Mark Spitz, MD

Professor Emeritus, Neurology


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, University of Arizona College of Medicine (1979)
Undergraduate School
  • BA, Arizona State University (AZ) (1975)
Internship
  • Baylor College of Medicine Program (1980)
Residency
  • Baylor College of Medicine Program, Neurology (1983)
Fellowships
  • Stamford Hospital/Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Program, Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy (1985)
Languages
English
Department
Neurology

Professional Titles

  • Chief, Epilepsy

Recognitions

  • Top Doctor in Denver, 5280 Magazine (2012)
    Voted a 5280 best doctor by my peers in response to the question, "Which physician would you trust to treat you and your family?"
  • Top Doctor in Denver, 5280 Magazine (2013)
  • Top Doctor in Denver, 5280 Magazine (2014)
  • Top Doctor in Denver, 5280 Magazine (2015)
  • Top Doctor in Denver, 5280 Magazine (2016)
  • Top Doctor in Denver, 5280 Magazine (2017)

Publications

  • Wortzel, H., Strom, L., Anderson, C.A., Maa, E.H., Spitz, M., Disrobing Associated with Epileptic Seizures and Forensic Implications. Journal of Forensic Sciences (In Press)
  • Spitz M, Moreland S, Frey L, O’Brien C, Shrestha A, Strom L: Ablative Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Surgery Should be considered in Patients with a Pre-existing Liver Transplantation. American Epilepsy Society Abstract 3.125
  • Afra P, Strom L, Bainbridge J, Buchanan T, Berry A, Spitz M; Role of Lacosamide as Adjunctive Treatment of Adults with Primary Generalized Epilepsy. American Epilepsy Society Abstract 2.159
  • Spitz MC, Strom LA. , Diagnostic and localizing intracranial EEG features of epileptic seizures, In: Epilepsy and intensive care monitoring: principles and practice. Bruce Fisch, MD, ed., Demos Medical Pub.
  • Ryvlin, P., Nashef, L., Lhatoo, S.D., Bateman,L.M., Bird, J., Bleasel,A., Boon, P., Crespel, A., Dworetzky,B.A.,Høgenhaven, H., Lerche, H., Maillard, L., Malter,M.P., Marchal, C., Murthy, J.M.K., Nitsche, M., Pataraia, E., Rabben, T., Rheims, S., Sadzot,B., Schulze-Bonhage, A., Seyal, M., So, E.L., Spitz, M., Szucs, A., Tan, M., Tao, J.X., Tomson, T., (2013) Monitored Sudden Unexpected Deaths and Near-Miss in Epilepsy. Lancet Neurology, In Press
  • Spitz M, Drees C, Frey L, Fleming J, Bainbridge J, Pearson S, Shrestha A, Strom L. Pharmaco-adherence in patients with epilepsy and neurologic tumors. Abstract 2.171. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. December 2013.
  • Bainbridge J, Spitz M, Frey L, McDermott D, Drees C, O’Brien C, Strom L, Shrestha A, Pearson S. Retrospective study of lacosamide in the elderly (>60). Abstract 2.172. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. December 2013
  • McDermott D, Frey L, Faithe M, Bainbridge J, O’Brien C, Oh C, Pearson S, Shrestha A, Strom L, Spitz M, Drees C. Improving time to treatment and resolution of status epilepticus. Abstract 3.153. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. December 2013.
  • Frey Lauren C, Spitz Mark C. Physiologic Basis of EEG Generation of Electrical Activity of the Cerebral Cortex. In: David B. Arciniegas, C. Alan Anderson, Christopher M. Filley, eds. Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry. Cambridge University Press; 2013:422-458.
  • Spitz Mark C., Bainbridge, Jacquelyn L, Wong, Pei-Shieen, Phenobarbital and Primidone. In: Wyllie E. Wyllie's treatment of epilepsy: principles and practice: Wolters Kluwer Health; In Press.
  • Lampe E, Forster J, Herbst E, Spitz M, Frey L. Pre-admission Clinical Factors Affect Length of Stay in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. The Neurodiagnostic Journal 2014;54:138-147
  • Frey LC, Spitz MC. Physiologic Basis of EEG Generation of Electrical Activity of the Cerebral Cortex. In: Arciniegas D, Anderson A, Filley C, Eds. Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry
