CLEARWATER, Fla. (March 31, 2003)-Morton Plant Hospital has taken a major step forward in the treatment of neurological disorders with the appointment of Michael Dogali, M.D., C.M., as medical director of the hospital's new Neurosciences Institute. Dr. Dogali is nationally and internationally recognized for his pioneering work in the surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and the use of computer-assisted image-guided surgery for brain tumors. A leader in the surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease, Dr. Dogali is accomplished in deep brain stimulation -- the implantation of a pacemaker-like device into the brain to control disabling tremor and the symptoms of advanced medically refractory Parkinson's.

"The addition of Dr. Dogali brings our neurosciences program to an entirely different level," said Philip K. Beauchamp, president and chief executive officer of Morton Plant Hospital. "With Dr. Dogali, we hope to create a world-class Neurosciences Institute focusing on the treatment of brain tumors, Parkinson's disease, complex movement disorders and epilepsy."

Dr. Dogali joined Morton Plant from Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, where he served as the medical director of the Parkinson's and Movement Disorders program. "For patients suffering from movement and brain disorders, resources on the West Coast of Florida are few and far between. Dr. Dogali and our new Neurosciences Institute will fill a great need," noted Beauchamp.

Prior to his position at Good Samaritan Hospital, Dr. Dogali was a professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, at the University of Southern California, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles. He previously served as professor and chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery for the University of California, Irvine, Calif. At New York University Medical Center in New York City he was the director of the Division of Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery and assistant professor in the Departments of Neurosurgery and Physiology and Biophysics. He was also a clinical instructor in the Section of Neurosurgery, Yale University Medical Center, New Haven, Conn.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2002, deep brain stimulation is used for treating some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. The pacemaker technology delivers electrical stimulation to the brain to treat debilitating symptoms of rigidity, freezing and/or tremor. Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system affecting more than one million people in the United States.

"Deep brain stimulation can provide a significant return of function to patients suffering from the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease - the improvement in their quality of life is immeasurable," said Dr. Dogali. His research activities include two clinical studies on deep brain stimulation. With the advent of its new Neurosciences Institute, Morton Plant Hospital will be the second hospital on Florida's West Coast performing deep brain stimulation.

Dr. Dogali is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has lectured extensively on neurosurgical topics, co-authored a book on brain and spinal cord magnetic and electrical stimulation and participates actively in research of new surgical techniques. Dr. Dogali was named as one of the nation's leading medical specialists in the Castle Connolly guide, America's Top Doctors. He received his medical degree from McGill University Medical School, Montreal, Quebec.

"Morton Plant Hospital's Neurosciences Institute will bring all of the talents of our neurosurgeons and neurologists together to create a comprehensive program focusing on the total well-being of patients and their families," said Michael J. Andriola, M.D., neurologist, Morton Plant Hospital. The Neurosciences Institute will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders such as brain tumors, epilepsy, movement disorders, Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis, headache and balance disorders. Multidisciplinary clinics and services for a variety of these neurological disorders are under development. Neurological patients have access to physical, occupational, speech and audiological therapies as part of a thorough treatment plan.

Established in 1916, Morton Plant Hospital is a 687-bed facility dedicated to improving the health of all it serves through community-owned health services that set the standard for high quality, compassionate care.

In 2002, Morton Plant was named one of America's Top 50 Hospitals, according to AARP Modern Maturity magazine and a 100 Top Hospital in the "Solucient 100 Top Hospitals: Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success" study for the fourth consecutive year. Morton Plant was also named to the 100 Top Hospital Overall list in 2002. In 2000, HCIA-Sachs (now Solucient) named Morton Plant as the only hospital in the country to achieve 100 Top Hospital status in four categories - cardiovascular, stroke, orthopaedic and overall.

In 2001, Morton Plant Hospital joined forces with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute at the University of South Florida, Tampa to provide research and services for cancer patients. Morton Plant also offers a family practice residency program in conjunction with the University of South Florida. Morton Plant Hospital is located at 300 Pinellas Street, Clearwater, Fla., 727-462-7000.

Contact: Beth Hardy

Morton Plant News Bureau

727-298-6199 Phone

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