Maria Alejandra Herrera, M.D.
mherrera@smgumc.com

Board certified neurologist with a special interest in neuromuscular diseases, Cholera, anesthetics, headaches, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and electrodiagnostic medicine testing.

PROFESSIONAL AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES

[2002–present] Practice of Neurology at Sunrise Medical Group

MEDICAL DEGREE

[1992] Universidad de Carabobo, Nucleo Aragua, Maracay, Estado Aragua, Venezuela

CERTIFICATIONS, QUALIFICATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

[1987-1990] Universidad de Carabobo, Nucleo Aragua, Venezuela, Biochemistry Pre-graduate Menor. The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

GRADUATE TRAINING

Residency: Neurology

[1998-2001] (Neurology Residency Cleveland Clinic, Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Internship:

[1993] (Rural Postgraduate, Maracay, Estado Aragua, Venezuela) (State University School of Medicine, Buffalo, NY)

Internship:

[1993-1995] (Postgraduate Rotatory Internship, Jose Maria Carabano Tosta Regional Hospital Maracay, Estado Aragua, Venezuela

Fellowship: Neurology

[1996-1997] (The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas American Academy of Neurology)

Fellowship: PGY-1

[1997-1998] (John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas)

Fellowship: Electrodiagnostic

[2001-2002] Electrodiagnostic Medicine Fellowship Cleveland Clinic, Weston, Florida

 AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS

·    American Society of Anesthesiology

·    American Academy of Neurology

·    American Medical Association

·    Venezuelan American Medical Association

·    Colegio de Medicos del Estado Aragua, Venezuela

RESEARCH, PRESENTATIONS, PUBLISHED BOOKS AND PAPERS

[1998] “Priming in the brain, an immunologically privileged organ, elicits antitumor immunity.” Hassan Fathallah, Michael Cho, Wei Gao, Maria Alejandra Herrera. Journal of Cancer

[1997] Society for Neuroscience, Annual Meeting

[1997] “Effect of traditional versus newer anesthetic drugs and techniques on Operating Room efficiency in pediatric outpatient surgery.” Anesthesiology

[1997] American Society of Anesthesiology, Annual Meeting

[2001] “Chorea in Adults”. Maria Alejandra Herrera, Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, E. Medicine Journal

[present] “Effects of Aging on Sensory Nerve Action Potentials of the Superficial Peroneal, Plantar and Sural Nerves”. Maria Alejandra Herrera, Virgilio Salanga.* In Progress

[2002] “Does the neurologist contribute to the care of the patient with back pain:” Benbadis SR, Herrera MA, Orazi U. European Neurology

[In press] “A combined presynaptic and postsynaptic neuromuscular transmission disorder in one patient.” Maria Alejandra Herrera, Virgilio Salanga. To be published in the Journal Muscle & Nerve

Research:

[1991-1992] Regional Institute of Health, Maracay, Venezuela, Pandemic of Cholera Disease, Latin America

[1992-1993] Regional Institute of Health, Maracay, Venezuela Diagnosis of Health Situation of Canade Azucar Community

[1996] Epidural continuous Infusion of local anesthetics and narcotics (Hydromorphone) in 118 patients who under­went posterior spinal fusion; pain management in 105 patients with cerebral palsy and dislocated hips; effect of traditional versus newer anesthetic drugs and techniques on OR efficiency in pediatric outpatient surgery. University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas; and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Dallas, Texas

[1996-1997] Priming in the brain, an immunopriviledged organ, elicits antitumor immunity. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. Dallas, Texas

Migraine/Headaches

[2003] A comparison of the efficacy and safety of topiramate versus placebo for the prophylaxis of chronic migraine (CAPSS-276); phase III).

[2003] A comparison of the efficacy and safety of topiramate versus placebo for the prophylaxis of chronic migraine (CAPSS-276); phase III).

[2004] A double-blind, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled single dose study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TreximaTM in the acute treatment of migraine headaches.

[2005] A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, efficacy, safety and tolerability study of dronabinol MDI in the acute treatment of migraine headache.

[2005] Topiramate Intervention to prevent transformation of episodic migraine: the topriamate INTREPID study

[2005] A phase 3, multi-center study evaluating the efficacy of botulinum toxin type a purified neurotoxin complex as headache prophylaxis in migraine patients with 15 or more headache days per 4-week period in a 24-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase followed by a 32-week open-label extension phase.

[2006] A randomized, double-blind, single migraine attack, placebo-controlled, parallel-group multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of sumatriptan succinate/naproxen sodium tablets vs. placebo when administered during the mild pain phase of menstrual migraine in women with dysmenorrhea.

Alzheimer’s/Dementia/MCI

[2003] A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Neramexane in patients with moderate to severe Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type.

