The 20 Best Optic Neuritis Doctors near Baltimore, MD

Elias Sotirchos, M.D., specializes in the diagnosis, management and treatment of neuroimmunological disorders that involve the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). His research focuses on developing and validating novel imaging and blood-based biomarkers of these conditions, and clinical trials of experimental therapeutic agents. Dr. Sotirchos earned his medical degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and subsequently completed his internship and neurology residency training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He then pursued advanced clinical and research training in neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins as a National MS Society Sylvia Lawry Fellow. Dr. Sotirchos is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Optic Neuritis, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis Optica, and Transverse Myelitis.

Peter Calabresi is a Neurologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Calabresi is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Optic Neuritis, Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), and CACH Syndrome.

Shiv Saidha is a Neurologist in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Saidha is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Optic Neuritis, Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), and Stiff Person Syndrome.

Neurologist Scott Newsome specializes in the care of patients with neuroimmunological and neuroinflammatory disorders of the central nervous system. He works within the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and has special interest in evaluating and treating patients with multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica and stiff person syndrome. After completing fellowship training, Dr. Newsome joined the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis and Transverse Myelitis Centers, and he is the director of the Johns Hopkins Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center and the Stiff Person Syndrome Center. He is also director of the Johns Hopkins Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infectious Disease Fellowship Program and co-director of the Multiple Sclerosis Experimental Therapeutics Program. Dr. Newsome received his medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, with honors. During his neurology residency, he was awarded the Golden Apple Outstanding Resident Teaching Award, and later was chosen to be chief resident. He subsequently completed a fellowship in neuroimmunology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital with the support of a Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Identifying and testing novel therapies and therapeutic strategies for multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological disorders is Dr. Newsome’s main research focus. Other research endeavors include validating the use of new quantitative clinical outcome measures and imaging techniques in multiple sclerosis and identifying risk factors of disease onset and severity, response to treatment and long-term outcomes in neuroimmunological disorders. An adviser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and a member of the Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence, Dr. Newsome has also served as president of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers. Dr. Newsome is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Stiff Person Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Transverse Myelitis, and Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS).

Brenda Banwell is the director of the Department of Pediatrics, as well as pediatrician-in-chief and co-director of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, where she helps manage the hospital’s many clinical and research centers. Dr. Banwell is a renowned expert in the research and treatment of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neuroimmune disorders. She specializes in and studies the use of neuroimaging to assess the clinical and cognitive impact of the conditions, as well as the function of the immune system in children with these disorders. She also created a standardized clinical care algorithm and clinical database in order to evaluate the clinical impact of MS. Dr. Banwell has published more than 250 manuscripts in high-impact journals, along with over 25 book chapters. In addition, she has over 200 national and international invited lectureships and visiting professorships. An advocate for pediatric multiple sclerosis needs and research, Dr. Banwell serves as chair of the International Medical and Scientific Board of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, and the Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody–Associated Disease (MOGAD) International Research Consortium. She is also chair of the pediatric committee of the National Institutes of Health NeuroNEXT program, which conducts studies on treatments for neurological diseases through academic, private, and industry collaborations. Dr. Banwell currently serves as past-chair of the International Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group, Dr. Banwell earned her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario. She later completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Western Ontario-Children's Hospital of Western Ontario and a second residency in pediatric neurology at University of Toronto – The Hospital for Sick Children. Her residencies were followed by a fellowship in neuromuscular research at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Banwell is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. Her top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), CACH Syndrome, Optic Neuritis, and Transverse Myelitis.

Dr. Henderson is the Frank B. Walsh Professor of Neuro-Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute and is the Chief of the Wilmer Neuro-Ophthalmology Division. She attended medical school at Emory University, completed an ophthalmology residency at the Medical College of Georgia, and completed a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Her research interests include optic neuropathies, specifically non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; high-value care; and the use of big data to answer neuro-ophthalmic questions. She also has a particular interest in medical education and serves as the Associate Ophthalmology Residency Program Director and the Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship Director. Dr. Henderson is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. Her top areas of expertise are Optic Neuritis, Strabismus, Increased Intracranial Pressure, and Optic Atrophy Type 1.

