Stroke Institute
A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain – such as memory and muscle control – are lost. How a person is affected by their stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is the first step to ensuring medical help is received immediately. For each minute a stroke goes untreated and blood flow to the brain continues to be blocked, a person loses about 1.9 million neurons. This could mean that a person’s speech, movement, memory, and so much more can be affected.
Stroke symptoms include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
From the minute a patient is diagnosed as having a stroke or being at risk of a stroke, the medical staff at FWNC begins an aggressive regimen of care and rehabilitation. An array of diagnostic and treatment options includes:
- Computed tomographic scan
- MRI
- Diffusion-weighted MRI
- Doppler ultrasound
- Digital subtraction angiography
- Anti-platelet therapy
- Anti-coagulant therapy
- Thrombolytic agents
- Balloon angioplasty or stenting of carotid artery
In addition, some stroke patients require special therapy after they leave the hospital. FWNC offers physical, occupational, speech, and recreational therapy to help a patient achieve maximum quality of life.
Resources:
James C. Stevens, M.D., F.A.S.M.
NEUROLOGIST / SLEEP DISORDERS
Dr. Stevens has been a private practicing neurologist and specialist in sleep disorders medicine at the Fort Wayne Neurological Center for the past 30years. He received his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he graduated at the top of his class, receiving AOA honors his junior year. He completed his neurology resident training at Indiana University where he was a multi-year recipient of the Alexander Ross Award for outstanding neurologic research. He currently serves as a Professor of Neurology for the IUSM and is currently serving as President-elect of AAN. In addition, Dr. Stevens has been recognized annually as one the “Best Doctors in America”, and has been a recipient of the “Patients Choice Award” since 2008 as one of the outstanding physicians in the United States and has received multi-year recognition as the “Top Doc” in Neurology by the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
EDUCATION
- B.A., Biological Sciences with Highest Distinction, 1979, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
- M.D., Doctor of Medicine with Honors, 1983, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, Indiana
RESIDENCY
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1984-1987
CERTIFICATION
- American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
- American Board of Sleep Medicine
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Director, Sleep DIsorders Laboratory, St. Joseph Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 989-present
- Director, Lutheran Hospital Regional Sleep Lab, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 1989-present
- Instructor of Clinical Neurology for the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; 1989-present
- Lutheran Hospital Executive Committee, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 1996-present
- Lutheran Hospital Medicine Committee, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 1990-present
- Lutheran Hospital Staff Selection Committee, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 1990-present
- Lutheran Hospital Critical Care Committee, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 2000-present
- Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Wayne Executive Committee, Fort Wayne, Indiana; 1994-present
- American Academy of Neurology; 2001-present; Vice Chairman 2005-present
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Boston, MA; 1989, 2001-present
- American Academy of Neurology Member
- American Medical Association Member
- Fellow of the American Sleep Disorders Association Member
- Indiana Neurological Society Member
- Fort Wayne Medical Society Member
Andrea L. Haller, M.D.
NEUROLOGIST / SLEEP DISORDERS SPECIALIST
Dr. Andrea Haller is board certified in neurology and sleep medicine. She grew up in Connecticut, and she earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. Dr. Haller attended medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. After completing her neurology residency, Dr. Haller entered private practice in Indianapolis. She served as the Medical Director of the Stroke Service at Community Hospital North until she moved to Fort Wayne in 2014. Dr. Haller enjoys working with patients of all ages, and she has experience treating a wide variety of neurological illnesses.
EDUCATION
- B.A. Psychology, 1990, Summa Cum Laude, Harvard University, Cambridge Massachusetts
- M.D., 1997, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
RESIDENCY
- Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, 1997 - 1998
- Department of Neurology, University of Carlifornia, San Francisco, California, 1998 - 2001
CERTIFICATION
- USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3
- Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology
- Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sleep Medicine
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Academy of Neurology Member
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine Member
- American Heart Association Member
- American Stroke Association Member
- Indiana Neurological Society Member
- Indiana State Medical Association Member
- Indianapolis Medical Society Member
- Fort Wayne Medical Society Member
Madhav H. Bhat, M.D.
