News

December 21, 2020

Okeanis Vaou, MD, Selected for ‘Women Leading in Neurology’ Leadership Program

Brighton, MA – Dr. Okeanis Vaou, Director of Movement Disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Program at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, was recently selected for the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)’s Women Leading in Neurology program. Dr. Vaou is one of ten women nationwide to be selected to the prestigious program. 

The Women Leading in Neurology program is a leadership program designed to help female participants tackle gender disparities head-on, create a peer network with other female AAN members, and advance to the top levels of leadership within their fields and the Academy.  

At St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Dr. Vaou’s expertise is treating patients with Parkinson’s disease, Atypical Parkinson’s, essential tremor and other movement disorders. She is also a board-certified sleep specialist and treats sleep disorders in patients with movement disorders. Dr. Vaou is skilled in DBS and Botox injections.

“I could not be more pleased that Dr. Vaou was selected from a highly competitive talent pool to participate in this program, which will not only further her career, but further the path for all females in the neurology field. It comes as no surprise that she was chosen for this program, as she has been a tremendous asset to the Neurology Department at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center who brings the highest caliber of care to her patients and students,” said Anna Hohler, MD, FAAN, Chair of Neurology at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. 

After receiving her medical degree from Semmelweis University of Medicine in Budapest, Hungary, Dr. Vaou completed her neurology residency at New York Medical College and served as a chief resident. She then pursued fellowships at Boston University School of Medicine in Movement Disorders and in Sleep Medicine. Following her fellowship training, she practiced at the Noran Neurological Clinic in Minneapolis, where she developed a robust Movement Disorders Clinic and designed and directed one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing DBS center in private practice. She also served as Medical Director of the American Parkinson Disease Association Minnesota chapter for five years. 

Following her passion of teaching and research, she returned to Boston Medical Center at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), to become a member of the Movement and Sleep Disorders team and served as the assistant DBS program director.

Dr. Vaou is actively involved in medical student education. She is the former neurology clerkship director and the neuroscience course director at BUSM. Under her guidance, the neurology clerkship and the neuroscience course were rated amongst the top evaluated courses. She currently serves as the Neurology Medical Student Clerkship Director of Tufts Medical School and oversees the BUSM medical student education as well as the BUSM PA student program at the St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center.

Dr. Vaou also participates in clinical research evaluating novel pharmacological agents in clinical trials and patient education in Parkinson’s disease. She is very involved in raising awareness of early Parkinson’s disease and DBS treatment. Some of her recent lectures are available here and here

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