Board-certified neurologist specializing in movement disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and advanced neurophysiology. Providing evidence-based treatment at the forefront of neurological medicine.
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Combining clinical expertise with compassionate care to improve the lives of patients with neurological conditions.
Dr. Elena Vasquez is a fellowship-trained neurologist with subspecialty expertise in movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. She completed her neurology residency at the University of California, San Francisco, followed by a prestigious fellowship in movement disorders at the National Institutes of Health.
As the Director of the Neurodegenerative Disorders Center at Pacific Medical Center, Dr. Vasquez leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and atypical parkinsonian syndromes.
She is actively involved in over a dozen clinical trials investigating novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative conditions and has published extensively in top-tier neurology journals.
Movement Disorders
Neurology & Neurophysiology
UCSF School of Medicine
Principal Investigator
Specialized care across the full spectrum of neurological conditions with a focus on movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
Expert diagnosis and management of Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, Huntington's disease, and atypical parkinsonian syndromes using advanced pharmacological and interventional approaches.
Comprehensive care for Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, and ALS with access to cutting-edge clinical trials and disease-modifying therapies.
Advanced EMG, nerve conduction studies, EEG interpretation, and intraoperative monitoring for peripheral nerve disorders, myopathies, and epilepsy evaluation.
Pre-surgical evaluation, programming, and long-term management of DBS systems for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia in collaboration with functional neurosurgery.
Therapeutic botulinum toxin injections for dystonia, spasticity, hemifacial spasm, chronic migraine, and other neurological conditions requiring targeted muscle relaxation.
Specialized treatment of chronic migraine, cluster headache, and refractory headache disorders including nerve blocks, trigger point injections, and advanced preventive strategies.
Training from the nation's most respected institutions in neurology and neuroscience.
Doctor of Medicine with Distinction in Neuroscience Research. Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.
University of California, San Francisco. Chief Resident 2009-2010. Awarded Resident Research Prize.
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD.
Certified in Neurology. Added Neurophysiology subspecialty certification in 2014. Recertified 2022.
University of Toronto, Krembil Research Institute. Specialized training in DBS parameter optimization.
A career built on clinical excellence, research innovation, and academic leadership.
Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco
Lead a team of 8 neurologists, 4 nurse practitioners, and 12 research coordinators. Oversee patient care, clinical trials, and fellowship training programs. Grew the center to serve 3,000+ active patients annually.
UCSF School of Medicine
Teach neurology residents and medical students. Mentor 4-6 research fellows annually. Serve on the admissions committee and curriculum development board for the neurology residency program.
UCSF Medical Center
Provided inpatient and outpatient neurological care with subspecialty focus on movement disorders. Established the hospital's first dedicated deep brain stimulation programming clinic.
National Institutes of Health
Conducted translational research on alpha-synuclein biomarkers in Parkinson's disease. Published 8 first-author papers during fellowship. Presented findings at the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Congress.
Comprehensive neurological evaluation and treatment in a state-of-the-art facility.
In-depth assessment including detailed history, complete neurological examination, cognitive testing, and diagnostic formulation for complex cases.
Therapeutic injections for cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, spasticity, and chronic migraine with EMG guidance when indicated.
Pre-operative candidacy assessment, post-operative programming, and long-term parameter optimization for movement disorder patients with implanted DBS systems.
Diagnostic EMG and nerve conduction studies for peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, myopathy, and neuromuscular junction disorders.
Access to Phase II and III clinical trials for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions with investigational therapies.
Expert review of complex neurological cases including atypical parkinsonism, undiagnosed movement disorders, and refractory neurological conditions.
Contributing to the advancement of neurological science through peer-reviewed research.
A 5-year prospective study examining the correlation between CSF alpha-synuclein seeding activity and clinical decline in 400 Parkinson's disease patients.
Principal investigator of a multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of lentiviral vector-mediated gene therapy for advanced Parkinson's disease.
Development of an AI-driven algorithm for early detection of prodromal Parkinson's disease through sleep study analysis in at-risk populations.
Long-term outcomes of 150 patients treated with MRI-guided focused ultrasound for medication-refractory essential tremor at Pacific Medical Center.
Prospective cohort study using CSF cytokine profiling to guide treatment selection in patients with anti-NMDA receptor and other autoimmune encephalitides.
Feedback from patients and families who have entrusted their neurological care to Dr. Vasquez.
"Dr. Vasquez diagnosed my condition when three other neurologists couldn't. Her thoroughness and attention to detail are remarkable. She takes the time to explain everything and makes you feel like you're her only patient."
"After my father's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Dr. Vasquez walked our family through every step. She connected us with clinical trials that have genuinely slowed his progression. We are forever grateful for her dedication."
"The DBS programming transformed my life. Dr. Vasquez spent hours fine-tuning my settings until my tremor was virtually gone. Her expertise in movement disorders is truly world-class."
Acknowledged by professional organizations and institutions for clinical and academic excellence.
2024 - National recognition for exceptional patient care
2020-2024 - Consistently ranked among Bay Area's best neurologists
2018 - International recognition for research contributions
2017 - Voted by neurology residents for outstanding mentorship
2011 - For groundbreaking work on alpha-synuclein biomarkers
2006 - Graduated with highest honors in neuroscience
Years in Practice
Patients Treated
Peer-Reviewed Papers
Clinical Trials Led
Schedule a consultation at Pacific Medical Center. New patients welcome.