Physicians
Tulio E. Bertorini, M.D.
Dr. Bertorini trained at the University of San Marcos, School of Medicine where he obtained his MD degree in 1970.
He completed an internship at the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore and did his neurology residency at Georgetown University. During this time, he served a rotation in neuropathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology performing histopathology and at Massachusetts General Hospital in clinical electrophysiology.
In 1975 he became a visiting associate (fellow) in neuromuscular disorders, muscle histochemistry and EMG at the National Institutes of Health. He then moved to the University Tennessee Health Science Center in 1977 where he was an associate professor of neurology and pathology. He was promoted to Professor in 1997.
Dr. Bertorini specializes in neuromuscular disease and is the director of the Memphis MDA Clinic and the Mid-South MDA/ALS Clinic. He is also the Chief of Neurology at Methodist University Hospital, Co-Director of their Neurology Training Program, and Co-Director of UTHSC’s Neurophysiology fellowship program.
Dr. Bertorini has written/edited three books and several book chapters on neuromuscular disorders and has published over 150 papers on neuromuscular disorders.
He has been very active in clinical research in Duchene Muscular Dystrophy and CINRG trials since its inception.
Yaohui Chai, M.D.
Dr. Chai earned his Medical Degree at Central South University Xiangya Medical School, China. This was followed by a residency in internal medicine at Gulou Hospital, Nanjing University College of Medicine, China. Then he went on to obtain a M.D./Ph.D. in neurology and neuroscience from the Institute of Neurology, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Neuroscience, Shanghai Medical University. Dr. Chai worked as a postdoctoral research fellow and then as a research investigator in the Department of Neurology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Dr. Chai focused on the polyglutamine expansion diseases, including several inherited ataxia and Huntington's disease, and had several publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Chai then completed an internship, a three-year neurology residency, and fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science in Memphis. The fellowship training included EMG, neuromuscular diseases, EEG, and Evoked Potentials. He then joined Wesley Neurology Clinic and actively participated in the diagnosis, management, and research of neuromuscular diseases both in Wesley Neurology Clinic and Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic in Memphis. Some of Dr. Chai's recent publications include articles in Muscle & Nerve, Neuromuscular Disorders, and Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease. His research interests now include neuromuscular disorders, especially muscular dystrophy, inflammatory myopathy, autoimmune neuropathies, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
In addition to his research experience, Dr. Chai has extensive teaching experiences in neurology, including a current teaching position with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He mentors medical students, neurology residents and fellows in clinical neurophysiology.
Dr. Chai is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the Tennessee Medical Association, and Fellow of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnositic Medicine.
Selected Publications
1. Chai Y., Bertorini T.E., Khan, R.B., Randall B.M., Shadle M.K. Dermatomyositis presenting with focal scleroderma-like skin changes. Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease (inpress).
2. Chai Y., Bertorini T.E., Li Y.D., Mitchell C., Guan H. (2011). Limb edema and anasarca associated with severe dermatomyositits:: report of four cases. Neuromuscular Disorders 21(6):439-42.
3. Chai Y., Bertorini T.E., McGrew F.A.(2011) Hereditary inclusion body myopathy associated with cardiomyopathy: report of two siblings. Muscle & Nerve 43(1):133-6.
4. Chai Y, Bertorini T. E. (2010). A female with progressive four-limb paresthesias and gait difficulty. Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease 11(4);191-7
5. Chai Y, Adamolekun B. (2010) Cryptogenic gelastic epilepsy originating from right temporal lobe: a case report. Medical Principles and Practice 19(2);153-8.
6. Berke SJ, Chai Y, Marrs GL, Wen H, Paulson HL. (2005) Defining the role of ubiquitin-interacting motifs in the polyglutamine disease protein, ataxin-3. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 280(36): 32026-34.
7. Chai Y, Berke SJ, Cohen RE, Paulson HL. (2004). "Poly-ubiquitin binding by the polyglutamine disease protein ataxin-3 links its normal function to protein surveillance pathways." Journal of Biological Chemistry. 279(5): 3605-11.
