Staff

Medical
General Pain
Behavioral Medicine
Physical Therapy
Research and Education
Nursing

Medical

Joel R. Saper, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.A.N.
Dr. Joel Saper is Founder and Director of the Institute and the inpatient Head•Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital. A board-certified neurologist and pain medicine specialist, Dr. Saper is past President of the American Association for the Study of Headache, past Chairman of the American Council for Headache Education, and an educator in the American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Headache Society, and the American Pain Society. He is a Clinical Professor of Medicine (Neurology) at Michigan State University and a former Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Saper is an invited lecturer to universities, medical centers, government and business groups, and lay audiences throughout the world. He is featured in major television and newspaper media as an authority in headache and pain and their personal, social, and economic impact. Dr. Saper is the author of eight books and over 200 medical articles and textbook chapters, and has been cited repeatedly in the Best Doctors in America and The Best In Medicine.

Robert L. Hamel, P.A.-C
Mr. Robert Hamel, a certified physician assistant, is Clinical Assistant to the Director at MHNI and Assistant Director of the Head•Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital. He also serves as the Head Injury Services Coordinator at MHNI. Mr. Hamel is involved in patient care activities, clinical program development, and a variety of administrative duties at the Institute. Prior to joining MHNI, Mr. Hamel had extensive training and experience in general and internal medicine. He collaborated with Drs. Saper and Gordon in a published headache textbook and is an invited lecturer at regional and national professional conferences.

Alicia R. Prestegaard, M.D.
Dr. Alicia Prestegaard, board-certified in neurology and pain medicine, completed her neurology residency at the University of Illinois, St. Francis Medical Center, and Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Prestegaard also completed a fellowship in electromyography and pain management at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Before coming to MHNI, she was a staff member at Suburban Heights Medical Center in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Dr. Prestegaard, a native of Poland and educated in Europe, has a primary clinical role at MHNI and in the hospital program.

Eric Sinka, D.O.
Dr. Erik Sinka, a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty certification in Clinical Neurophysiology and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Michigan. Dr. Sinka completed his internship in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital, and his neurology residency and fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to joining MHNI, Dr. Sinka began practice as a general neurologist in 2002 in Illinois, then joined Ann Arbor Neurology in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and most recently Carolina Neurology Associates in Greenville, South Carolina, where his practice focused on the treatment of headache and neuropathic pain. Dr. Sinka will have a primary clinical role at MHNI and at Chelsea Community Hospital and will be actively involved in expanding the breadth of neurological studies of the MHNI Research Division.

James R. Weintraub, D.O.
Dr. James Weintraub, a board-certified neurologist and sleep disorders specialist, attended Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Weintraub completed a fellowship in sleep disorders at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and a fellowship in electro-myography at the Cleveland Clinic. He is Medical Director of Sleep Well Centers in Ann Arbor and former director of the sleep disorders programs at Chelsea Community Hospital and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. In addition to his teaching role in academic programs for medical students and residents, Dr. Weintraub has lectured extensively to physicians and lay audiences on topics in the fields of neurology and sleep disorders. He has a primary clinical role and oversees the electrophysiology lab at the Institute.

General Pain

Shamas Moheyuddin, M.D.
Dr. Shamas Moheyuddin, a board-certified anesthesiologist, completed his internship and residency in anesthesiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. During his fellowship in interventional pain management where he obtained significant experience and training under the tutelage of renowned specialists in the field, Dr. Moheyuddin received the Best Fellow of the Year and Pfizer Scholars in Pain Management awards from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He provides invasive and noninvasive treatment options for a wide range of painful disorders in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Adrian, Michigan. Dr. Moheyuddin’s areas of interest include occipital neurostimulation and radio frequency ablation of dorsal root ganglion.

Eric Austad, M.D.
Dr. Eric Austad, a board-certified plastic surgeon, received his medical degree from the University of Michigan, followed by an internship with LSU at Charity Hospital of New Orleans. He then completed a total of six years of residency training in General Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Plastic Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Austad has published in peer-reviewed journals and frequently presents at scientific meetings. He has participated in the care of MHNI patients since 1982, returning to Ann Arbor from San Diego in 2008 to work exclusively with MHNI, specializing in the treatment of headache related to trauma and/or nerve-related disorders of the head and neck. Dr. Austad is a past president of Michigan’s society of board-certified plastic surgeons, a former chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, and a Fellow of the College of Surgeons and other professional organizations.

Jemin N. Gajipara, M.D.
Dr. Jemin N. Gajipara, a board-certified anesthesiologist with subspecialty certification in Pain Medicine, completed his internship and residency in anesthesiology at the St Louis University Hospital School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed a fellowship in Pain Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Gajipara provides invasive and noninvasive treatment options for the management of chronic pain conditions, including: various nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, spinal cord stimulators, implantable pumps, paraspinal opioid therapy and medications. Dr. Gajipara's multimodal pain management philosophy integrates interventional and non-interventional options,pharmacotherapy, behavioral medicine, and physical therapy in his practices in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Adrian, Michigan.

