THE HEADACHE CLINICS featuring : The Headache Center University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pittsburgh , PA
The Headache Center was established in 1992 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh , PA , by Robert Kaniecki , MD , and was moved to the University of Pittsburgh in 2000 . The following is based on an interview with Doctor Robert Kaniecki . In addition to serving as Founder and Director of The Headache Center at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ( UPMC ), he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh .
Doctor Kaniecki received a B . S . from the University of Notre Dame , and his M . D . from Washington University School of Medicine in St . Louis , MO . He completed an internship in Internal Medicine and Neurology residency at Barnes Hospital in St . Louis , where he served as Chief Resident in Neurology . Doctor Kaniecki is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Neurology , and has received subspecialty certification in Headache Medicine from the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties . In 1999 , Dr . Kaniecki was awarded the National Headache Foundation Lectureship
and in 2006 , he was the recipient of the National Headache Foundation Provider of the Year , for which he was nominated by several of his patients .
During his neurology residency in the early 1990s , he was introduced to headache medicine at a time when the science and therapeutics of headache were advancing significantly . As Dr . Kaniecki related , in 1993 the release of sumatriptan ( Imitrex ®) demonstrated :
“ The scientific excitement and expanding treatment opportunities were developing in a field of medicine that showed great need for compassionate , dedicated specialists . I learned that there were few , if any , areas of medical practice that were more rewarding – where patients would routinely thank you , hug you , for ‘ giving their lives back .’”
The other health care providers at the Headache Center include Laurie Knepper , MD ; Josif Stakic , MD ; Barbara Vogler , MD ; Clair Yanta , MD ; and , Kimberly McGonigle , MPA , PA-C . Adjunct staff include Barb Wintermantel , Practice Manager , and Kris McClone , Office Manager .
32 HeadWise ® | Volume 5 , Issue 1 • 2015