Stanford Headache and Facial Pain Program Team

Welcome to the Stanford Headache and Facial Pain Division. Our multi-disciplinary program is composed of specialists in Headache Medicine, Otoneurology, and CSF Leak who work closely together to offer a unique and comprehensive approach to patient care, research, and education. Click on the tabs above to meet our team.

Niushen Zhang, MD, FAHS
Division Chief, Headache and Facial Pain
Clinical Associate Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences

Dr. Zhang is a board-certified neurologist and Chief of the Headache and Facial Pain Division in the Department of Neurology. She has a special interest in developing personalized treatment plans for patients with headache which incorporate the use of complementary and integrative medicine. She previously served as the Chair of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Special Interest Section for the American Headache Society. Her research interest is on the impact of diet and nutrition on migraine and the connection between migraine and the gut microbiome. In addition, she participates in clinical trials of new headache treatments for migraine and cluster headache. Dr. Zhang is also actively involved in medical education. She is the Director of the Headache Fellowship Program at Stanford. She is the previoius co-chair of the Headache Fellowship Program Directors Committee for the American Headache Society. She spearheaded the design and creation of the AHS National Headache Fellowship Opportunities website which serves as a central resource for all headache fellowship applicants.

Dr. Zhang graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. She earned an MD from the New York University School of Medicine. She completed neurology residency and fellowship in headache and facial pain at Stanford University.

Richard Baron, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences

Dr. Baron is a board-certified Neurologist and fellowship trained in both Headache medicine and Otoneurology (dizziness and vestibular disorders) at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology & Neurological Sciences and by courtesy, in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. His clinical and research interests include the management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and vestibular migraine, and he is involved in quality improvement and medical education initiatives.

Robert P. Cowan, MD, FAAN, FAHS
Clinical Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences and, by courtesy, Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology

Dr. Robert Cowan is Clinical Professor of Neurology and Director of the Headache Research Program at Stanford University. Prior to joining Stanford he was the founding medical director of the Keeler Center for the Study of Headache (Ojai, CA) and senior clinical research scientist in molecular neurobiology at Huntington Medical Research Institutes (Pasadena, CA). Prior to that he founded and directed the Headache program at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine.

Dr. Cowan attended University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, completed a residency program at USC Department of Neurology and served on faculty there until 2000. He is Board Certified in the areas of: Psychiatry and Neurology and Pain Medicine. He also holds subspecialty certification in Headache Medicine. Dr. Cowan is widely published in various scientific journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, Cephalalgia, and Headache. In addition, Dr. Cowan has held several nationally elected positions, including chair of the section on Chronic Daily Headache for the American Headache Society. He is past-President of the Headache Cooperative of the Pacific, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. He sits on the boards of the Alliance for Headache Diseases Advocacy and the Headache Cooperative of the Pacific. He is an ad hoc reviewer for a variety of journals, and an active mentor in the Stanford BioDesign Program.

Leon Moskatel, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences

Dr. Leon Moskatel completed Headache Fellowship at Stanford before joining as a Clinical Instructor. He is trained in Internal Medicine and is excited to bring that perspective to Headache Medicine. He obtained his Bachelor of the Arts from Columbia University and his medical degree at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. During that time, he also researched organic chemistry and microbial metabolism at the California Institute in Technology. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, where he served as president of the Residency Advisory Committee. His research interests focus on the overlap between health economics and headache medicine. His 2019 paper “Did UberX reduce ambulance volume?” received national attention and he received the American Headache Society's 2020 "Frontiers in Headache Research" award.

Oyindamola Ogunlaja, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences

Oyindamola Ogunlaja joined the headache division after working as a headache and general neurologist at King’s College Hospital in London, England. She completed her Headache fellowship at Stanford. Prior to her fellowship, she completed neurology residency at the Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s hospitals in Boston. Her research interests include nummular headache, and she was involved in running clinical trials in the UK. She returns to Stanford Neurology to provide clinical care to headache and facial pain patients in Palo Alto.

