 2017
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Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Press Mentions

  • Children with HIV at Greater Risk for Impaired Neurological Development
    Children with HIV at Greater Risk for Impaired Neurological DevelopmentOctober 13th, 2022
  • Kids with HIV Have Higher Risk of Neurological Problems
    Kids with HIV Have Higher Risk of Neurological ProblemsOctober 13th, 2022
  • What's Happening in Without Borders
    What's Happening in Without BordersJanuary 26th, 2021
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Grant Support

  • An MRI Ancillary Study of FEVER RCTNIH NINDS2020–Present
  • Aggressive Antipyretics for Fever Control in CNS MalariaNIH NINDS2017–Present
  • Understanding the Tap GapNIH NINDS2019–2021
  • NIHR01NS094037 Cohort of HIV-Associated Seizures and Epilepsy in Zambia (CHASE): Scale up and expansion informed by R21 FindingsNIH NINDS2015–2021
  • A dose-finding escalation and safety study of enteral levetiracetam for seizure control in pediatric cerebral malariaNIH NINDS2012–2016
  • A Cohort Study Of Seizures And Epilepsy In HIV+ Zambian AdultsNational Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke2011–2012
  • Epilepsy-Associated Stigma In Zambia: Evidence-Based Interventions And OutcomesNational Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke2008–2012
  • The Malawi-Msu MRI Project: An Epidemiologic Study Of CNS AbnormalitiesNational Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke2010–2011
  • Rural Antiretroviral Adherence in Zambia (RAAZ)Doris Duke Charitable Foundation ORACTA Program2006–2008
  • Is Cerebral Malaria A Risk Factor For Epilepsy?National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke2004–2008
  • Epilepsy-Associated Stigma In ZambiaNational Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke2003–2005
  • Chikankata Epilepsy and Febrile Seizure Study (ChEAFS)Rockefeller Bros/Charles E. Culpeper Medical Scholars Program2002–2005
  • Neurology where you need itThe Lancet International Fellowship2001–2002

Committees

  • Ambassador for Zambia, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2020 - Present
  • Advisory Board, National Institute of Health, Fogarty International Center 2017 - 2020
  • Board Member, American Neurological Association 2017 - 2020

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations

Dr. Gretchen Birbeck, Dr. Gretchen Birbeck, MD, Dr. G Birbeck, Dr. Gretchen Lano Birbeck