Dr. Imitola is a Professor of Neurology, Genetics, and Neuroscience and is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center, Chief of the Division of MS and Neuroimmunology, and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Neurology at UConn Health. In collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, he has grown the clinical program for MS/Neuroinflammation and lifespan Neuroimmune disorders at UConn Health, making UConn Health a top choice for MS care in the state of Connecticut. The Program is now nationally recognized as a Comprehensive Center for MS care and a national leader in MS care in diverse populations. He is leading and creating novel innovative models of MS care to prevent progression in MS throughout the lifespan. Dr. Imitola has more than 165 papers, abstracts, and book chapters on stem cells and neuroinflammation primarily focusing on cortical damage in animal models of MS and the ethics of stem cell tourism. He has multiple accolades and awards, including the William Silen Award, John Whitaker Award, and the 2020 Inspiration Award from the National MS Society.  He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Neurological Association (ANA). His work has been funded by NIH, the National MS Society, and industry grants. 

Education

Degree	Institution	Major
MD	University of Cartagena Faculty of Medicine	Medicine

Post-Graduate Training

Training	Institution	Specialty
Internship	Hospital Militar Central, Columbia	Medicine
Fellowship	Neurologic and Human Genetics Institute, Javeriana University, Columbia	Research and Clinical Fellow in Neurology and Genetics
Postdoctoral	Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School	Postdoctoral Fellow in Brain Tumor Biology, Neurosurgery
Fellowship	Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School	Research Fellow in Neurology
Postdoctoral	Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School	Postdoctoral Fellow in Multiple sclerosis and Neuroimmunology
Residency	Temple University Hospital	Internal Medicine
Residency	Temple University Hospital	Neurology (Chief 2011-2012)
Fellowship	Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for Neuroscience	Multiple Sclerosis
Certificate	Harvard Online/Harvard Business School	Certificate of Specialization in Health Care Leadership

Awards

Name of Award/Honor	Awarding Organization
Sonnentag Distinguished Visiting Professor	Mayo Clinic Neuroscience and Neurosurgery
American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting (AANAM), Course Director “Diagnosis and Treatment of MS in Diverse population”.	American Academy of Neurology
Selected as one of the Top Doctors in Connecticut (2021-2023)	Connecticut Magazine
Peter B. Wade, MD Achievement Award	National MS Society
Fellow of the American Neurological Association (FANA)	American Neurological Association (FANA)
UConn Graduate Faculty Career Mentor of the Year Award (Student nominated)	UConn Center for Career Development.
Volunteer Inspiration Award	National MS Society
Dean's List	Ohio State University College of Medicine
Selected as a Top Doctor	Central Ohio-Columbus Monthly
Research Award for Outstanding Publication Faculty	Neurological Institute Ohio State University
Research Grant Award	Neurological Institute Ohio State University
Elected Fellow	American Academy of Neurology (ANN)
Accepted into the Early Career Reviewer (ECR) Program	Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institutes of Health
Research Grant Award	Neurological Institute Ohio State University
Top Doctor	Castle and Connolly
Distinguished MS - Montreal Lecturer	McGill University, Montreal
The John N. Whitaker Prize for MS Research	ACTRIMS
Distinguished Whitaker Scholar	ACTRIMS
Resident Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Neurology	Temple University School of Medicine
Matthew T. Moore Neurology Resident Award, Department of Neurology	Temple University School of Medicine
Gordon Neurology Resident Award, Department of Neurology	Temple University School of Medicine
Gordon Neurology Resident Award, Department of Neurology	Temple University School of Medicine
The Ruth and William Silen, M.D. Award	Biomedical Science Careers Program and Harvard Medical School
Five Year Service Award	Brigham and Women's Hospital
Selected Research for Highlights in the XIX Meeting	American Academy of Neurology
M.D. With Distinction Top 5% of the Class	University of Cartegena Faculty of Medicine
University Scholarship Award in Pharmcology	University of Cartegena Faculty of Medicine

Dr. Imitola is a board-certified neurologist with clinical expertise in aggressive and progressive multiple sclerosis, late onset multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, neurosarcoidosis, transverse myelitis, Susac syndrome, central nervous system vasculitis, chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS), neurologic complications of systemic autoimmunity and cancer immunotherapy, genetic mimics of multiple sclerosis such as adult leukodystrophies, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), and hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids (HDLS).

Name & Description	Category	Role	Type	Scope	Start Year	End Year
UConn MD PHD Executive Committee	Advisory Committee	Member		University	2022
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR).	Professional/Scientific Organization	Vice-Chair Education Committee	External	International	2022
FY21 CDMRP MSRP AP-1 multiple sclerosis peer review panel for the Department of Defense (DOD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).	Study Section	Reviewer	External	International	2021	2021
Ask an Expert: Aging in MS National MS Society English Version	Professional/Scientific Organization	Guest Speaker	External	National	2020	2020
Ask an Expert: Aging in MS National MS Society Spanish Version	Professional/Scientific Organization	Guest Speaker	External	National	2020	2020
COVID19 Vaccines for MS patients Taskforce	Professional/Scientific Organization	Member	External	National	2020	2020
Invited Speaker for the National MS society Ask an Expert MS and AGING-SPANISH	Professional/Scientific Organization	Guest Speaker	External	National	2019	2020
Ask an expert: COVID19 and MS National MS Society-SPANISH VERSION	Advisory Committee	Guest Speaker	External	National
Panelist: Progressive MS in diverse population- Annual Meeting Scientific advisory board and Board of Directors	Professional/Scientific Organization	Guest Speaker	External	National
MS Society CT-RI Chapter Board of Trustee	Advisory Committee	Trustee		Regional
National Medical Advisory Committee MS Society	Advisory Committee	Member	External	National

Dr. Imitola is a physician-scientist interested in progressive MS, neurodegeneration, and repair and has been studying these processes for the last 15 years. At the bedside, he is working on understanding the impact of social determinants of health in the biological progression of complex MS patients and real-world strategies for prevention of MS. At  the bench, he leads a team that works on human models of neurological diseases using advanced, 3D stem cell cultures and bioengineering principles. With these techniques, he aims to identify new targets for next-generation medications for molecular prevention of neurodegeneration and improving repair in MS.  His lab’s research can be explored through his lab website. At UConn Health, Dr. Imitola is a member of the MD-PhD executive committee that helps with training physician-scientists. He is member of the National MS Society National Medical Advisory Committee (NMAC) and on the Board of Trustees of the National MS Society, Connecticut-Rhode Island Chapter. He is the Vice Chair of the education committee at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), where he is focusing on stem cell education for clinicians around the world.

He has mentored and trained dozens of  fellows, residents, and medical students, efforts that were recognized with the 2023 UConn Mentor of the Year Award.

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