University of Florida in Gainesville, FL
The Research Center of Excellence is part of the UF Health Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases. The Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration Program, part of the Fixel Institute, was founded in 2002 with the vision of creating a world-class clinical-research center to provide a single destination for patients, families, clinicians, and researchers. The program currently employs movement disorders specialists, dementia specialists, geriatric psychiatrists, a geriatrician, and four advanced practice providers, all of whom care for persons with Lewy body disorders and their families.
Drs. Melissa Armstrong, Nikolaus McFarland, Bhavana Patel, and Tracy Tholanikunnel have LBD-focused clinical and research practices. In addition to physician appointments, patients receive on-site specialty-trained physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy (including barium swallow evaluations), usually on the same day as their physician visits. The institute has an on-site clinical case manager for social work needs, a genetic counseling team, and a dietician available in clinic or by phone/Zoom. Neuropsychological testing is available on site. In 2023, a neuroimaging center opened on the same lot as the clinic and this provides MRI, CT, PET, and MEG imaging opportunities.
Appointments Phone Number: 352-294-5400
Contact Name: Melissa Himes (Clinic Manager)
Email Address: Melissa.Himes@neurology.ufl.edu
Contact this person for: Research, resources, support
Contact Name: Noheli Bedenfield
Email Address: Noheli.bedenfield@neurology.ufl.edu
Phone Number: 352-733-2419
Contact this person for: Marketing/communications
Contact Name: Anna Shavers (Assistant Director of Communications, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health)
Email Address: anna.shavers@ufl.edu
Clinic Website: Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at UF Health
Research Lab Website: The LBD Life Lab at the University of Florida
Melissa Armstrong, MD, MSc
Dr. Armstrong is the Director of the Mangurian Clinical-Research Headquarters for Lewy Body Dementia at the University of Florida Fixel Center for Neurological Diseases. She is an associate professor in the Department of Neurology and has an affiliate appointment in the Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics. Her clinical work and research focus on improving care for persons with Lewy body dementia and their families, including increasing Lewy body dementia awareness, identifying individual priorities for care, and improving end-of-life experiences. She collaborates with the interdisciplinary team at the institute to promote a holistic approach to Lewy body dementia care. Find out more information about Dr. Armstrong’s research efforts click here.
