The Movement Disorders Program provides evaluation, treatment and management of several movement disorders. The high-volume clinic provides diagnosis and management of Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, Huntington's disease, ataxia, dystonia and other disorders. Treatments available are oral medication, botulinum toxin therapy, referral for deep brain stimulator (DBS) implant and DBS programming. Lin Zhang, assistant professor of neurology, is fellowship trained and experienced in botulinum toxin therapy. He is also an investigator for the Parkinson Study Group.

In 2001, the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) named UC Davis a center of excellence, recognizing its expertise in clinical care for Huntington's disease patients. Directed by associate physician Vicki Wheelock and nurse practitioner Teresa Tempkin, the multidisciplinary team also consists of a full-time social worker, psychiatrist, physical therapist and genetics counselor. The clinic offers predictive testing, diagnosis and management of symptomatic Huntington's disease, nursing home outreach and community outreach. Patients and families can also participate in clinical trials sponsored by the Huntington Study Group.

The department also administers an outpatient clinic for the evaluation of patients with genetic diseases of the nervous system. This clinic specializes in treating patients with hereditary diseases such as Friedreich ataxia, Machado-Joseph disease and Huntington's disease. The clinic serves as the Northern California referral contact for the state-funded Genetically Handicapped Person's Program.

Movement Disorders Clinic

Held three times a week

Vicki Wheelock, M.D.
Lin Zhang, M.D.
Teresa Tempkin, R.N., M.S., A.N.P.

Huntington's Disease Society of America center of excellence at UC Davis
Held three times a month

Vicki Wheelock, M.D.
Teresa Tempkin, R.N., M.S., A.N.P.
Barbara Briscoe
Rosy Chow, P.T.
Richard Henry, L.C.S.W.
Ron Risley, M.D.

Services for Huntington's disease are also available at a satellite clinic at Kaiser Sacramento. For more information call (916) 734-6277.
http://www.hdsanortherncalifornia.org/CenterofExcellence.html
http://hdteam.org/ 

Genetically Handicapped Person's Program Clinic
Held monthly