NEUROLOGIST / NEUROREHABILITATION / GENERAL ADULT NEUROLOGY
Dr. Bhat received his M.D. from the University of Bombay, Bombay, India. He completed residencies at St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, and BYL Nair Hospital, Bombay, India, and at Hurley Medical Center, Flint, MI. He specializes in neurology and neuro-rehabilitation.
EDUCATION
- M.B.B.S., 1976, University of Bombay, Bombay, India
- M.D., Internal Medicine, 1981, University of Bombay, Bombay, India
RESIDENCY
- Residency in Neurology, St. Louis University Hospitals, St. Louis, Missouri, July 1983 to June 1986
- Residency in Internal Medicine, Hurley Medical Center (Michigan State University), Flint, Michigan, July 1982 to June 1983
- Residency in Internal Medicine, B.Y.L. Nair Hospital (University of Bombay), Bombay, India, February 1978 to October 1981
- Resident Post-Examination Training (Rotating Internship), B.Y.L., Nair Hospital (University of Bombay), Bombay, India January 1977 to December 1977
CERTIFICATION
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Clinical Asst. Professor of Neurology, Fort Wayne Center and Indiana School of Medicine
- American Academy of Neurology Member
- Fort Wayne Medical Society Member
- Indiana State Medical Society Member
- Indiana Neurological Society
Ajay Gupta, M.D.
NEUROLOGIST / MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Dr. Gupta received his medical training at MP Shah Medical College in Jamnagar, India. His residency in neurology was accomplished at the Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Gupta furthered his professional training after his residency by completing dual fellowships in electroencephalography/ epilepsy and in multiple sclerosis/ neuro immunology at the Medical College of Ohio and at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
EDUCATION
- M.B.B.S., 1978, MP Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, India
RESIDENCY
- Chief Resident in Neurology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, 1984-1985
- Resident in Neurology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, 1982-1985
- Resident in Generat Medicine, MP Shah Medical College and Irwin Group of Hospitals, Jamnagar, India, 1980-1981
CERTIFICATION
- Board Certified, Neurology
- Board eligible in Electroencephalography
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Academy of Neurology
- Indiana State Medical Association
- Indiana Neurological Society
- Fort Wayne Medical Society
Marlene C. Bultemeyer, M.D.
NEUROLOGY / EPILEPSY
Dr. Bultemeyer is board certified in Neurology and Epilepsy. Hailing from Northeast Indiana, she returned to the local area to begin private practice in 2010. She received her M.D. from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. She continued at the I.U. Medical Center to complete her general Neurology Residency and additional professional training, completing a Fellowship in Neurophysiology as well. Through the Fellowship she received advanced training in Epilepsy and associated EEG testing protocols. Dr. Bultemeyer is an Assistant Professor for IUSM and serves as the director of the Neurodiagnostics department at Fort Wayne Neurological Center. She also is director of the Neurodiagnostics Department at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne and was instrumental in the department achieving status as the only Accredited EEG lab in the region.
EDUCATION
- B.S. in Biology, 1997, University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana
- M.D., 2005, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
RESIDENCY
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2005-2009
FELLOWSHIP
- Neurophysiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2009-2010
CERTIFICATION
- Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Epilepsy, American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2010 – present
- Medical Director of the Neurodiagnostics Department, Lutheran Hospital, 2014 – present
- Chair, Utilization/Review Committee, Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2010 – present
- Lutheran Hospital, Physician Leadership Committee Member, 2016 – present
- American Academy of Neurology Member
- American Epilepsy Society Member
- American Heart Association Member
- Indiana Neurological Society Member
- Indiana Medical Society Member
- Fort Wayne Medical Society Member