our specialists

• Neurology

  

  Dr. William H. Stuart

  Founder

  Dr. William H. Stuart

  Dr. William H. Stuart graduated from Northwestern University Medical School. Following an Internship at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, Dr. Stuart returned to Northwestern University where he completed an Internal Medicine Residency. He subsequently served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta for two years following which he completed a three year Fellowship in Neurology at Emory University Medical School. Upon completion of this training, and serving at the NINDS he entered private practice in the Atlanta area, forming the Atlanta Neurological Clinic, subsequently renamed The Peachtree Neurological Clinic. Dr. Stuart was one of the founding members of the American Society of Neuroimaging and. he has remained active with this organization since he served as its president in 1984 and 1985. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Neurology for several years and served for 2 years as the Treasurer. He was twice named the Clinical Teacher of the Year at Piedmont Hospital. He began his focused interest in Multiple Sclerosis in 1988, developing the Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care and Research Center at Shepherd Center in 1991. In January 2001 he left Shepherd and founded the MS Center of Atlanta.

  

  Dr. Douglas Stuart

  Chairman of the Board,

  The MS Center of Georgia

  Dr. Douglas Stuart

  Dr. Douglas Stuart is a graduate of Princeton University and Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Stuart completed his Medical Internship at Emory University Hospital in 1989. He was a resident in Neurology at the University of Chicago from 1989-1992. He returned to Emory University in 1992 for a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology. He is board certified in Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Stuart has participated as an investigator in a number of research trials for MS treatments and is currently Medical Director for concussion and memory loss.

  

  Dr. Jeffrey English

  Medical Director,

  The MS Center of Atlanta

  Dr. Jeffrey English, MD

  Jeffrey English graduated from Dartmouth Medical School in 1995. He did his post medical training in Internship, Residency and Fellowship at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He was the Chief Resident in Neurology at the University of Maryland in 1999. Dr. English has been interested in recovery from neurological injury since medical school. He was involved in a research project in medical school with peripheral nerve regeneration with nerve grafts. During his residency he performed two research projects, which were presented at International Meetings. One involved recovery after traumatic brain injury, while the other involved functional MRI in the recovery after Cerebellar Strokes. Dr. English is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with sub-specialty training in clinical neurophysiology. He is also board certified in Neuroimaging by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. Dr. English is research medical director at the MS Center of Atlanta.  He is a paid speaker and consultant for several pharmaceutical companies.  These companies include Teva Neurosciences, Biogen-Idec, EMD-Serono, Novartis, and Allergan.  He has also been invited as a national speaker on health care economics and the delivery of care to the multiple sclerosis population. 

  

  Dr. Joash Lazarus

  Dr. Joash Lazarus graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School in Johannesburg, South Africa. Following a primary care internship in his home country he joined the movement disorders section at Emory University to pursue research training in neurology and genetics. Dr. Lazarus completed neurology residency training as well as a clinical fellowship in movement disorders. He is board certified by the American board of Psychiatry and Neurology. During his training he was the chief resident in neurology at Emory and also held leadership positions with the American Medical Association - RFS, the American Academy of Neurology, the Michael J Fox Foundation and is the current representative of the Georgia Neurologic Society to the Medical Association of Georgia (MAG). Dr. Lazarus is a member on the council of legislation of MAG and has represented both organizations at national policy forums. His clinical and research interests revolve around the evaluation and management of balance disorders, such as those seen in Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson Disease and other movement disorders. He has presented his research in this field and national and international meetings, and received the resident research award at Emory University. Dr. Lazarus is currently a co-investigator on research collaborations between MSCA and Georgia State University.

  

  Dr. Lawrence Seiden 

  Dr. Seiden received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the State University of New York, University at Stony Brook. He holds a Master of Science degree in Physiology from Georgetown University and a Medical Degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed his internship in internal medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore and his residency in neurology at the University of Maryland Medical System. Following a 2- year fellowship at the University of Maryland in Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy, he remained on faculty at the University of Maryland Epilepsy Center where he was director of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.

  Dr. Seiden is board certified in Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society. He is a fellow of the American Epilepsy Society and currently the Chair of the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia. He is actively engaged in the development and advancement of newer anti-seizure medications.

  His primary clinical interest in the evaluation and management of Epilepsy and Seizures, but he also evaluates and manages a wide array of other neurological disorders as well.

  

  Dr. Robert Gilbert

  Dr. Robert W. Gilbert, a native Georgian, obtained his medical degree with honors from Duke University. He completed his neurology training at Cornell Medical Center in New York City and is Board Certified in Neurology and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. He has served as an assistant clinical professor at Emory University Medical School and is past president of the Georgia Neurological Society. He is a published author and is an active member of the American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Electromyography and Electrodiagnosis and American Society of Neuroimaging. Dr. Gilbert has participated as an investigator in a number of research studies in both brain and spinal cord tumors as well as Multiple Sclerosis and headache. He lectures frequently to patients and physicians in these fields of interest.

  

  Dr. Ellis Hedaya

  Dr. Ellis Hedaya is an honor graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Neurology. He also served as a research fellow in Clinical Neurophysiology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He spent four years on the Emory Faculty at Grady Hospital before joining his current partners at Peachtree Neurological Clinic and The MS Center of Atlanta. He is board certified and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the AMA and the American Association of Electromyography and Electrodiagnosis. Dr. Hedaya has previously served as Chief of Neurology at Grady and currently is a Clinical Associate Professor at Emory University School of Medicine. He has participated in numerous research studies, including studies in stroke, diabetic neuropathy and multiple sclerosis.

  

  Dr. Christopher Russell

  Christopher Russell is a graduate of Georgia Tech and an honor graduate of Emory University School of Medicine. At Emory, he served an Internship in Internal Medicine and was Chief Resident in Neurology. He has been with the Peachtree Neurology Clinic since 1998.