Behavioral Medicine

Alvin E. Lake III, Ph.D.
Dr. Alvin Lake, a licensed psychologist, received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The University of Michigan. He is Director of the Behavioral Medicine Division at the Institute, Senior Research Psychologist, and Associate Program Director of the Head•Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital. Dr. Lake has achieved both national and international recognition for his clinical work, research publications, and patient-oriented articles on headache and is an invited lecturer to professional audiences across the nation. He is a former Board member of the American Headache Society and the American Council on Headache Education (ACHE), and served on the editorial board of the scientific journal Headache from 1992-2003. Dr. Lake is a Senior Fellow of the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA). He is a founding member of the Institute and has been an influential force in its direction and accomplishments.

Jan E. Bachman, Ph.D.
Dr. Jan Bachman, a licensed psychologist, came to MHNI from the University of Michigan Health System’s Multidisciplinary Pain Center, where he worked for 12 years. He also held the appointment as Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. During seven of those years, Dr. Bachman served as the clinical psychologist for the facial pain clinic in the University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry. His undergraduate degree in psychosocial science was obtained from Penn State University. In addition to obtaining both his doctorate and master’s degrees in clinical psychology, he completed specialty training in alcohol and drug abuse at Western Michigan University. His clinical internship was completed in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of which was followed by a fellowship in the Coordinated Tennessee – Memphis, Chronic Pain Program at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Dr. Bachman has obtained significant experience in behavioral medicine, has published in the area of pain, and has made numerous presentations on a variety of behavioral medicine topics.

Jeffrey D. Pingel, Ph.D.
Dr. Jeffrey Pingel, a licensed psychologist and certified biofeedback practitioner, completed his doctoral education at Ohio University where he was actively involved in research and writing scientific publications related to headache. Dr. Pingel provides behavioral treatment for patients suffering co-existing pain, mood, and sleep disorders, and serves as a consultant to the Head•Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital. He served as co-editor of the MHNI newsletter, the Headliner.

Physical Therapy

Ellen Lecureux, P.T.
Ms. Ellen Lecureux, Physical Therapy Coordinator at MHNI, is a licensed physical therapist who received her B.S. degree from the University of Michigan. She has 28 years’ experience working in primarily outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine settings, treating patients with acute and chronic conditions. Her extensive background includes manual therapy and a variety of exercise techniques. Ms. Lecureux has participated in community education as a speaker on a number of topics.

Research and Education

Marjorie E. Winters, R.N., B.S.N.
Ms. Marjorie Winters, Director of Pharmaceutical Research, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at the University of Michigan. She directs pharmaceutical clinical studies evaluating medications for the treatment of pain and related disorders and coordinates MHNI staff original research projects. Ms. Winters is considered an authority on headache education and presents public service lectures for the community as well as teaching programs for health care professionals.

Shawn M. Szalay,R.N., B.S.N.
Ms. Shawn Szalay, Manager of Pharmaceutical Research at MHNI, has direct supervisory responsibility for the research coordinators and support staff of the Research Division. Along with Ms. Winters, Ms. Szalay is responsible for monitoring adherence to established policies, procedures, and protocols of care in the Research Division and she directs MHNI clinical studies evaluating various treatments for pain and related disorders. Ms. Szalay has experience in pharmaceutical sales and marketing and drug safety surveillance, and has an extensive clinical background in a variety of settings.

Nursing

Lucinda L. Bruggner, RN, B.S.N.
Ms. Lucinda (Cindy) Bruggner, Head Nurse at the Institute, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Indiana University. She supervises the nursing, laboratory, and neurodiagnostic staff and coordinates teaching and nursing staff development. Prior to joining MHNI in 1993, Ms. Bruggner had extensive training and experience in a variety of clinical settings and held several leadership positions.

Mary M. Kroll, R.N., B.S.N.
Mrs. Mary Kroll, Clinical Coordinator at MHNI, received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Eastern Michigan University. She serves as clinical assistant to the Director as well as his liaison in promoting quality assurance and patient satisfaction. Mrs. Kroll has held numerous clinical and leadership positions at MHNI since 1990. She has past training and experience in high acuity, post-surgical, and intensive care nursing.

Ivy Friess, R.N., B.S.
Mrs. Ivy Friess RN, B.S., Nurse Director Head Pain Nursing, at Chelsea Community Hospital, received her nursing degree from M.B. Johnson School of Nursing, Elyria, Ohio and B.S. in Health Arts from College of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois. Ivy is responsible for the nursing operations, staffing, quality, patient/employee satisfaction and budget of the inpatient Head Pain Unit. Prior to coming to Chelsea in 2000, Ivy was a clinical nurse manager of Ambulatory Services and worked in various clinical positions.

Mary E. Brunett, R.N., B.S.N.
Mrs. Mary Brunett, Assistant Head Nurse at the Institute, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. As Assistant Head Nurse, Mrs. Brunett provides supervision and direction to nursing personal in collaboration with the Head Nurse and other nursing leadership. Since joining the Institute in 1992, she has held various nursing positions, served on a variety of committees, and has been in a leadership role at MHNI since 1998. Prior to joining MHNI, Mrs. Brunett had experience in a variety of clinical settings, including high-acuity inpatient and out-patient clinical settings, primarily within the University of Michigan Health System.