8. Chai Y, Shao J, Miller VM, Williams A, Paulson HL. (2002). "Live-cell imaging reveals divergent intracellular dynamics of polyglutamine disease proteins and supports a sequestration model of pathogenesis." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 99(14): 9310-5.
9. Chai Y, Wu L, Griffin JD, Paulson HL. (2001). "The role of protein composition in specifying nuclear inclusion formation in polyglutamine disease." Journal of Biological Chemistry. 276(48): 44889-97.
10. McCampbell A, Taylor JP, Taye AA, Robitschek J, Li M, Walcott J, Merry D, Chai Y, Paulson H, Sobue G, Fischbeck KH. (2000). "CREB-binding protein sequestration by expanded polyglutamine." Human Molecular Genetics. 9(14): 2197-202.
11. Chai Y, Koppenhafer SL, Bonini NM, Paulson HL. (1999). "Analysis of the role of heat shock protein (Hsp) molecular chaperones in polyglutamine disease." Journal of Neuroscience. 19(23): 10338-47.
12. Chai Y, Koppenhafer SL, Shoesmith SJ, Perez MK, Paulson HL. (1999). "Evidence for proteasome involvement in polyglutamine disease: localization to nuclear inclusions in SCA3/MJD and suppression of polyglutamine aggregation in vitro." Human Molecular Genetics. 8(4): 673-82.
13. Warrick JM, Chan HY, Gray-Board GL, Chai Y, Paulson HL, Bonini NM. (1999). "Suppression of polyglutamine-mediated neurodegeneration in Drosophila by the molecular chaperone HSP70." Nature Genetics. 23(4): 425-8.
Gregory J. Condon, M.D.
Dr. Condon earned a B.S. in Microbiology from Memphis State University after three years services in the United States Army. He earned his Medical Degree from the University of Tennessee. Dr Condon completed a medical internship and a neurology residency with the University of Tennessee and was an EEG fellow with Baptist Memorial Hospital. After completing his education, he worked at the Epilepsy and Electrocorticography Program at EpiCare Center. Additionally, Dr. Condon gained fifteen years experience in private neurology practice before joining Wesley Neurology Clinic in 2005.
Dr. Condon's research interests include Wernicke's disease, epilepsy, EEG, and migraine. He has been an invited lecturer at the University of Tennessee, Baptist Memorial Hospital, and the NATO Meeting on Frontal Lobe Epilepsies. Dr. Condon is certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners in Neurology and the American Society of Neuroimaging.
Hafiz A. Elahi, M.D.
Dr. Hafiz Awais Elahi earned his medical degree (MBBS) from Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan. Afterwards, he joined the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad through which he completed his initial training in internal medicine and attained his post-graduate fellowship degree in internal medicine known as Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS). Dr. Elahi has also worked as neurologist at PIMS. PIMS is a tertiary-care hospital with state-of-the-art medical facilities and post-graduate training in multiple medical and surgical subspecialties in the capital city of Islamabad. Through such work experience, Dr. Elahi has achieved extensive clinical experience in internal medicine and neurology.
In the United States, Dr. Elahi completed his residency in neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and earned the status of Chief Resident of Neurology during his final year of training. After completing his residency, he joined Wesley Neurology Clinic. He is a certified diplomat of American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and is certified by the Neuromuscular Board (ABEM).
Dr. Elahi is also actively involved in training of residents and medical students at the Neurology Department of UTHSC and holds a position as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at UTHSC.
Nada El Andary, M.D.
Dr. El Andary earned her medical degree and completed her internal medicine residency training at Beirut Arab University in Beirut, Lebanon. She completed her neurology residency and vascular neurology fellowship at the University of Connecticut, Hartford Hospital. She is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Neurology and Vascular Neurology and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and The American College of Physicians.
Jesus Felix Martinez, M.D.
Dr. Martinez earned his Medical Degree at the University of El Salvador School of Medicine in 1993. This was followed by a residency in Internal Medicine at Rosales Hospital, the country's third level referral center. Dr. Martinez then completed an Internal Medicine internship at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut, followed by a Neurology residency at the North Shore University Hospital at Manhasset, New York. From there, he joined the University of Virginia Department of Neurology as a fellow in Clinical Neurophysiology for one year, followed by two years as an Epilepsy Fellow. His experience during the latter part was focused on evaluation and management of refractory epilepsy patients using advanced techniques including intracranial EEG monitoring and brain mapping of patients being evaluated for epilepsy surgery.