  • Maa EM, Earnest MP, Spitz MC, Bainbridge J., Severity of Seizures as a Forensic Risk and Case Reports. In: Sudden Death in Epilepsy: Forensic and Clinical Issues. Editors: Lathers CM, Schraeder PL, Bungo MW, and Leestma JE. (pp. 209-220). Boca Raton: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Management of Seizures and Epilepsy in Adults. Rocky Mountain Hospital Medicine Symposium, Denver, Colorado
  • 24. Maa EM, Earnest MP, Spitz MC, Bainbridge J., Severity of Seizures as a Forensic Risk and Case Reports. In: Sudden Death in Epilepsy: Forensic and Clinical Issues. Editors: Lathers CM, Schraeder PL, Bungo MW, and Leestma JE. (pp. 209-220). Boca Raton: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group. 2011
  • Characterization of Baseline EEG Abnormalities the Brain Injury and Mechanisms of Action of Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO2) for Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Study (BIMA), Abstract P7-167. American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting. April 2015
  • Retrospective study of lacosamide in the elderly (>= 60 years of age). Abstract 3.073. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. December 2015.
  • Development of a discrete, wearable, EEG device for counting seizures. Abstract 2.158. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. December 2015.
  • Optimal Diagnosis and Management of Refractory Partial-Onset Seizures. Practicing Clinicians Exchange, January 16, 2015
  • 27. Spitz Mark C., Bainbridge, Jacquelyn L, Wong, Pei-Shieen, Phenobarbital and Primidone. In: Wyllie E. Wyllie's treatment of epilepsy: principles and practice: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015: 682-690.
  • Harden, C., Tomson, T., Gloss, D., Buchhalter, J., Cross, H., Donner, E., French, J., Gil-Nagel, A., Hesdorffer, D., Ryvlin, P., Smithson, W.H., Spitz, M., Walczak, T., Evidence-based guideline: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) incidence rates and risk factors Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, Neurology
  • Maa, E. H., Kahle, K. T., Walcott, B. P., Spitz, M. C. and Staley, K. J. (2011), Diuretics and epilepsy: Will the past and present meet?. Epilepsia, 52: 1559–1569. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03203.x
  • C. Livsey, L. Frey, M. Spitz: Is it Peri-ictal Cough or Cough-related Syncope? American Epilepsy Society Abstract 3.182 (2011)
  • M. C. Spitz, D. Case, C. Livsey, M. Friedman, W. J. Jones: A Retrospective Analysis of 'Stroke Alerts' in the Hospital Setting to Assess Factors Predicting a Diagnosis of Seizure Versus Stroke. American Epilepsy Society Abstract 3.095 (2011)
  • J. Bainbridge, H. Cooper, M. Egeberg, M. Spitz, S. Benbadis, E. Maa: - A Multi-Center Retrospective Study of Lacosamide in the Elderly (? 60 years of age). American Epilepsy Society Abstract 1.292 (2011)
  • Christopher Williams, Mark Spitz, John Foley, Lindell Weaver, Anne Lindblad, Michael Wierzbicki, Characterization of Baseline EEG Abnormalities the Brain Injury and Mechanisms of Action of Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO2) for Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Study (BIMA), Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, 2016, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp 521- 530
  • Wortzel, H. S., Strom, L. A., Anderson, A. C., Maa, E. H. and Spitz, M. (2012), Disrobing Associated with Epileptic Seizures and Forensic Implications. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 57: 550–552. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01995.x
  • M. C. Spitz, M. Friedman, L. Frey, C. Drees, S. Pearson. - Forensic Implications of Ictal or Peri-ictal Grabbing Behaviors, American Epilepsy Society Abstract 3.093
  • Frey Lauren C, Spitz Mark C. Electroencephalography. In: David B. Arciniegas, C. Alan Anderson, Christopher M. Filley, eds. Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry. Cambridge University Press; 2013:422-458.