Dr. Mowry became interested in multiple sclerosis (MS) prior to beginning college and first performed MS research as an undergraduate biology major at Georgetown University. As a neurology resident at the University of Pennsylvania, she began her multiple sclerosis clinical research activities in conducting a study of visual dysfunction and quality of life in multiple sclerosis. During her fellowship at UCSF, Dr. Mowry evaluated prognostic factors in multiple sclerosis and examined health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis, particularly as a marker of disease burden. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research at UCSF. Dr. Mowry continued as a member of the faculty there before joining the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology as an Assistant Professor in July, 2011; she received a joint appointment in Epidemiology in 2013. She was appointed as the inaugural Richard T. and Frances W. Johnson Professor in 2022. Over the past several years, Dr. Mowry has worked primarily to perform epidemiologic investigations of multiple sclerosis (MS) risk and prognostic factors and has evaluated both genetic and environmental contributors. While she has had a major role in several such studies, her most significant work led to the identification of the association of vitamin D status with relapse and brain lesion risk in patients with MS (Annals of Neurology 2010, Annals of Neurology 2012, European Journal of Neurology 2015). She also conducted the first pilot study comparing gut bacterial populations in patients with MS and healthy individuals (Journal of Investigative Medicine 2014). She was recently funded to investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the metabolomics profile in patients with MS compared to healthy controls. She enjoys designing and conducting clinical trials in MS and is the Principal Investigator of the Vitamin D to Ameliorate Multiple Sclerosis (VIDAMS) multicenter vitamin D trial (NCT01490502), which is sponsored by the National MS Society and a smaller multicenter pilot study investigating vitamin D pharmacokinetics in MS patients and healthy controls (NCT01667796). She is also the recipient of a Harry Weaver Award from the National MS Society, in which she is investigating the impact of intermittent calorie restriction in MS. Finally, as Director of the MS Experimental Therapeutics Program at Johns Hopkins, she assists colleagues with study design and helps oversee the conduct of MS clinical trials. Dr. Mowry is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. Her top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), Optic Neuritis, and Neuromyelitis Optica.

Dr. Angeliki Filippatou specializes in the diagnosis, management and treatment of neuroimmunological disorders with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis (MS). Her research focuses on the development of innovative prognostic and monitoring biomarkers for MS and related neuroimmunological conditions, including the integration of emerging digital health tools into disease tracking. Dr. Filippatou earned her medical degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece and went on to complete her neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She pursued subspecialty fellowship training in neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins. Her fellowship training was supported by the National Institutes of Health/ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National MS Society. Dr. Filippatou is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. Her top areas of expertise are Optic Neuritis, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis Optica, Transverse Myelitis, and Thrombectomy.

With fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology and additional training in neuro-vestibular disorders, Dr. Daniel Gold sees patients with neuro-ophthalmic disorders (affecting vision, eyelids, pupils, or causing nystagmus or double vision) in addition to oto-neurologic disorders (causing dizziness and vertigo). Videos 2018 Best Consulting Physician Award Tele-(Dizzy) Medicine. Dr. Gold is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Vertigo, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Brown Syndrome, and Stiff Person Syndrome.

Dr. Pardo's interest in transverse myelitis centers on management of acute myelitis, biomarkers of the disease in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, and the role of neuroimmune factors in the pathogenesis of myelopathies. Along with others neurologists and health care providers in the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center, Dr. Pardo focuses on a comprehensive approach in the diagnosis and management of myelopathies, myelitis, neuroimmunological and neuroinfectious disorders. Dr. Pardo is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), Neurosarcoidosis, Transverse Myelitis, Zika Virus Disease, and Gastrostomy.

Neil R. Miller, M.D., is Professor of Ophthalmology, Neurology & Neurosurgery. He specializes in neuro-ophthalmology and orbital disease. Dr. Miller received his M.D. degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, where he also served as chief resident. He completed a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at the University of CA, San Francisco. He has been a member of the Wilmer faculty since 1976. Dr. Miller is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Benign Essential Blepharospasm, Progressive Hemifacial Atrophy, Optic Neuritis, and Graves Disease.

