Philanthropy provides main specialists to the sphere of neuro-ophthalmology in Indiana and past

By heeding his father’s recommendation, Dr. introduced New Hampshire native Nicholas Levergood to Indiana, broadening the IU well-being crew centered on neuro-ophthalmology, which addresses imaginative and prescient issues involving the mind and nerves.

Dr. Levergood earned his undergraduate diploma at Brandeis College, outdoors Boston, the place he studied chemistry. He stayed in Boston for medical college at Tufts College, the place he centered on basic surgical procedures. However, ophthalmology rapidly caught his eye (pun meant).

“I’ve all the time been drawn to a problem,” Dr. Levergood mentioned. “Ophthalmology caught my consideration as a result of its use of microsurgical strategies. The anatomy was fascinating, and it simply felt like such an excessive impression organ system to work in.”

Then he was additionally determined to specialize inside that specialty: to coach in neuro-ophthalmology. And that meant securing a group.

Fellowships inside neuro-ophthalmology are uncommon and extremely aggressive. There are fewer than 40 fellowships within the area throughout the USA. However, because of the generosity of the Hoffman and Koorsen households, he discovered his strategy for IU well-being.

“My father grew up in Indiana,” Dr. Levergood mentioned. “He has very fond recollections of rising up right here. Once I was taking a look at reveals, he inspired me to look within the Midwest.”

Method with a large eye

Dr. Levergood splits his time between IU Wellbeing’s Ophthalmology Division and Neuroscience Middle.

“I need to keep a neuro-ophthalmology scientific application that’s separate from my surgical application,” Dr. Levergood mentioned. “I discover them each fascinating and rewarding.”

These numerous pursuits had been an enormous part of what made his fellowship at the Indiana College Faculty of Drugs successful.

“I had a beautiful expertise as a fellow,” Dr. Levergood mentioned. “It ended up being the proper match for my persona. I actually like the best way this system is run. There may be a variety of autonomy, and it’s excessive quantity. I believe it produces well-trained ophthalmologists.”

“I spend most days on the Neuroscience Middle seeing sufferers with Dr. Melissa Ko and Dr. Devin Mackay,” he mentioned. “They’re each extraordinarily certified and dedicated to glorious affected person care. Dr. Mackey is so methodical in the best way he approaches downside fixing. I discovered quite a bit from him. Dr. Ko is such a compassionate and expert physician. She is so clever and relates so properly to sufferers and their households.”

Dr. Ko has from Dr. . Levergood mentioned, “His information base and confidence proceed to develop every month as he sees extra kids and adults in neuro-ophthalmology clinics among the many 4 IU Well being scientific mentors.”

Dr. Levergood additionally spends his Monday mornings in Carmel at the Midwest Eye Institute, working with neuroophthalmologist Dr. Kevin Lai.

“We work with residents these days,” Dr. Levergood mentioned. “It is a good mixture of autonomy, working with residents, and we additionally get instructing expertise.”

Join with regional leaders

Collectively, Dr. Mackay and Dr. Levergood offered new analysis on the annual assembly for the Higher Midwest Neuro-Ophthalmology Group. They offered a case collection on sufferers with an uncommon genetic situation known as Wolfram syndrome.

“The syndrome causes optic atrophy, together with different issues,” Dr. Levergood mentioned. “It was good to share it with a gaggle of different specialists and neuropsychologists.”

Dr. Levergood and Dr. Mackay
Dr. Nicholas Levergood (left) with Dr. Devin Mackay (proper)

The optimistic group expertise led Dr. Levergood to prolong his stay in Indiana past his group. He’ll proceed to work at IU Wellbeing, though his job title and division have yet to be decided. Just lately married, Dr. Levergood’s spouse, Dr. Margaret Gegick, is a neonatology fellow at IU Wellbeing Riley Hospital for Youngsters. They met as medical college students at Tufts.

Dr. Levergood’s fellowship will finish in June 2025. Subsequent year, Dr. Jerilyn Summay, a pediatric neurologist, works at the Neuroscience Middle and IU Well Being Riley Hospital for Youngsters, serving as the Indiana College Faculty of Drugs’s first fellowship-trained neuroimmunologist, made attainable by philanthropy. Like Dr. . Levergood, Dr. Summay already agreed to remain outside of her fellowship at IU Well Being.

Addressing the necessity

Along with the complexity of the surgical work, Dr. Levergood was drawn to neuroophthalmology due to the rising demand for specialists. He knew his providers could be in excessive demand.

“Yearly, we see fewer and fewer neuro-ophthalmologists locally as extra retirees,” mentioned Dr. Levergood. “It is good to know I can convey a novel service to a susceptible group with excessive wants. It simply feels good. I am nonetheless simply getting my toes underneath me; however, I am excited to get begun.”

Dr. Ko agrees. “With a statewide workforce scarcity and solely three full-time neuro-ophthalmologists in Indiana, Dr. Levergood’s coaching will not solely increase the nationwide pipeline of fellowship-trained neuro-ophthalmologists,” she mentioned. “It additionally will increase entry to care right here in Indiana at IU Well Being. His presence permits us to see extra sufferers.”

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