[2003] Psychometric Validation of the Dementia Severity Scale (DSS)

[2003] A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 18 month study of the efficacy of xaliproden in patients with mild-to-moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

[2004] A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of titration and treatment with CbS in subjects with middle cognitive impairment (MCI).

[2005] Phase 3 multi-center, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of the effect of daily treatment with MPC-7869 on measures of cognitive and global function in subjects with mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

[2005] An open label evaluation of the safety of memantine in patients with moderate-to-severe dementia of the Alzheimer’s type

[2006] A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study of VP4896 for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Pain

[2003] An open-label tolerability and safety study of oxymorphone extended release in opioid­naïve patients with chronic pain.

[2003] A randomized, multiple-dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study comparing the safety and efficacy of hydromorphone HCI extended-release and Duragesic® in subjects with non-malignant pain.

[2003] A randomized, double-blind, controlled dose finding study of NGX-40 10 for the treatment of post herpetic neuralgia.

[2003] A randomized, double-blind, controlled dose finding study ofNGX-4010 for the treatment of painful IIIV-associated neuropathy.

[2003] Evaluation of capsaicin cream 0.25% in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia or painful diabetic neuropathy not controlled by oral anticonvulsant or tricyclic antidepressant medications.

[2003] A phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 3-parallel group, multi-center, 12-week study to assess the efficacy and safety of CP-424, 39 1 in Fibromyalgia patients.

[2003] An open-label, long term effectiveness and safety study of Oxymorphone Extended Release (ER) in patients with Cancer or Neuropathic pain.

[2003] A phase IH pivotal, multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled mono­therapy study of Milnacipran for treatment of fibromyalgia.

[2003] A phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 3-parallel group, multicenter, 12-week study to assess the efficacy and safety ofCP-424,391 in fibromyalgia patients.

[2004] A multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study of the safety and efficacy of BOTOX® (Botulinim Toxin Type A) purified neurotoxin complex in subjects with postherpetic neuralgia.

[2004] Multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and Safety of 200, 400, and 600MG/day SPM 927 I subjects with painful distal diabetic neuropathy.

[2004] A pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-period crossover study to evaluate the efficacy of Gabapentin and Tramadol in the treatment of small fiber predominant neuropathy.

[2005] A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of Gabapentin Extended Release (0-ER) tablets in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia.

[2005] A randomized placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of Pregabalin in the treatment of subjects with neuropathic pain associated with lumbo-sacral radiculopathy.

[2006] A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study of NGX 4010 For the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia.

[2006] A Multicenter Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study ofNGX-4010 for the Treatment of Painful HIV-Associated Neuropathy.

[2006] A randomized, Double-Blind Study Comparing the Safety and Efficacy of the Lidocaine Patch 5% with placebo in Patients with Pain from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

[2006] A Double-Blind, Placebo- controlled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Dextromethorphan and Quinidine at Two Dose Levels in the Treatment of the Pain of Diabetic Neuropathy.

[2006] A 14-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Pregabalin Twice Daily in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

[2006] A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled, Two-Period Crossover Study to explore the Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of Oral rvlD-XDOCX in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia.

[2006] A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-Group, Adaptive-Design, Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability Study of 4 Fixed Oral Doses of DVS SR in Adult Outpatients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Parkinson’s

[2003] Onset of Motor Complications

[2004] Two double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, multi-national studies (phase ifi) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Sarizotan in patients with Parkinson’s disease suffering from treatment-related dyskinesia.

[2005] A prospective, multi-center, randomized, open-label study with blinded raters to evaluate the effects of immediate versus delayed switch to Stalevo® on motor function and quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease with end-of-dose Wearing off.

[2006] A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo controlled Parallel-group Fixed and Flexible SLV3O8 Dose Arm Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of SLV3O8 Monotherapy in the Treatment of Patients with Early Stage Parkinson’s Disease.

Multiple Sclerosis

[2003] A Phase II, randomized, open-label, three-arm study comparing low-and high-dose Campath® (MABCAMPATH® in patients with early, active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

[2004] A multi-center, randomized, single-blind, parallel group study to compare the efficacy, tolerability and safety, of Copaxone® to that of high dose Interfeon (Betaseron® or Rebif®) in the treatment of relapsing Multiple Sclerosis patients.

[2005] An implementation Study of treatment optimization recommendations comparing subjects continuing treatment with IFN-l3-la 30 mcg qw IM (Avonex®) or Glatiramer acetate 20 mg qd SC (Copaxone®) to those randomized to IFN-13-la 44 mcg tiw SC (Rebif~), in a multi-center study of subjects with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis currently on disease-modifying therapy.

LANGUAGES SPOKEN - Fluent

English and Spanish