Los Angeles,
10
May
2019
|
06:00 AM
America/Los_Angeles

Cedars-Sinai Names Nancy L. Sicotte, MD, Chair of the Department of Neurology

Renowned Investigator and Prolific Author Will Lead Strategic Direction of Clinical, Academic and Research Programs in the Department of Neurology

After a comprehensive national search, Cedars-Sinai is pleased to announce the appointment of Nancy L. Sicotte, MD, as chair of the Department of Neurology. Sicotte has been at Cedars-Sinai for nine years, serving most recently as interim chair of Neurology, director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center and professor of Neurology.

"This important leadership appointment reflects Dr. Sicotte's valued contributions to Cedars-Sinai's growing neuroscience enterprise," said Shlomo Melmed, MB, ChB, executive vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of the Medical Faculty. "This well-deserved promotion also recognizes Dr. Sicotte's diagnostics and distinguished record for advancing clinical care, physician education and pioneering research of novel therapies for multiple sclerosis."

Sicotte is an internationally recognized leader in her field and a prolific author and lecturer, having presented at dozens of conferences and seminars in the U.S. and abroad. The recipient of important honors and teaching awards, including the Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and the Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Sicotte has focused her research on developing informative imaging outcome measures of novel therapies as well as measures of disease progression, depression and cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.

She is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Her most recent published research showed that nearly 18% of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis before being referred to Cedars-Sinai and one other Los Angeles medical center had actually been misdiagnosed with the autoimmune disease.

"It brings me no greater joy than to walk alongside my patients and the Cedars-Sinai community in this expanded role," said Sicotte. "I am eager to begin this new journey and anticipate the Department of Neurology will continue to make pivotal advances for those most in need."

As founding director of the Neurology Residency Program and the Neuroimmunology Fellowship Program as well as founding site director of the Medical Student Neurology Clerkship, Sicotte has been instrumental in establishing important education programs for residents and fellows at the medical center.

In her new role as chair of the department, Sicotte will lead strategic direction of clinical, academic and research programs in the Department of Neurology. She will focus on attracting, mentoring and promoting translational and clinical neuroscientists while supporting excellence in education, research and patient care.

Sicotte earned her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, where she was ranked first in her class. She completed her neurology residency and a fellowship in neuroimaging at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She recently joined the National Medical Advisory Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and has been a volunteer physician at the Venice Family Clinic for two decades.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai blog: MS and Pregnancy