Dr. Probasco is a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Neurology. He is the Vice Chair for Quality, Safety, and Service for the department. He also serves as the Director of the Johns Hopkins Division of Advanced Clinical Neurology as well as the Medical Director of the Johns Hopkins Inpatient General Neurology Service. He co-directs the Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center and the Johns Hopkins Center for Refractory Status Epilepticus and Neuroinflammation. He cares for general neurology inpatients and outpatients, specializing in autoimmune and paraneoplastic syndromes as well as neurological immune-related adverse events following immunotherapies for cancer. After completing his undergraduate studies in biochemistry at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Probasco attended the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and earned a second undergraduate degree in psychology, philosophy and physiology. He went on to earn his medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco. He completed an internship in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and a residency in neurology at Johns Hopkins, where he was the faculty liaison/executive chief resident. He went on to complete an instructorship in inpatient general neurology at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Probasco’s research interests include increasing care value through improving outcomes, incorporation of patient experience of disease and treatment, the efficiency of care delivery, and diagnostic test utilization in general and specifically in relation to autoimmune and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, including encephalitis. Finally, he is interested in the management of neurological immune-related adverse events following immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Dr. Probasco has been recognized at the departmental, institutional, and national levels for teaching and clinical excellence, including the American Academy of Neurology’s A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award and the Frank L. Coulson, Jr. Award from the Johns Hopkins Medicine Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence. He is a past graduate of the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute Resident Scholars (AIRS) program in Patient Safety and Quality. As a faculty member, he was inducted into the Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence in 2019. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of NEJM Journal Watch Neurology. Videos The impact of COVID-19 on the Department of Neurology‚Äôs clinical care and medical education programs. Dr. Probasco is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Encephalitis, Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis, Status Epilepticus, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, and Gastrostomy.

Bardia Nourbakhsh, M.D., M.A.S., is an associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He practices out of The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Nourbakhsh has expertise in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuroimmunology. Dr. Nourbakhsh earned his medical degree from the Tehran University School of Medical Sciences and completed a residency in neurology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He studied epidemiology, study design, and biostatistics, obtaining a Master of Advanced Studies degree in clinical research from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, where he also completed a fellowship in MS and neuroimmunology. In 2014, Dr. Nourbakhsh earned the American Brain Foundation Clinical Research Training Fellowship in MS, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Sylvia Lawry Clinical Research Fellowship, the Fred Baskin Young Investigator Award, and the Teva Neuroscience Award for Academic Excellence. In 2022, he was named a Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Dr. Nourbakhsh's research training focused on the design and execution of clinical trials and the use of biomarkers in MS. His current research interests include the comparative effectiveness studies of symptomatic and disease-modifying therapies in MS, as well as identifying new pathophysiologic mechanisms and therapeutic targets for MS-related fatigue. Dr. Nourbakhsh is the principal investigator of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial funded by the Department of Defense, which tests whether ketamine could be a treatment for MS fatigue. He has contributed to numerous publications, journal articles, abstracts and posters, and lectures. He is an ad hoc reviewer for Lancet Neurology, Annals of Neurology, Neurology, Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation, Multiple Sclerosis Journal, and other journals. Dr. Nourbakhsh is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease, and Meningocele.

Dr. Bhargava developed an interest in immunology early in medical school at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India. He then completed his neurology training at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and while there began research in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS). Following his neurology training he completed a 3-year fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University in neuroimmunology and neurological infections focusing on MS clinical care and research. His fellowship training was supported by a Sylvia Lawry physician fellowship award from the National MS Society. His main research interests include studying the role of inflammation in the meninges in progression of MS disease. He is currently involved in a trial testing the utility of injecting a drug called rituximab into the spinal fluid in patients with progressive MS. He is also developing an animal model of the process of meningeal inflammation to test other potential treatments. This work is supported by awards from the National MS Society, Race to Erase MS and the American Academy of Neurology. He is also actively involved in studying the role of measuring lipids and small molecule metabolites in serum and plasma to help identify new biomarkers for improved diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. These methods could also help in better tracking the effects of various interventions and in personalizing the treatment of patients with MS. Dr. Bhargava is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), Transverse Myelitis, and CACH Syndrome.

