Resident, Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine
(2011)
Outstanding Resident Research Award
Resident, Internal Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital, New York
(2008)
Exceptional Resident Professionalism Award
Research Interests
Headache and inflammation, infectious causes of headache, behavioral implications with headache headache and associated cardio-vascular problems, headache after trauma, low and high cerebrospinal fluid disorders
Teaching
Associate professor of clinical practice
(2020)
School of Medicine,
Neurology
All types of head pains, including primary (migraine and others, with no cause known) or secondary (causes can be identified). Infections of the nervous system with alphaherpes viruses (varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex viruses). Low and high spinal fluid pressure disorders.
Publications
Carlisle TC, Birlea M, Restrepo D, Filley CM. Headache-Associated Phantosmia as a Harbinger of Lewy Body Dementia. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2023 Winter;35(1):92-97. PubMed PMID: 35989571
Callen AL, Pattee J, Thaker AA, Timpone VM, Zander DA, Turner R, Birlea M, Wilhour D, O'Brien C, Evan J, Grassia F, Carroll IR. Relationship of Bern Score, Spinal Elastance, and Opening Pressure in Patients With Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. Neurology. 2023 May 30;100(22):e2237-e2246. PubMed PMID: 37015821
Carlisle TC, Birlea M, Restrepo D, Filley CM. Headache-Associated Phantosmia as a Harbinger of Lewy Body Dementia. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2023 Winter;35(1):92-97. PubMed PMID: 35989571
Callen AL, Timpone VM, Schwertner A, Zander D, Grassia F, Lennarson P, Seinfeld J, Lillehei KO, Birlea M, Thaker AA. Algorithmic Multimodality Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal CSF Leak and Venous Fistula in Patients With Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2022 Aug;219(2):292-301. PubMed PMID: 35261281
Schwedt TJ, Hentz JG, Sahai-Srivastava S, Murinova N, Spare NM, Treppendahl C, Martin VT, Birlea M, Digre K, Watson D, Leonard M, Robert T, Dodick DW. Patient-Centered Treatment of Chronic Migraine With Medication Overuse: A Prospective, Randomized, Pragmatic Clinical Trial. Neurology. 2022 Apr 5;98(14):e1409-e1421. PubMed PMID: 35169011
Minen MT, Khanns D, Guiracocha J, Ehrlich A, Khan FA, Ali AS, Birlea M, Singh NN, Peretz A, Larry Charleston IV. The role of urgent care centers in headache management: a quality improvement project. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Feb 8;22(1):162. PubMed PMID: 35135555
Schwedt TJ, Sahai-Srivastava S, Murinova N, Birlea M, Ahmed Z, Digre K, Lopez K, Mullally W, Blaya MT, Pippitt K, Cutrer FM, DeLange J, Schecht H, Rizzoli P, Lane J, Wald J, Cortez MM, Martin VT, Spare NM, Hentz JG, Robert T, Dodick DW. Determinants of pain interference and headache impact in patients who have chronic migraine with medication overuse: Results from the MOTS trial. Cephalalgia. 2021 Sep;41(10):1053-1064. PubMed PMID: 33938249
Schwedt TJ, Hentz JG, Sahai-Srivastava S, Spare NM, Martin VT, Treppendahl C, Digre K, Bennett NL, Birlea M, Watson D, Murinova N, Robert T, Dodick DW. Headache characteristics and burden from chronic migraine with medication overuse headache: Cross-sectional observations from the Medication Overuse Treatment Strategy trial. Headache. 2021 Feb;61(2):351-362. PubMed PMID: 33432635
Schofield JR, Hughes HN, Birlea M, Hassell KL. A trial of antithrombotic therapy in patients with refractory migraine and antiphospholipid antibodies: A retrospective study of 75 patients. Lupus. 2021 Apr;30(4):568-577. PubMed PMID: 33402037
Schwedt TJ, Digre K, Tepper SJ, Spare NM, Ailani J, Birlea M, Burish M, Mechtler L, Gottschalk C, Quinn AM, McGillicuddy L, Bance L, Dumkrieger G, Chong CD, Dodick DW. The American Registry for Migraine Research: Research Methods and Baseline Data for an Initial Patient Cohort. Headache. 2020 Feb;60(2):337-347. PubMed PMID: 31755111
Birlea M, Cohrs RJ, Bos N, Mehta SK, Pierson DL, Gilden D. Search for varicella zoster virus DNA in saliva of healthy individuals aged 20-59 years. J Med Virol. 2014 Feb;86(2):360-2. PubMed PMID: 24338812
Birlea M, Nagel MA, Khmeleva N, Choe A, Kleinschmidt-Demasters B, Hevner R, Boyer P, Lear-Kaul KC, Bos N, Wellish M, Cohrs RJ, Gilden D. Varicella-zoster virus trigeminal ganglioneuritis without rash. Neurology. 2014 Jan 7;82(1):90-2. PubMed PMID: 24285619
Birlea M, Cohrs RJ, Bos N, Mehta SK, Pierson DL, Gilden D. Search for varicella zoster virus DNA in saliva of healthy individuals aged 20-59 years. J Med Virol. 2014 Feb;86(2):360-2. PubMed PMID: 24338812
Birlea M, Nagel MA, Khmeleva N, Choe A, Kleinschmidt-Demasters B, Hevner R, Boyer P, Lear-Kaul KC, Bos N, Wellish M, Cohrs RJ, Gilden D. Varicella-zoster virus trigeminal ganglioneuritis without rash. Neurology. 2014 Jan 7;82(1):90-2. PubMed PMID: 24285619
Birlea M, Owens GP, Eshleman EM, Ritchie A, Traktinskiy I, Bos N, Seitz S, Azarkh Y, Mahalingam R, Gilden D, Cohrs RJ. Human anti-varicella-zoster virus (VZV) recombinant monoclonal antibody produced after Zostavax immunization recognizes the gH/gL complex and neutralizes VZV infection. J Virol. 2013 Jan;87(1):415-21. PubMed PMID: 23077312
UCNS Headache Medicine Certified, Certificate
(2014)
Conditions & Treatments
Brain and Nervous System
Brain and Nervous System - Neurovascular Conditions
Brain and Nervous System - Migraine
Brain and Nervous System - Neuromuscular Diseases
Brain and Nervous System - Meningitis
Brain and Nervous System - Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injuries
Brain and Nervous System - Trigeminal Neuralgia
Infections - Viral Infections
Brain and Nervous System - Stroke
Infections
Brain and Nervous System - Chiari Malformation
Brain and Nervous System - Spine Diseases and Conditions
Clinical Interests
My many clinical interest include any head and face pain conditions, viral infections of the nervous system, low/high spinal fluid pressure conditions as well as stroke or neurological disorders that are post traumatic, inflammatory or involve peripheral nervous system
Care Philosophy
I dedicate all my attention to the patient in front of me and is always my pleasure to be available whenever possible with questions or concerns.
Personal Interests
Whenever possible, I love spending time with my family (wife and two children) and reading, listening to music, playing soccer.
Volunteer Activities
Raising awareness on migraine
Public Speaking Yes
Various headache topics
General Information
Medical Schools:
MD, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj Napoca, Romania
(1994)
Internships:
New York Medical College (Metropolitan) Program
(2008)