Addie Peretz, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences

Addie Peretz, MD, is a board certified Neurologist and a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology & Neurological Sciences. Her clinical interests focus on the diagnosis and treatment of headache and facial pain conditions. She is involved in medical education and received the Robert S. Fisher Teaching Award for excellence in neurology resident teaching of medical students at Stanford in June of 2015. Her research interests include understanding the biological underpinnings of migraine and chronic daily headaches. She also participates in clinical trials of new headache treatments. She is currently a member of the American Headache Society as well as the International Headache Society.

Dr. Peretz received her bachelor's degree in Neuroscience at Brown University and earned her medical degree at the New York University School of Medicine. She completed her internship at Georgetown Medical Center in Washington, DC, followed by residency in Neurology and fellowship in Headache and Facial Pain, both at Stanford University.

Fellows

Taehong Lim, MD
Headache Fellow

Dr. Taehong Lim hails from South Korea, where he earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Chungbuk National University and his Doctor of Medicine from Hanyang University. Driven by a passion for advancing his medical expertise, Dr. Lim relocated to the United States, where he completed his neurology residency at The Ohio State University. During his residency, Dr. Lim's personal experience with headaches sparked a deep interest in the field of headache and pain management. His dedication to understanding and treating various types of headaches has become a cornerstone of his medical practice. Outside of his professional commitments, Dr. Lim is an avid fitness enthusiast. He enjoys going to the gym, running, hiking, and cherishing quality time with his family. Dr. Lim's holistic approach to life and medicine underscores his commitment to promoting overall well-being for his patients.

William Zhu, MD
Headache Fellow

Will completed his internship year and Neurology training at Stanford, where he was involved in the quality improvement curriculum and wellness committee. Prior to residency, he received his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School, and majored in Neuroscience at Dartmouth College. He is a Neurology Clerkship Student Teaching awardee and his research interests include utilization of telemedicine and wearable devices in Neurologic care. Off campus, his interests include trying new restaurants, road trips, and staying active around the Bay.

APPs

Carol A. Barch, MN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner IV

Carol received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Wayne State University, and a master's and post-master's nursing degree from Emory University. She is a board-certified family nurse practitioner, has received national specialty certification in critical care nursing and neuroscience nursing, and added Qualification in Headache Medicine.

Carol has been nationally recognized for her work in cerebrovascular disease. However over the past 10 years, her focus has been on headache medicine. She has presented at local, national, and international programs, published multiple articles and an active member of the American Headache Society.

As a nurse practitioner on the team, she provides follow-up care to patients working to meet their goals in medication and lifestyle management for headache and facial pain. Her areas of interest include integrative medicine and patient education.

Sofia Georghiou, MS, PA-C
Advanced Practice Provider I

Sofia Georghiou is a board-certified physician associate (AKA physician assistant). She completed her training at Stanford University School of Medicine's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program, where she served as co-president of Women and Medicine, and worked as a teaching assistant of Clinical Anatomy.

She is looking forward to providing clinical care to patients with headache and facial pain. Her areas of interest include headache management during pregnancy and medical education.

Prior to her career as a PA, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience at Boston University, after which she worked in clinical research at the Neuromuscular Center at Boston Children's Hospital.

Sofia is an active member of the American Headache Society, the International Headache Society, the American Academy of Physician Associates, and the California Academy of Physician Associates. Outside of work, she enjoys being active outdoors, photography, gardening, and reading.

Physical Therapy

Ricky Yu, PT, DPT, OCS
Senior Physical Therapist

Ricky Yu is a Senior Physical Therapist who received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Columbia University specializing in orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science from The University at Buffalo. Joining Stanford in 2013, Ricky is an orthopedic clinical specialist. He completed clinical internships at The Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York City and at Stanford Medicine in the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine rehab clinic. Ricky's research interests include evidence-based medicine, public health, health equity, health policy, and process improvement. He serves as a mentor and clinical instructor for doctoral physical therapy students and contributes to process improvement projects at Stanford. Ricky has a background in rugby, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing, and dragon boat racing. He is currently active in cycling and hiking, enjoys cooking at home, and appreciates a wide variety of delicious foods.

