The WDA Centers of Excellence provide physicians who are well trained in the diagnosis and treatment of Wilson's Disease, physician training and research regarding Wilson disease, broad services needed by Wilson Disease patients and their families, and technical support required by patients (including laboratory metal analysis).
To learn more about the WDAs criteria in designating a Center of Excellence, click here. If your institution is interested in becoming a Center of Excellence, please contact Mary Graper at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Great Britain - South East Coast England
Director/Coordinator: Professor Aftab Ala, Director,Institute of Health and Research (NIHR) Lead for Hepatology South East Coast England, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey
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phone: 0148357112 extension 6990
Team Members: Professor Aftab Ala –Hepatology; Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London –Hepatic Transplantation; Dr Jan Coebergh, MBBS FRCP –Movement Disorders; Dr Sofia Khan, MBBS MDRes FRCP –Neurology; Professor Simon Taylor (MB ChB PhD FCOpth) –Ophthalmology; Dr Ozan Hancip MBBS MRCPaed –Pediatrics; Dr Ranjit Mahanta (MBBS MRCPsych MSc DGM) –Psychiatric; Dr Charmian Banks and Dr Kalliopi Alexandropoulou – Dietitians/Nutritional Consultants; The physical / rehabilitation / occupational therapy teams will use their recognised expertise in the management of patients with Wilson disease, paticularly in those affected by neurolgical manifestations of Wilson disease – Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy; Sarah Martin –Research Coordinator; There are established expert and dedicated social services and Team who will work with our patients to help in the challenges of wilson disease –Social Work; The speech therapy team is fully integrated into the overarching stroke services and will be available for assessment and management –Speech Therapy; Dr Chris Harrington BSc (Hon), MSc, PhD, MRSC - Pathology and Diagnostics; Dr Nayana Lahiri MBBS MRCP - Consultant Clinical Geneticist; Professor Simon de.Lusignan s. BSc, MB BS, MSc, MD(Res), DRCOG, FHEA, FBCS CITP, FRCGP (email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) -Primary Care & Clinical Informatics / Health Care Management / Clinical and Experimental Medicine; Dr Claire Kelly MBChB MRCP - Clinical Research Fellow (National Institute for Health and Research); Dr Marinos Pericleous MBBS BSc MRCP - Clinical Research Fellow.
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India - K.E.M. Hospital
Director - Dr. Ashish Bavdekar
Associate Professor
Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Liver and Gastroenterology Unit
Department of Pediatrics
T.D.H. Building, Ground Floor
K.E.M. Hospital, Rasta Peth
Pune 411011
India
Phone: 91-20-66037342
Mobile: 98220 56174
Fax: 91-020-26125603
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Clinics for Wilson Disease:
Mondays and Thursdays 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Other Team Members: Dr. Ashish Bavdekar,Dr. Suhas Wagle – Hepatology; Dr. Ashish Bavdekar – Pediatrics, Hepatology & Hepatic Transplantation; Dr. Pradeep Diwate – Movement Disorders & Neurology; Dr. Shrikant Kelkar – Ophthalmology; Dr. Vasudeo Parlikar – Psychiatry; Mrs. Vaishali Madkaikar – Dietitian; Dr. Arati Chaudhari & Mrs. Bharati Patil – Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy; Dr. Shruti Inamdar – Research Coordinator; Mr. Mahendra Hoge – Social WorkIndia – Mumbai
Heidelberg, Germany
Director/Coordinator
Prof. Karl Heinz Weiss, MD
Internal Medicine IV
Im Neuenheimer Feld 410
69120 Heidelberg Germany
For Appointments:
Mrs. Alexandra Becker
Internal Medicine IV
Im Neuenheimer Feld 410
69120 Heidelberg Germany
Phone: +49 6221 56-6538
Other Team Members: Prof. Markus Weiler, MD PhD - Movement Disorders; Prof. Dr. med. Gerd U. Auffarth, - MD Ophthalmology; Prof. Dr. med. G.F. Hoffmann, MD - Pediatrics; Prof. Dr. Sabine Herpertz, MD - Psychiatry; Dr. Ulrike Zech, MD - Dietitians/Nutritional Consultants; Regina Respondek - Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy; Jessica Langel - Research Coordinator; Mrs. Catrin Bauer, Mrs. Regine Remmert, Mrs. Sandra Wendland - Social Work; Mrs. Nele Wieser, Mrs. Cinja Huber - Speech Therapy; Dr. Med. Petra Wagenlechner, MD - Other.