  

  Dr. Andrei Serbanescu 

  Born in Bucharest, Romania and then naturalized as a U.S. citizen, Dr Andrei Serbanescu graduated from the Medical School Carol Davila in Bucharest completing his research thesis in Multiple Sclerosis. Subsequently he underwent extensive training in Neurosurgery in Bucharest, Brussels and then Paris. In the United States. since 1992 he worked at Emory University departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery research laboratories then completed the neurology residency at Emory University. He is diplomat of the American Academy of Neurology and Psychiatry and ACNS certified in Neuroimaging. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, ASN, MAG, AMA.

• Neuro imaging

  

  Todd P. Burruss

  R.T. (R)

  Todd P. Burruss

  Todd Burruss, R.T. (R) is a 1991 graduate of the Grady Memorial School of Radiologic Technology, where he spent three years at the fifth largest public hospital in the United States, as well a one of the busiest Level I trauma centers in the country. He completed an MRI and CT cross training internship in 1991 before coming to work for Dr. William Stuart as a staff technologist at American Medical Diagnostics. Since then, he has been directly involved in Neuroimaging, MRI Safety and development in the imaging field. When not at work, Todd enjoys traveling with his family and woodworking.

  

  Maria Stuart

  R.T. (R) (MR)

  Maria Stuart

  Maria Stuart, R.T. (R) (MR) is a 1984 graduate of Ohio University. Her 30 years of experience in radiology include X-ray, CT and 25 years of MRI at various facilities in Ohio, Florida and Georgia. She has worked with MS Center of Atlanta since 2005 and joined the Center in 2016. She enjoys running, biking and spending time with her two children and husband.

• Nurse Practitioners

  

  Kathleen L. Clark, MS, RN, FNP-BC, MSCN

  Kathleen Clark Studied pre-medical sciences and English literature as an undergraduate at Virginia Commonwealth University. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in English in 1992, she decided to forgo medical school in favor of a career as a nurse practitioner. She has been a family nurse practitioner since 1998, working in the fields of family practice, allergy and asthma, college health, cardiac electrophysiology, and neurology. In addition to her service here at MSCA, she has worked in neurology in Fairfax, VA, and in Norfolk, VA. She became a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse in 2002. She joined the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Atlanta in June, 2016. When not at work, Katy enjoys exercising, working with her hands, and spending time with her husband and two children.

• ADMINISTRATION

  

  Tamara Smith

  Chief Operating Officer

  Tamara Smith

  Tamara Smith has served as a healthcare administrator for over 15 years. With a diverse professional background extending from a mental health counselor to director of a neurological facility, Tamara offers a wealth of expertise and skill advancing medical practices. Former employers include TeamHealth, NeuroRestorative, and Shepherd Center. She has been instrumental in developing and leading multiple medical services ensuring the highest quality of patient care is provided.
  
  A native of Memphis, TN, Tamara holds a Bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University and a Master’s of Science degree from The University of Memphis. A former committee member of Georgia Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund and Rockdale County Chamber of Commerce, Tamara is knowledgeable of community efforts to improve the lives of others. She is an exercise enthusiast who also enjoys spending time with family and friends.

  

  Daphne Lawson

  MS Center Front Desk Manager

  Daphne Lawson

  Daphne Lawson began working in healthcare in 1999 as a Financial Counselor at Wellstar. Since then, she has worked in financial/registration in all areas of the hospital. She has successfully completed the classes for CPAR (Certified Patient Account Representative) and CHAA (Certified Healthcare Access Associate). Daphne has been with the MSCA since April 2011 where she assisted with the transition of Tanner Medical Center infusion services.

  

  Collins Yates

  Director of Nursing

  RN, BSN, MSCN

  Collins Yates

  Collins Yates, RN, BSN, MSCN, joined the MSCA in 2015 as a triage nurse in the former RN call center. In 2016 she was promoted to Clinical Lead, in 2017 she was one of six Multiple Sclerosis Mini Fellowship recipients at Stony Brook University Hospital, New York offered to applicants from North America and Canada, in 2018 she obtained her Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nursing specialization, and was an International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nursing scholarship recipient for the 2019 CMSC. Most recently Collins accepted a position on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Healthcare Provider Council, comprised of ten HCPs in the Southeastern region. Collins values continued education and is dedicated to MSCA’s diverse patient population.

  

  Deborah Means

  CRC, CCM, CDMS, CLCP

  Deborah Means

  Our case manager, Deborah Means, graduated from UGA with her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling in 1993. Since then she’s worked with spinal cord injury and MS patients in all aspects of disability and disease management. She helps people with employment retention, short and long-term disability issues, insurance problems and everything in between. She is a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC), certified case manger (CCM), and certified disability management specialist (CDMS)

  

  Claire Clements

  Director of Development

  404-351-0205 x123

  cclements@mscatl.org

  Claire Clements

  Clements has been with MSCA since 2012 and has worked in the nonprofit and healthcare industry for more than a decade, having served in development positions with Emory Medical School, the Atlanta History Center, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Hospice and the Florida State College of Medicine. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, graduate of the University of Georgia and from a family with 11 physicians; Clements is dedicated to serving the underserved medical community.

  

  Christina Freeman

  Billing Department Manager

  Christina Freeman

  Christina Freeman has been with MSCA since 2011. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Healthcare Management from Albany State University and is currently working towards a Master’s in Public Health. Christina is a native Atlantan that has committed her career path to healthcare and serving others. She started with the Center at the front desk and was quickly promoted to a managerial role. Freeman enjoys volunteering at patient events, Hosea Feed the Hungry, and Habitat for Humanity.