Administrators

Michelle Krzanich, SCPM

Michelle received her bachelors in Public Relations, with a minor in Sociology, from San Jose State University. She is a Stanford Certified Project Manager (SCPM) and has been working in the Stanford umbrella since 2013. She started with the School of Engineering and then moved to the School of Medicine. As of May 2018, she joined the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford Neurosciences Health Center.

Ian Carroll MD, MS
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine

In 2015 Dr. Carroll collaborated With Stanford's Neuroradiology and Neurology Headache divisions to create the Stanford CSF Leak Headache Program after his daughter suffered through an initially-undiagnosed CSF leak. This experience left him with a passion for helping patients experiencing CSF leaks around the world. He is board-certified in four different specialties: Headache Medicine by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties; Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Addiction Medicine; Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology; and Anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology. His primary focus is on spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. He has spoken at numerous national meetings on CSF leaks, management of the pain from nerve injuries, and factors influencing opioid cessation. He has conducted visiting professorships at Johns Hopkins University, Vanderbilt University, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Yale University, University of California at Davis Medical Center, and others.

Dr. Carroll graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University, and then graduated with an M.D. from Columbia University. He was a Research Fellow at the Experimental Immunology Branch at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine, residency in Anesthesiology, fellowship in Pain Medicine, and was elected Chief Resident of Anesthesiology from 2001-2002 at Stanford University Medical Center. He joined Stanford's Department of Anesthesiology as a primary teaching and research faculty in the Pain Management clinic in 2004.

Dr. Carroll earned a M.S. degree in clinical epidemiology from Stanford in 2006. He has published over 40 original articles including research funded by the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER); the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA); and the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation & Translational Neurosciences (SINTN).

In addition to his clinical and research responsibilities, Dr. Carroll helps select and train Stanford Anesthesia residents, Pain Management Fellows and Neurology Headache Fellows.

Syed Hashmi, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Radiology

Syed Hashmi has an appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the department of Radiology. He completed his medical school training from the University of Illinois in 2011, and an internship and residency from the University of Texas in Houston followed by a fellowship in neuroradiology from Barrow Neurological Institute in 2017 before joining Stanford. Syed's research and clinical interest include imaging quality and safety, and glioblastoma as well as spinal CSF leak imaging. He serves as an imaging expert during the CSF leak multidisciplinary conference held in conjunction with the headache Neurology division and CSF leak clinic. Syed is married and enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 children. He loves outdoor activities including hiking, fishing and hunting.

Bryan Lanzman, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Radiology

Dr. Bryan Lanzman completed his medical degree and radiology residency at Columbia University Medical Center, before coming to Stanford University for a 2-year Neuroradiology fellowship. He joined the faculty at Stanford in 2017 and is actively involved in medical student and resident education, as well as quality improvement efforts within the neuroradiology section. He also serves as a co-director of the Neuroradiology clerkship for medical students, and for the Neuroradiology elective for neurology residents.

Kristen K. Steenerson, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology

Kristen Steenerson is a board-certified neurologist with fellowship training in otoneurology. After graduating cum laude from Claremont McKenna College where she was honored as an All-American lacrosse defensive player, she continued on to medical school at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. After four years of excellent training and annual ski passes, she proceeded to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona for neurology residency. There, she discovered the beauty of the Sonoran Desert as well as an unmet need in balance disorders and vertigo, motivating her to pursue a fellowship in otoneurology at Barrow Neurological Institute. She joins Stanford with positions in both Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery and Neurology with the goal of jointly addressing the junction of inner ear and brain disorders. Her specific interests include vestibular migraine, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Ménière's disease and international neurology.

Find a doctor

Clinics & Services

Research Resources

Professional Training