Our Team

Our expert team of brain health specialists

The collaborative approach taken by our experts allows patients to benefit from the collective experience and expertise of the team.

For more information about a consultation, please contact us at 310-582-7641.

Pacific Brain Health Center Physician & Neuropsychology Team

(In alphabetical order)

William G. Buxton, MD

Adult Neurology

Barbara Giesser, MD

Multiple Sclerosis Neurology

Shanthi Gowrinathan, MD

Psycho-oncology

Michelle Holmes, OD

Optometry

Scott A. Kaiser, MD

Geriatric & Family Practice

David A. Merrill, MD, PhD

Geriatric Psychiatry

Daniel Morberg, MD

Piyush P. Nayyar, MD

Addiction Geriatric Psychiatry

Stephanie Oleson, PhD

Clinical Neuropsychology

Verna R. Porter, MD

Adult Neurology

Advance Practice Providers

Annika Canta, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathology

Jessica Dizon, PT, DPT, NCS

Physical Therapy

Romina Huerta, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathology

Mihae Kim, AGNP-BC

Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Gina Kim, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS

Occupational Therapy

Medha Sataluri, MS, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathology

Claudia L. Wong, FNP-BC

Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Lifestyle

Karen Miller, PhD

Brain Wellness & Lifestyle

Molly Rapozo, MS, RDN, CD

Brain Wellness & Lifestyle

Ryan Glatt, MS, CPT, NBC-HWC

Brain Wellness & Lifestyle

Ynez Maria Tongson

Brain Wellness & Lifestyle

Shannel Kassis Elhelou, PsyD

Brain Wellness & Lifestyle

Research

Jennifer Bramen, PhD

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Research

Dale Bredesen, MD

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Research

Rachel Heussner, ND

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Research

Somayeh Meysami, MD

Research

Emily Popa, MS

Research

Heather Sandison, ND

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Research

Brain Health Center Videos

Brain Health Center Overview Brain Health Center Research Meet Dr. Buxton Dr. Buxton is Director, Neuromuscular & Neurodiagnostic Medicine, and Fall Prevention, Brain Health Center; Adult Neurology. He is a board certified in Adult Neurology with Subspecialty Certification in Clinical Neurophysiology… Meet Dr. Giesser Dr. Giesser is the Multiple Sclerosis Neurology at the Pacific Brain Health Center. Dr. Giesser’s approach to the diagnosis and management of persons with MS combines state-of-the-art diagnostics and a… Meet Dr. Gowrinathan Dr. Gowrinathan is the director of Psycho-oncology, Brain Health Center; Psychiatry, Psycho-oncology. She is an accomplished inpatient and outpatient psychiatrist, specializing in both Women’s Psychiatry and Psycho-oncology (Cancer Psychiatry) who… Meet Dr. Heinzerling Dr. Heinzerling is the Director, Pacific Treatment & Research In Psychedelics Program; Internal Medicine – Addiction Medicine, Brain Health Center. He practices internal medicine and is an addiction medicine specialist… Meet Dr. Scott Kaiser Dr. Scott Kaiser, a board-certified family physician and geriatrician, is the Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health and provides specialty geriatric medical consultations at the Pacific Brain Health Center. Focused on… Meet Dr. Merrill David A. Merrill, MD, PhD, is an adult and geriatric psychiatrist with double-board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is director of the Pacific Brain Health… Dr. Melita Petrossian – Brain Health Dr. Melita Petrossian is a fellowship-trained neurologist and movement disorders specialist and is the Director of the Pacific Movement Disorders Center located at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and Providence… Meet Dr. Porter Dr. Porter is the Director of Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Neurocognitive Disorders at the Pacific Brain Health Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI) located at Providence Saint John’s Health Center…

Brain Health Center Overview

Brain Health Center Research

Meet Dr. William Buxton

Meet Dr. Giesser

Meet Dr. Gowrinathan

Meet Dr. Heinzerling

Meet Dr. Kaiser

Meet Dr. Merrill

Dr. Melita Petrossian – Brain Health

Meet Dr. Porter

Directions to the
Brain Health Center

1301 20th St., Santa Monica,
CA 90404

Map & Directions