Dr. Jeff Bronstein
Welcome Keynote | Director, UCLA Movement Disorders Clinic
Dr. Michele Tagliati
Director, Cedars-Sinai Movement Disorders
Dr. Helen Lavretsky
Director, UCLA Integrative Psychiatry Clinic & Post-COVID Clinic
Mike & Nessa
PCLA Treasurer & Young Onset Parkinson’s Support Group; PCLA Young Onset Parkinson's Support Group
Dr. Mirella Diaz-Santos
Mary S. Eaton Center for Alzheimer's Research & Care at UCLA
Dr. Maryam Belgi
Mary S. Eaton Center for Alzheimer's Research & Care at UCLA
Jeff Bronstein received his M.D. and Ph.D. from UCLA in 1988 as a recipient of the Medical Scientist Training Program Award. He completed a residency in Neurology and fellowship training in Movement Disorders at UCLA. He is the Director of the Movement Disorders Program at UCLA and Professor of Neurology and Molecular Toxicology. His interests and expertise include the management of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other movement disorders, surgical treatment of PD, and developing new therapies for patients.
DDr. Michele Tagliati is a neurologist in Los Angeles, California and is affiliated with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Sapienza University of Rome and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Michele Tagliati is a clinician and clinical researcher, investigating advanced therapeutics of Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and other movement disorders. He was among the pioneers developing the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders in the United States.
Dr. Tagliati attended medical school and neurology residency in Rome, Italy before moving to New York in 1993. He completed a second residency in neurology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, during which time he was Chief resident. Following residency, he completed a fellowship in Movement Disorders at Beth Israel Medical Center and afterward joined the Department of Neurology as an attending and faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 2004, Dr. Tagliati moved back to Mount Sinai, where he was an Associate Professor of Neurology and Division Chief of Movement Disorders. In 2010, he moved to Los Angeles to accept the position of Vice Chairman of Neurology and Director of Movement Disorders at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Tagliati is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is co-author of the patient reference book Parkinson’s Disease for Dummies. Dr. Tagliati has received research grants from various agencies and foundations and was a Principal Investigator in several clinical trials exploring new medical and surgical therapies for Parkinson’s disease. He has lectured at conferences and academic institutions around the world and is one of the premier educators of DBS management, having directed – among others - the DBS programming course at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Tagliati also serves in the Scientific Advisory Board of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation and in the Editorial Board of the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease.
Dr. Helen Lavretsky is a Professor In-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA and a geriatric integrative psychiatrist with a federally funded research program in geriatric depression and integrative mental health using mind-body interventions. She is a recipient of the Career Development award from NIMH and the NCCIH, and other prestigious research awards. Her current research studies include investigations of psychopharmacological treatment of geriatric depression, mild cognitive impairment and the use of Tai Chi and yoga for treatment and prevention of late-life mood and cognitive disorders. Dr. Lavretsky completed her medical degree, residency, and fellowship at UCLA.
Dr. Mirella Diaz-Santos, PhD is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Diaz-Santos is also Director of Research of the Hispanic Neuropsychiatric Center of Excellence at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. As a neuropsychologist and director of the “Equity for Latinx-Hispanic Healthy Aging Lab,” she focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and works primarily with the Latinx community and older communities. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She later obtained a doctorate degree in clinical psychology-neuropsychology from Boston University. Dr. Diaz-Santos completed post-doctoral fellowships at UCLA in clinical neuropsychology and a combined research fellowship with the Human Connectome Project.
Dr. Maryam Beigi, MD is a Neurology Specialist and has over 42 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Shiraz University in Iran with a medical degree in 1981. She is affiliated with Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Her area of focus is Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Beigi has several publications about clinical studies in regards to Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons treatment.