Jaslok Hospital and Research Center
Director - Dr. Aabha Nagral,
Consultant Adult and Pediatric Hepatologist
O-18, Bhavna Building 2nd floor
Veer Savarkar Road
Prabhadevi Clinic
Mumbai-400025
India
For appointments: (+91)22 24222160
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Clinics for Wilson Disease Patients:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: (4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
For appointments, phone: 91-22- 24222160 (after 4 pm)
Other Team Members: Dr. Aahba Nagral – Hepatic Transplantation; Dr. Pettarusp Wadia– Movement Disorders & Neurology; Dr. Atul Ursekar– Ophthalmology; Dr. Fazal Nabi – Pediatrics; Dr. Amit Desai – Psychiatry; Suvarna Sawant – Dietitian; Dr. Ria Mansukhani – Physical and Rehabilitation Therapy; Dr. Priya Malde – Research Coordinator: Bakul Parulekar-Speech Therapy; Bhavna Shah-Social Worker.
Northwestern University
Danny Bega, MD, MSCI
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Division of Movement Disorders
Feinberg School of Medicine
259 E Erie St, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60611
Co-Director
Richard M. Green, MD
Chief, Division of Hepatology
Associate Professor of Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine
Appointments: 312-695-7950
Fax: 312-695-5747
Contacts:
Ashley Talavera, RN (clinical nurse)
Emily Zivin, LCSW (social work)
Location:
Lavin Pavillion, 16th Floor
259 E Erie St
Chicago, IL 60611
Other Team Members:
University of California at Los Angeles
Director - Jeff Bronstein, MD, PhD; Coordinator – Henrietta Salazar
UCLA Neurology Department
710 Westwood Plaza Suite C128
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769
For appointments: Henrietta: (310) 206-9799
Fax: (310) 206-9819
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Other Team Members: Sammy Saab, MD – Hepatology and Hepatic Transplantation; Arik Johnson – Psychologist; Jeff Bronstein-Movement Disorders, Neurology; Joseph Demer, MD- Opthalmology; Dana Hunnes PhD, MPH, RD- Dietition/Nutritional Consultant; Diane Yang- Research Coordinator
University of MIami
Tamir Miloh, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Director, Pediatric Transplant Hepatology
Miami Transplant Institute
Highland Professional Bldg.
1801 NW 9th Avenue, #330
Miami, Florida 33136
Phone: 305-585-8574
Fax: 305-355-5791
University of Michigan Hospital
Director - Fred Askari, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Liver Clinic
1st floor Taubman Center Area G
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Phone: 800-333-9013
Fax: 734-763-4574
Appointments 800-333-9013
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Other Team Members: Jeffrey Innis, MD, PhD – Genetic Counselor; Fred Askari, M.D., PhD - Section of Transplantation and Hepatology, Martha Carlson MD, PhD – Pediatrics; Matthew Lorincz, MD, PhD (Adult) and Martha Carlson, MD, PhD(Pediatric) – Movement Disorder Specialist, Neurology; Jonathon Trobe, MD – Opthalmology; Scot Winder, MD – Psychiatrist; Elizabeth Kovan – Research Coordinatior; : Karen Kluin ,MS – Speech Therapy; Kelly Shehan,MS - Dietician
Seattle Children's Hospital
Sihoun Hahn, M.D., Ph.D., Director
Pediatrics; Director, Biochemical Genetics Program
Seattle Children's Hospital
4800 Sand Point Way NE, Mailstop: B-6594
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: 206-987-7610
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The pediatric team will see adult patients at the University of Washington. For information/appointments (pediatric and adult) please contact:
Mary Moran E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Appointments: Fax referral and records to (206) 985-3121
Other Team Members: Simon Horslen, MB ChB FRCPCH - Director of Transplantation, Pediatric Hepatologist, Pediatric Transplant Hepatologist; Renuka Bhattacharya, MD – Adult Hepatologist; Dararat (Pam) Mingbunjerdsuk, MD – Movement Disorder Specialist, Neurology; Ali Samii, MD – Adult Neurology; Avery Weiss, MD – Opthalmology; Nina de Lacy, MD, MBA – Psychiatry; Melissa Edwar, RD and Sarah Sullivan, RD – Metabolic Nutitionists; Andrea Barry-Smith – Social Work, Edie Anyieni, RN - Nursing; Genetic Counseling – TBD; Mary Moran – Program Administrator.
