Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology

The MUSC “Cognitive and Behavioral Program” is a division within the Department of Neurology. Our mission is to provide comprehensive evaluation and state-of-the-art treatment for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other related disorders. Our Behavioral Neurology group works to meet the neurological, psychological and social needs of our patients and their families as well as train the next generation of neurologists, and to enhance scientific knowledge through collaborative research endeavors so we may continue to advance the care of patients with cognitive disorders including Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Faculty

Andreana Benitez, Ph.D.

Andreana Benitez, Ph.D.

Dr. Benitez obtained her doctorate at Kent State University and completed fellowships focused on cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias at UCLA and MUSC. As a clinical neuropsychologist, her clinical and research interests focus on improving the early detection of dementing diseases using biomarkers and cognitive tests.

Nicholas Milano, M.D.

Nicholas Milano, M.D.

Dr. Milano completed his Neurology residency training at Cleveland Clinic and a fellowship in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology at the University of Florida. Dr. Milano’s clinical interests include all types of cognitive and neurobehavioral disorders including Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and the primary progressive aphasias. With an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, Dr. Milano hopes to act as a guide for the patient and their family as they negotiate their treatment options.

Emmi Scott of Neurology

Emmi Scott, Ph.D.

Dr. Emmi Scott is a clinical neuropsychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Neurology. Dr. Scott completed her residency at the Mount Sinai Hospital and fellowship at MUSC focused on the neuropsychology of memory disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s and related dementias) and movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonian disorders). Dr. Scott specializes in evaluating cognitive and behavioral changes in adults with suspected neurodegenerative or neurological conditions. Her primary clinical interests include 1) the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body disease, and other less common causes of dementia, 2) differentiating mild cognitive impairment or dementia from normal aging, and 3) providing education and recommendations to patients and their families to help them navigate these complex diagnoses.

Catrina Robinson, Ph.D.

Catrina Robinson, Ph.D.

Dr. Robinson comes to MUSC from the University of Michigan. Her research will help bridge a link between our growing dementia team and our premier stroke group by developing a better understanding of the links between stroke and cognitive decline. Dr. Robinson is a valued member of our team of researchers and clinicians who are determined to work together to improve patient care and overall health outcomes.

Travis Turner, Ph.D.

Travis Turner, Ph.D.

Travis H. Turner, Ph. D., is an assistant professor and director of the Neuropsychology Division at MUSC. He studied psychology and neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh and earned his doctorate in clinical psychology through San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. He completed clinical internship and postdoctoral training at MUSC and the VAMC in Charleston. He provides clinical neuropsychological evaluations for patients followed within movement disorders. His research program is focused on developing new ways to measure and treat cognitive deficits in Parkinson’s disease. Current efforts in this pursuit include development and standardization of computerized behavioral saccade tests, neuropsychological assessment via videoconferencing, (i.e., telemedicine), and clinical trials (e.g., phospholipid-bound omega-3 supplementation).

Mark T. Wagner, Ph.D.

Mark T. Wagner, Ph.D.

Clinical Neuropsychologist

Mark Wagner, Ph.D. is Professor of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He joined MUSC in 1992 and is the Director of Neuropsychology in the Department of Neurology. He has a statewide reputation for clinical excellence within his field. His clinical practice focuses on the neuropsychological issues associated with diagnosis and management of neurological diseases of the brain. He interfaces with many different programs at MUSC and with community doctors in the areas of normal aging vs. early dementia, neurosurgical treatment of epilepsy, head trauma and neurodegenerative disorders of the brain. Nationally he is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists (NAN) and a senior member of the International Neuropsychological Society. As a Clinician/Educator, Dr. Wagner teaches students at medical school, residency, and post-doctoral levels in his clinics, which focus on various types of memory disorders and other neurological conditions affecting the brain. He is a longstanding member of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science internship training program and has mentored numerous Ph.D. candidates, residents and fellows at various stages of clinical training. At the national level, Dr. Wagner is a member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology Education Committee and the International Neuropsychological Society Education Committee. Dr. Wagner has published numerous peer-reviewed empirical studies and book chapters and other publications within the field of neuropsychology. He is a reviewer for a number of professional journals. He has been an investigator, co-investigator and consultant on various research grants. He has a particular interest in distinguishing normal age-related changes in memory from pre-clinical Alzheimer and related cognitive disorders. Other areas of interest are successful aging, atypical dementias, novel and technology-related interventions, and factors that predict cognitive morbidity associated with neurosurgical treatment of epilepsy.

Kimberly Parker 

Kimberly Parker

 

Staff

Sherri Avinger
Administrative Assistant