Dr. Kornberg completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University. He then received M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and stayed at Johns Hopkins for neurology residency and a clinical and research fellowship in neuroimmunology. He is committed to a career that combines the competent and compassionate care of patients with multiple sclerosis and other immunolgic disorders of the nervous system with basic and translational research aimed at developing improved therapies. Dr. Kornberg is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), CACH Syndrome, Optic Neuritis, and Microvascular Decompression.

Dr. Arun Venkatesan serves as Director of the Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center, where he directs clinical activities and research. At the center he has developed a multidisciplinary program devoted to optimizing diagnosis and management of patients with infectious and autoimmune encephalitis and understanding mechanisms of disease in order to develop more effective treatments. He also plays an active role in the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis and Transverse Myelitis Centers. He received his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1994, followed by a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology and an M.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. He completed his residency in neurology and fellowship in neuroinfectious and neuroinflammatory diseases at Johns Hopkins, after which he was appointed to the faculty in the department of neurology in 2007. His laboratory research focuses on defining causes and mechanisms of central nervous system injury in the setting of infection and neuroinflammation, with a goal towards developing protective and regenerative strategies. He has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund. Dr. Venkatesan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex Encephalitis, Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Michael Carper, M.D. is an ophthalmologist in Baltimore, Maryland specializing in diplopia, optic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. He has particular interest in stroke affecting visual function, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Dr. Carper completed his residency in neurology at West Virginia University. A native of North Carolina, he takes pleasure in his deep ties to the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions and is privileged to serve the Baltimore area. Dr. Carper is an avid explorer and during his personal time enjoys trying new cuisines, or enjoying the outdoors on a hike or kayaking trip with his family. Dr. Carper is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Increased Intracranial Pressure, Oculomotor Apraxia Cogan Type, Papilledema, and Chemosis.

Meghan Berkenstock, M.D., is an associate professor of ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute. She specializes in ocular inflammatory and infectious diseases, cataract surgery, and comprehensive ophthalmology. Since joining the faculty of the Wilmer Eye Institute in 2016, she has established a research focus on risk reduction and quality assurance initiatives in the care of patients with uveitis. She has implemented several initiatives to improve laboratory monitoring and understanding barriers to care in patients on immunosuppressive medications. The bulk of her research focuses on identifying ocular adverse events (IRAE) associated with the use of immunotherapy agents in the treatment of systemic malignancies. She is a member and the only ophthalmologist on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Panel on developing guidelines to treat IRAEs. Dr. Berkenstock is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. Her top areas of expertise are Scleritis, Episcleritis, Uveitis, Vitrectomy, and Cataract Removal.

Dr. Barney J. Stern is a neurologist specializing in vascular neurology and neurological complications of sarcoidosis. His work in vascular neurology has covered all aspects of stroke management, including prevention and acute, subacute and chronic care. Dr. Stern also provides complex care management for patients suffering from neurosarcoidosis. His research focuses on understanding the biology and clinical outcomes of neurovascular disease and neurological complications associated with sarcoidosis. Dr. Stern has served as the medical safety monitor on a number of National Institutes of Health (NIH) stroke studies. In his new role at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Stern will be seeing outpatients as a member of the Advanced Clinical Neurology division with Dr. John Probasco. Dr. Stern is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Neurosarcoidosis, Stroke, Herpes Zoster Oticus, Arachnoiditis, and Thrombectomy.

Ashley Behrens, M.D., is the Edward St. John Professor in Ophthalmology and chief of the comprehensive ophthalmology division at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine. He specializes in the medical and surgical management of cataracts and corneal diseases, including corneal transplantation techniques for Fuchs’ dystrophy and keratoconus, as well as LASIK, PRK and refractive lens exchange. Dr. Behrens received his medical degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, and completed his ophthalmology residency and fellowship training at the Francisco Risquez Hospital. He completed additional fellowships at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, where he obtained his German Doctorate with Magna Cum Laude Distinction, and then at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Behrens joined the Wilmer faculty in 2003, and served as executive medical director at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH), Wilmer’s affiliate hospital in Saudi Arabia, from July 2010 through August 2014. Dr. Behrens is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. His top areas of expertise are Interstitial Keratitis, Cataract, Optic Atrophy Type 1, Vitrectomy, and Cataract Removal.