Utica Park Clinic
1245 S Utica Ave, Ste 330
Tulsa, OK 74104
Phone
918-560-3823
Additional Information
First Name: Rodney
Last Name: Myers
Title: MD
Primary Hospital: Hillcrest Medical Center
Specialty: Neurology
County: Tulsa
Gender: M
Why did you choose medicine and your field in particular?
I chose medicine because I wanted to explore the brain, to understand as many of its secrets as possible and in so doing, hopefully, help those afflicted with brain disorders
What are the most challenging aspects?
Thirty years ago, when I chose to be a neurologist, the study of the brain offered far more questions than answers. That is still true today.
How has your practice changed in recent years?
I have been privileged to see a virtual revolution in the diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders. The number of diagnostic tests and therapeutics has mushroomed over the last 25 years. As an example, when I started practice in 1987, there might have been two drugs with which to treat multiple sclerosis. There are now more than seven unique drugs for the treatment of this disease with more coming down the pipeline.
Describe one of your best moments as a doctor.
I consulted on the case of a hospital chaplain who had suffered a severe head injury. The chaplain’s daughter, the treating physicians and the hospital ethics committee determined in accordance with the patient’s living will that her life support should be withdrawn. I vigorously opposed this decision and ultimately prevailed. The chaplain thanked me for this some months later on the day she returned to work.
Do you foresee any breakthrough on the horizon that will significantly change your practice?
Gene therapy. Genetic testing has already dramatically altered our diagnostic capabilities. However, gene therapy can actually alter the genetic code that gives rise to a disease process. When that becomes widely available, the entire landscape of what is possible for curing disease will dramatically improve.
Special Expertise: Parkinson's Disease,Neuro-Rehabilitation
