Paul F. Kent, MD, PhD

Dr. Winfree grew up in Jupiter, Florida, and attended Dartmouth College, where he graduated with High Honors in Chemistry. After completing medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, he joined the Department of Neurological Surgery at Columbia University as a resident. Following residency, he completed a fellowship in peripheral nerve surgery in New Orleans, Louisiana, and then a second fellowship in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery in Portland, Oregon. Currently, Dr. Winfree is an Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City where he specializes in peripheral nerve surgery, peripheral nerve cancer surgery, nerve and muscle biopsies, pain neurosurgery, and spasticity. His research interests include the use of peripheral nerve transfers to treat spinal cord injury, and the use of neurostimulation to treat chronic pain disorders. He is a member of several different professional organizations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), American College of Surgeons (ACS), New York State Neurosurgical Society, North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS), Neurosurgical Society of America (NSA), New York Presbyterian Society of the Alumni, Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS) Boot Camp Committee, and the CNS Self Assessment in Neurological Surgery (SANS) Editorial Board. He recently completed his term as President of the AANS / CNS Joint Section on Pain. Please do not hesitate to contact our office with questions or for screening in preparation for your appointment to see Dr. Winfree. After calling the office you will be contacted for screening to assess how Dr. Winfree can best help with your care. This will help prepare for your visit to Dr. Winfree in the office. In the event that you have a condition that Dr. Winfree is unable to help, then we can make recommendations and referrals to other practitioners as needed. The screening process is important because it helps prevent unnecessary and unhelpful visits for conditions that may be best treated elsewhere but this is not what typically happens. Most patients who get screened come in for evaluation with Dr. Winfree and many work with us to create a neurosurgical management strategy that can be dramatically life changing. Learn more here: The Making of a Neurosurgeon: Dr. Christopher Winfree.

Inna Kleyman, MD, is a general neurological specialist with particular expertise in clinical neurophysiology and electrodiagnostic testing of neuromuscular disorders. She evaluates and treats patients with a broad spectrum of neurological conditions. She is a graduate of Cornell University and SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. She completed her residency training at the Neurological Institute of New York/Columbia University Medical Center where she remained for advanced fellowship training in Neurophysiology and Electromyography/Neuromuscular Disease.

Dr. Angela Lignelli is an associate professor of radiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and associate chair of patient experience for the Department of Radiology. She is board certified in diagnostic radiology and subspecialty certified in neuroradiology. Dr. Lignelli’s clinical focus includes brain tumor imaging in both adults and children. She specializes in advanced imaging techniques including MR perfusion, MR spectroscopy and functional MRI. Her primary research interests involve correlating anatomic and non-anatomic brain imaging of brain tumors with neuoropathologic markers and clinical outcomes. Her secondary research interest involves pediatric neuroimaging in metabolic disorders. Dr. Lignelli has spent the duration of her career in radiology at CUIMC/NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP), where she completed her radiology residency and neuroradiology fellowship before becoming a member of the faculty. She is a member of the Vagelos College of Physician and Surgeon's Academy of Clinical Excellence (ACE). In addition to her clinical and research expertise, Dr. Lignelli is a committed educator, both to medical students and residents of the NYP/CUIMC community. She served as program director for the Diagnostic Radiology Residency for several years.