Patients and families dealing with neurological disorders – particularly brain tumors, stroke, movement disorders and spinal conditions – are invited to a free conference Saturday, June 4, in Palm Springs, where neurologists, neurosurgeons and other team members from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will give an update on recent diagnosis and treatment advances.

Early sessions will cover general and practical issues: understanding health plans, nutritional support for patients, supportive Chinese medicine options and causes and management of pain. Participants then will attend selected breakout sessions. Options will include brain tumors and cancer vaccines; spinal fusion and minimally invasive spine surgery; stroke treatment and research; and epilepsy and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.

Patients also may bring imaging scans and medical documents for review by one of the doctors. Reservations for “Consultants’ Corner” may be made on a first come, first served basis at the 7:30 a.m. check-in.

Speakers and course directors will include:

• Michael J. Alexander, MD, professor and vice chairman of Neurosurgery, director of the Neurovascular Center and director of Endovascular Neurosurgery
• Keith L. Black, MD, professor and chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, director of the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Brain Tumor Center, and Ruth and Lawrence Harvey Chair in Neuroscience.
• Jeffrey M. Chung, MD, director of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and associate director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neurology
• AvromGart, MD, director of Pain Management and Rehabilitation and medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center
• Betty Johnson, registered nurse, manager of the Department of Nursing Research/Education
• J. Patrick Johnson, MD, co-director of Spine Stem Cell Research at the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center
• John C. Liu, MD, vice chairman of Neurosurgery for Spine Services and co-medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center
• Patrick D. Lyden, MD, chairman of the Department of Neurology and Carmen and Louis Warschaw Chair in Neurology
• Adam N. Mamelak, MD, professor of Neurosurgery, co-director of the Pituitary Center and director of Functional Neurosurgery
• Lucy Postolov, licensed, nationally certified acupuncturist and allied health practitioner
• Alyssa Tennenbaum, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator in the Department of Clinical Nutrition.
• John S. Yu, MD, professor and vice chairman of Neurosurgery, director of the Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, director of Surgical Neuro-Oncology and surgical director of the Gamma Knife Center.

“Advances in Neurology and Neurosurgery” will run from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hyatt Regency Palm Springs, 285 North Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Registration is required and may be done online at www.cedars-sinai.edu/neuroptconf or by calling 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771).