  • Williams CS, Spitz MC, Foley JF, Weaver LK, Lindblad AS, Wierzbicki MR. Baseline EEG abnormalities in mild traumatic brain injury from the BIMA study. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2016 Aug-Sept;43(5):521-530. PubMed PMID: 28768071
  • Harden C, Tomson T, Gloss D, Buchhalter J, Cross JH, Donner E, French JA, Gil-Nagel A, Hesdorffer DC, Smithson WH, Spitz MC, Walczak TS, Sander JW, Ryvlin P. Practice Guideline Summary: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Incidence Rates and Risk Factors: Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. Epilepsy Curr. 2017 May-Jun;17(3):180-187. PubMed PMID: 28684957
  • Harden C, Tomson T, Gloss D, Buchhalter J, Cross JH, Donner E, French JA, Gil-Nagel A, Hesdorffer DC, Smithson WH, Spitz MC, Walczak TS, Sander JW, Ryvlin P. Practice guideline summary: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy incidence rates and risk factors: Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. Neurology. 2017 Apr 25;88(17):1674-1680. PubMed PMID: 28438841
  • M. Lehmkuhle, M. Elwood, J. Wheeler, J. Morrison, R. Lingstuyl, M. Frankel, F. Dudek, M. Watson, L. Frey, A. Shrestha, C. Drees, M. Brown, P. Korb, L. Strom, M. Spitz, Development of a wearable, EEG-based seizure diary for people living with epilepsy, Neuroscience 2017
  • Lewine, JD, et al. Quantitative EEG Biomarkers for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology
  • What is a Fill Time Academic Epileptologist? Results of a National Survey in the United States.
  • Spitz Mark C., Bainbridge, Jacquelyn L, Wong, Pei-Shieen, Phenobarbital and Primidone. In: Wyllie E. Wyllie's treatment of epilepsy: principles and practice: Wolters Kluwer Health
  • Lewine JD, Plis S, Ulloa A, Williams C, Spitz M, Foley J, et al. Quantitative EEG Biomarkers for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2019
  • D. McDermott, S. DeStefano, S. Sillau, R. Pierce, C. Baca, C. Drees, M. Spitz, M. Brown; What is a Fill Time Academic Epileptologist? Results of a National Survey in the United States. American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. December 2019
  • Spitz Mark C., Bainbridge, Jacquelyn L, Wong, Pei-Shieen, Phenobarbital and Primidone. In: Wyllie E. Wyllie's treatment of epilepsy: principles and practice: Wolters Kluwer Health. 2020: 698-692

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Neurology, Fellow
  • American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, Member
  • American Epilepsy Society, Member
  • Colorado Neurology Society, Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth Neurosciences Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
4th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-2080

Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Administration Medical Center
1700 Wheeling St
Aurora, CO 80045
303-399-8020

UCHealth Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion - Anschutz Medical Campus
1635 Aurora Ct
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

UCHealth Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion - Anschutz Medical Campus
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

UCHealth Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion 2 - Anschutz Medical Campus
12505 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Neurology, Board Certification (1988)
  • Epilepsy (2013)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Brain and Nervous System
  • Brain and Nervous System - Epilepsy
Clinical Interests
Dr. Spitz is the head of the Adult Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, which consists of nine full-time adult epileptologists and a two fellows. The Epilepsy Program has a busy 12-bed epilepsy monitoring unit. The program meets the highest standards for size and sophistication set by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. Dr. Spitz interprets EEGs, evoked potentials, video-EEG monitoring and corticography. Specialty clinics: Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), Clinical Trials