New faculty spotlight: Mara Seier, M.D.

Mara Seier, M.D., is a new faculty member at UNMC.

• Name: Mara Seier, M.D.
• Hometown: Beresford, S.D.
• Title and department at UNMC: Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences

Research/professional interests:
I am a movement disorder specialist, so my time is spent treating patients with a variety of movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, tic disorders and ataxia. I also perform botulinum toxin injections for the above stated disorders. I have an interest in deep brain stimulation (DBS) and have done research on the efficacy of DBS to maintain tremor control.

How I fell in love with neurology/movement disorders:
I fell in love with neurology because it was a specialty that allowed me to interact with a breadth of different patient populations and spectrum of disease. I also have always been fascinated that many neurological conditions, especially movement disorders, can be discovered by doing a detailed exam and closely watching a patient.

Degrees:

• B.S., biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion
• M.D., University of South Dakota Medical School, Vermillion
• Residency, neurology, Oregon Health and Science University and Portland VA Medical Center
• Fellowship, movement disorders, Oregon Health and Science University and Portland VA Medical Center

Memberships:

• American Academy of Neurology
• International Movement Disorder Society

Three things people may not know about me:

• I absolutely love the Olympics. I am particularly fond of the summer games, especially track and field, and one of my life goals is to attend an Olympics.
• My husband and I have a 2-year-old son, Jack, who is obsessed with the triple jump (the apple didn’t fall far from the tree).
• My last name is often mispronounced, so I have started telling people it rhymes with “fire” which seems to be helpful.