Yale University Medical Center
Dr. Michael Schilsky, Director
Yale University School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street/1080 LMP
P.O. Box 208019
New Haven, CT 06520-8019
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fed Ex Address:
One Gilbert StreetFMP Bldg.,
Room FMP 408
New Haven, CT 06519
For Appointments: Ms. Donna Christensen phone: 203-737-1592 fax: 203-737-1592
Other Team Members: Uyen To, MD – hepatology, Nigel Bamford, MD - pediatric neurologist, Sukru Emre M.D., David Mulligan MD, Manuel Rodriguez Davalos MD, Section of Transplantation and Immunology, Udeme Ekong MD, Pamela Valentino, MD – Pediatric Hepatologist, Pediatric Transplant Hepatologist; Elan Louis, MD, Amar Patel, MD – Movement Disorder Specialist, Neurology; Susan Forster, MD – Opthalmology, Paula Zimbrean M.D. – Psychiatrists; Kisha Mitchell M.D. – Liver Pathologist; Ricarda Tomlin – Research Coordination; Lenore Hammers LCSW – Adult Social Worker, Michael Joyce LCSW – Pediatric Social Worker; Anne Marie Rivard NPH RD- Registered Worker; Anne Marie Rivard NPH RD- Registered Dietician
Watch: Yale Center of Excellence featured at the AASLD Liver Meeting
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Baylor College -Texas Children's Hospital and St Luke's Hospital
Center Directors:
John Vierling, MD Adult Hepatology
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832 355 1400 (Office, 24/7)
713-610-2479 (FAX)
Other Team Members:UNOS Medical Directors of liver transplantation- Rise Stribling, MD Hepatology/Baylor-St Luke's Medical Center (adult), Surgical Director of liver transplantation- John Goss, MD Transplant Surgery, Clinicians- Norman Sussman, MD Adult Hepatology/GI , Saira Khaderi, MD Adult Hepatology/GI, Ryan Himes, MD Pediatric Hepatology/GI ,Daniel Leung, MD, BS Pediatric Hepatology/GI, Joseph Jankovic, MD Adult Neurology/Movement disorder, Mered Parnes, MD, BA Pediatric Neurology/Movement disorder, Brendan Lee, MD, Ph.D. Genetics, David Coats, MD Ophthalmology, Ayse Arikan, MD Nephrology, Intensive care (Extracorporeal Liver Support), Nutritionist- Stacy Beer, MPH, RD, LD Liver Nutritionist, Neuropsychologist- Susan Caudle, M.A, B.A. Psychology, Social worker- Lucero Gonzalez, LCSW Social work, Child life specialist- Holly Peckover, MS, CCLS Child Life, Psychiatry- TBD Psychiatry Section, Genetic counselor- TBD Genetic counseling, Administration- Sara Gonzalez-Quezada,Program administrator
Wilson Disease Centers of Excellence Policy
The WDA is a national 501 (c)(3) organization, with global presence in over fifty other countries, serving as an advocate and resource for individuals and families dealing with Wilson´s disease. It disseminates scientific, clinical and adaptive information to its members and the treating community through direct communications, printed materials and its excellent web site (http://www.wilsondisease.org). It has an active membership, regular board and membership meetings, and adequate finances to meet its organizational objectives.
Designation as a Wilson Disease Center of Excellence would likely result in the referral of approximately five new pediatric/adult patients annually. They would be patients with acute and chronic illnesses. Wilson Disease patient will require care form hepatologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, dieticians, physical and rehabilitation therapist, social workers, speech therapist and a hepatic transplantation program. Since the United States´ Wilson disease population reflects the general population, a significant number will be adequately insured.
As a Wilson Disease Center of Excellence, a medial institution would have:
• Access to patients with fascinating and challenging genetic disease who will benefit from, and live normal lives with, first quality medical care
• an opportunity for research in cooper metabolism and its genetic links
• benefit of the WDA´s efforts to support educational outreach to healthcare professionals
While Wilson disease has become a subject of media attention, it is not likely that designation as a Center of Excellence will significantly enhance the institution´s reputation. However, it will augment its educational mission.
In designating an academic medical center as a Center of Excellence, the WDA seeks to identify a medical center which will render the highest quality care to acutely presenting and chronically ill Wilson disease patients involving hepatology, neurology, nutritional consultation, psychiatry, ENT, physical and rehabilitative medicine and speech therapy. As a Center of Excellence, an institution must provide a site where:
• One or more health care professionals will enthusiastically commit to the care of Wilson disease patients and will coordinate every facet of their care
• Physicians are well trained in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Wilson Disease
• Education of the nest generation of physicians to care for these patients will occur
• Clinical diagnostic laboratory studies for metal analysis and related testing are performed
• Basic research into the underlying pathophysiology of disorders of cooper metabolism is conducted, and new experimental therapies for this disorder can be evaluated
• Patient, family, public and continuing medical education are promoted.
In addition, the medical center, through its designated faculty, must be willing to act as an educational and consultative resource to patients, physicians and other health care professional concerning the diagnosis, treatment and management of Wilson disease. It is also of great importance that communications between the institution and the Wilson Disease Association be easily facilitated as appropriate. The Center of Excellence will be willing to participate and support WDA initiatives (e.g. Tissue Banking, New Born Screening).
In order to be considered for the designation, the interested partly should submit a proposal to the WDA President outlining the institution´s plan to meet the above criteria. Names, qualifications, and prior experience with treating Wilson disease of each team member should be included. The actual selection of the Center of Excellence will be done by the WDA Beard of Directors, with the advice of its Professional Affairs Committee and input from the Medical Advisory Committee. In order to remain a Center of Excellence, WDA will recertify at least once every three years by questionnaire and will keep Website updated. Completion of the questionnaire is required and failure to comply many result in revocation of the Center of Excellence status.