A conversation captured in Vancouver, BC during the 45th Annual Meeting of the Child Neurology Society bringing together Jon Mink, Leon Dure and their longtime mentor and colleague in movement disorders, Harvey Singer on the eve of Dr. Singer’s presentation of the 2016 Hower Award Lecture. The conversation was videotaped as part of the Child Neuro News Wrap program funded by a 2016 grant from Eisai, Inc.
Jonathan W. Mink, MD, PhD
Jonathan W. Mink, MD, PhD is currently the Frederick A. Horner Endowed Professor in Pediatric Neurology at the University of Rochester (UR). He has served as the Chief of Child Neurology since 2001 and Vice Chair of Neurology at the UR since 2012. Dr. Mink received a BA (Biology-Psychology) and MA (Psychology) from Wesleyan University and his MD and PhD (Neuroscience) from Washington University in St. Louis.
After completing residency training in Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology at Washington University/St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Dr. Mink then spent two years as a Movement Disorders fellow with Joel Perlmutter, also at Washington University. At the time, he was told that there was no such thing as a “Pediatric Movement Disorders Neurologist.” He joined the faculty at Washington University in 1996, established a research program and started a Pediatric Movement Disorders Clinic.
Dr. Mink moved to the University of Rochester in 2001. There were four child neurologists on the faculty at that time, and no child neurology residents. Dr. Mink established the Child Neurology Residency in 2003 and was the Program Director until 2014. The residency is thriving and has recruited 12 additional faculty members to join the Division. Dr. Mink’s research programs have been focused on mechanisms of basal ganglia function, movement disorders in children. and Batten Disease. He directs the UR Tourette Syndrome and Batten Disease Centers of Excellence.
Dr. Mink has manifested a strong interest in education throughout his career. He is currently course director of the Neurology and Psychiatry Basic Science Block for 3rd year medical students. In addition to child neurology residents, he has been a direct mentor to 13 undergraduate students, 5 PhD students, 6 MD students, 4 fellows, and 6 K-award recipients. He was the PI of the UR NSADA from 2009 – 2015.
Dr. Mink has been actively involved in the CNS since 1994, serving as Councillor for the Northeast (2007-2009), Chair of the Research Committee (2005-2010), and Chair of the Scientific Selection and Program Planning Committee (2013-2015). In 2016, Dr. Mink was chosen to serve as President-Elect of the CNS by his peers in 2016; he currently serves on the CNS Board as President. Leadership positions in other organizations include: Executive Board of the American Neurological Association (ANA), Executive Board of the International Child Neurology Association (ICNA), Executive Committee of the AAP Section on Neurology, Executive Committee of the ACGME Neurology Review Committee, NINDS Advisory Council, and co-chair of the Tourette Association Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Mink is currently Associate Editor of Neurology and Associate Editor of Child Neurology for Continuum – Lifelong Learning in Neurology.
Leon S. Dure IV, MD
Leon S. Dure IV, MD is Professor and Director of the Division of Pediatric Neurology and holds the William Bew White, Jr. Chair in Pediatric Neurology. His clinical research interests are movement disorders in childhood as well as Huntington’s Disease.
Dr. Dure is a past member of the CNS Board (Councillor for the South, 2004-06) and President of the Professors of Child Neurology. He, along with Harvey Singer, Jonathan Mink, and Terence Sanger launched the highly popular Movement Disorders Special Interest Group meeting held immediately following the CNS Annual Meeting Welcome Reception for the past dozen years.
Harvey Singer, MD
Harvey S. Singer, MD is Professor of Pediatric Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His clinical research interests include movement disorders, with particular expertise in Tourette syndrome, stereotypic movements, and autoimmune disorders. Dr. Singer’s translational research oriented laboratory focuses on the neurobiology of tics, antibody measurements in PANDAS, stereotypic movements in animal models, and autoimmunity in autism.
To date, Professor Singer has written and published 232 original full-length papers based upon his research. Dr. Singer has participated in the writing of 80 detailed and memorable chapters, first or sole author of 45. He has also been editor or author of three books: Treatment of Pediatric Neurological Disorders (2005), and Movement Disorders of Childhood (1st Edition 2005, and 2nd Edition 2015). A total of 136 abstracts have been submitted and accepted for presentation at a wide variety of international professional organizations. From 1992 to the present he has delivered 16 major invited or award lectures at universities, and hospitals, and one each at the CNS, AAP, and Movement Disorder Society.
Throughout his career, Dr. Singer has participated in a long list of local, national, and international professional committees and societies, including President of the Professors of Child Neurology, Chairman of the Child Neurology Match Program Committee (for ten years), and Secretary-Treasuer of the Child Neurology Society.
In 2013 he was the first individual to receive the CNS/PCN Blue Bird Clinic Program. Dr. Singer received the Child Neurology Society’s highest honor, the Hower Award, in October 2016.