Dr. Andrew Blumenfeld – Focus On Migraine

Dr. Andrew Blumenfeld, MD, director of the Headache Center of Southern California discusses the often misunderstood condition of migraine, how the disease is typically managed, and the latest development in treatment options.  VYEPTI™ (eptinezumab-jjmr) is a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.

Dr. Andrew Michael Blumenfeld, MD, is director of the Headache Center of Southern California. As director, he has encouraged the development of a center addressing the multi-faceted needs of headache sufferers. These needs include acute care, educational programs and other specialty services. This comprehensive approach treats the whole person in a highly individualized manner and addresses the growing demand for one-stop treatment services.

Dr. Blumenfeld grew up in South Africa and graduated from St. Andrews College, South Africa, with a first-class pass and distinction in mathematics. He attended the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Medical School and completed a neurology residency at Johannesburg Hospital. In 1986 he moved to the United States and completed a neurology residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Following this, he completed an EEG and EMG fellowship, also at University of Massachusetts Medical School.

He served as staff neurologist at Kaiser Permanente, San Diego from 1990 to 2004. As Chief of Neurology Service at Kaiser from 1999-2004, his unit was named a Neurotoxin Center of Excellence by Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Medical College. The Neurotoxin Centers of Excellence recognize excellence in neurologists and other physicians who specialize in headache management.

Dr. Blumenfeld is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. He has published widely and has been an active researcher in headaches. Dr. Blumenfeld has been a principal investigator for many research studies showing that Botulinum toxin type A, sold under the brand name Botox®, is an effective preventative therapy for headache in chronic migraine sufferers. He has treated more patients with Botox therapy than any other provider in the world and trains other physicians on this nationally and internationally.

In addition, Dr. Blumenfeld serves on the advisory board for Allergan, and has been a national speaker and consultant for Allergan as well as other well-known medical corporations: Pfizer, GSK, Merck, Posen, Zogenix, MAP pharmaceuticals, Forrest and Ortho McNeill. I believe in an individualized, patient-centered approach that empowers patients to take control of their own health care. This requires that patients are fully informed about alternative therapies and that physicians and patients make joint decisions about treatment, based on lifestyles and other medical factors. In this capacity, he regularly addresses national pharmaceutical meetings, medical conferences, continuing education seminars, and community events. Board-certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Blumenfeld currently holds active privileges at Scripps Memorial Hospitals (Encinitas and La Jolla) and Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside. An avid bicyclist, he participated in the Race Across America in 2003 and 2004. He also enjoys running and spending time with his family.