Dr. Martinez joined Wesley Neurology Clinic in 2007 and has actively participated in monitoring the quality of the Electrodiagnostic Laboratory services at the Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. He mentors current and recent neurophysiology fellows from the University of Tennessee neurophysiology program. He currently serves as Chair of the Department of Neurology at Methodist University Hospital, co-director of the Electrodiagnostics lab at Methodist University.
Dr. Martinez's interests include refractory epilepsy, psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy, management of status epilepticus, surgical management of epilepsy, and new anticonvulsants and devices for epilepsy management.
Rekha Pillai, M.D.
Dr. Pillai earned an Intermediate Science Degree from Women's College in Ranchi, India and a Medical Bachelor, Bachelor of Surgery from Medical College of Trivandrum in Kerala, India. She completed internships in India and Virginia and a neurology residency at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis.
Before joining Wesley Neurological Clinic in 1999, Dr. Pillai served as chief of Neurology Section and EMG Lab at the Veterans Hospitals at Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Dr. Pillai also has many years experience as an attending physician at various Memphis hospitals. Her teaching credentials include over fifteen years instructing residents and medical students. Currently, she is a voluntary staff member of the Department of Neurology at the University of Tennessee, Memphis and is involved in training residents and medical students.
Dr. Pillai is board certified with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the National Stroke Association, and the Tennessee and American Medical Associations. She is on staff at the Methodist Hospitals and has courtesy privileges at Baptist Memorial Hospitals and St. Francis Hospitals.
Her research interests include neuromuscular diseases, multiple sclerosis, and movement disorders. Dr. Pillai has published articles in Southern Medical Journal, and American Journal of Obstetrical Gynecology. She has also present papers at the VI International Conference on Neuromuscular Disease and the Joint Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation. Her current research includes three ongoing studies in multiple sclerosis.
Although she has specific subspecialty interests, she is happy to see general neurology patients. She is proficient in the medical use of Botulinum toxin for blepharospasm, focal dystonias, spaticicity and headaches. She is also board certified in elctrodiagnostic studies including nerve conductions and electromyography.
Dr. Bola Adamolekun
Dr. Adamolekun is a graduate of The University of Ibadan School of Medicine in Nigeria. He completed Neurology residency training at Southern Illinois University and completed his Epilepsy & Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship at John Hopkins University. Dr. Adamolekun is a Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology, and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Subspecialty certification in Epilepsy. He sees patients at Wesley Neurology Clinic’s East Memphis and North Memphis locations.
Amado Freire, MD
Dr. Freire is the Medical Director of Wesley Neurology Sleep Center.
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Academic Title: |
Professor of Medicine and Division Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis |
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Medical Degree: |
The University of Guayaquil School of Medicine, Ecuador. He also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland |
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Speciality: |
Pulmonary Diseases |
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Residency: |
(Internal Medicine) Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, New Jersey; (Preventive Medicine) Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland |
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Fellowship: |
(Pulmonary Diseases) Mount Sinai Services City Hospital Center, Elmhurst, New York |
Charles Hubbert, MD
Charles Hubbert, MD - Hospital EEGs and EMGs
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Medical Degree: |
University of Mississippi School of Medicine |
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Residency: |
(Neurology) University of Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee |
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Board |
American Board of Family Practice |
Mark LeDoux, MD
Mark LeDoux, MD
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Medical Degree: |
Louisiana State University School of Medicine; New Orleans, Louisiana |
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Speciality: |
Neurology |
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Residency: |
(Neurosurgery) University of Alabama; Birmingham, Alabama; (Neurology) University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Memphis, Tennessee |
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Fellowship: |
Louisiana State University School of Medicine; New Orleans, Louisiana |
Cara Pendley, MD
Cara Pendley, MD – Neurology Hospitalist
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Medical Degree: |
University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Memphis, Tennessee |
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Undergraduate:
Speciality: |
Rhodes College
Neurology |
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Licensure/ |
State of Tennessee Medical License |
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Membership: |
American Medical Association |