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Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time.
Stroke is a common medical problem that affects many people, but many people with stroke do not have the opportunity to see a Vascular Neurologist (stroke specialist) during their hospitalization or shortly after their stroke. When this occurs:
The cause of stroke is often not determined in a timely fashion.
You may be given a diagnosis of "cryptogenic stroke," which means that your doctors or clinicians were not able to figure out the cause of the stroke. This is often due to lack of expertise (clinical reasoning) and insufficient diagnostic testing (wrong tests, or incomplete testing).
You may be prescribed medications or treatments that do not fit your cause of stroke and do not effectively prevent future stroke.
You may be given inaccurate information about your likelihood of recovering from stroke.
You may not be connected to effective rehabilitation therapies.
You may not have competing risks for future stroke or other hidden health issues addressed.
You probably have not had any active screening for late complications after stroke that can affect your recovery, cause other health problems, worsne your quality of life, and be a barrier to your goals.
I would be happy to be your stroke neurologist and help you in the journey after stroke. This could involve:
[1] Determining your cause of stroke and figuring out the best strategy to prevent future strokes
[2] Identifying your stroke deficits (loss of function) and guiding you towards the best strategies to maximize recovery
[3] Working with you in the long term to improve your health
[4] Anticipate and address late complications after stroke
To achieve this aim and best serve you, I believe the best practice model and setting at this time is a micropractice. This involves:
1. Easy and direct access to me - All messages and correspondences would be directly with me. Messages generally would come at no additional cost, but some time consuming paperwork (e.g. FMLA/disability forms, accommodations letters) will require a small charge.
2. Direct care (self pay, but with possible private insurance reimbursement) - To minimize administrative costs and maximize transparency of the value of services, this is a cash only practice (cash, check, credit/debit). I will provide receipts and clinical documentation directly to you. Flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRA) connected to credit/debit cards can be used to pay for these appointments (or for you to apply for reimbursement after the appointment). For major insurers in Massachusetts, I will provide partially prefilled Out of Network Reimbursement forms to aid you if you wish to submit these to your health insurer for reimbursement.
3. Personalized time tables - Some people would benefit from frequent visits over the first 1-3 years post-stroke, whereas others may prefer a "tune-up" every 6-12 months. Most appointments will be 60 minutes in duration, but there will be flexibility to have shorter appointments (30 minutes) with discrete goals. I am happy and willing to help you at the frequency that makes sense to you and is financially and logistically feasible.
4. Leveraging a network of clinicians, therapy modalities, and technologies - I have an established network of clinician colleagues who provide advanced recovery services (e.g. spasticity management, nerve-tendon surgeries, neurostimulator implantation, music therapy, etc.) and prescription/referral pathways for specific treatments and technologies that I can bring to your individualized recovery plan.
Important notice for patients enrolled in Medicare and MassHealth (Medicaid): Medicare and Medicaid do not allow clinicians to accept direct payments from patients. Since this is a direct care (self pay) clinic, I usually cannot see patients on Medicare or Masshealth (Medicaid) at this clinic, unless they have a sponsor who can cover the cost of the visit (or part of the cost, if the patient qualifies for a Headway Neurology scholarship). Patients with Medicare or Masshealth (Medicaid) are always eligible to see me at my hospital-based clinic.
Hi, I'm Lester. At Headway Neurology, I'm a Vascular Neurologist (stroke specialist), an expert in young adult stroke, a stroke recovery specialist, and your guide on the road to a better recovery. At my day job, I'm an Academic Neurologist, a clinician-investigator, and a Director of a Comprehensive Stroke Center. I am also the founder of the Stroke and Young Adults (SAYA) program in Boston, MA, and the founder and leader of the SAYA Consortium, a U.S. consortium of academic medical centers and patient advocacy groups aiming to advance the care of young adults with stroke.
I started Headway Neurology to provide a more personal, direct health care experience in a relaxed, warm, home environment. Outside of work, I enjoy playing the guitar (electric and acoustic), singing, practicing martial arts, and introducing my kids to various franchises from my youth (e.g. Star Wars, Star Trek, Pokemon, etc.).
I look forward to working with you!
To schedule an appointment:
Step 1: Review this page and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) first.
Step 2: If you're comfortable doing so, pre-pay for your visit at the link in the navigation bar above (preferred).
Step 3: Fill out your Patient Intake Forms (New Patient click this link, Follow-up/Established Patient click this link).
Step 4: Schedule an appointment (matching the duration you pre-paid or the amount you plan to pay for at the start of the visit) using Google Calendar. You will be given a link to the Booking Page when you complete the Patient Intake Form.
Step 5: Obtain any relevant medical records and imaging studies (brain and blood vessel imaging studies, aka CT, MRI, CTA, CTV, MRA, MRV). Mail them to Headway Neurology at the address below or bring them to your visit. If you provide me with the hospital name/practice and dates you received care there, I will also place a request to receive those records (at no cost to you).
To schedule an appointment (as a clinician or from a clinic):
Step 1: Fill out the Patient Referral Form: click this link
Step 2: Fax your clinic notes and hospitalization records to Fax: (888) 374-8786, ATTN: Dr. Leung
Not sure if Headway Neurology and direct care (self pay) is for you?
Let's talk! You are welcome to schedule a free 10 minute video conference with me to learn more about this practice and how I can help you. Click here to schedule your free introductory video conference.
Stroke Recovery Expertise
Deficits, symptoms, and late complications that I address with targeted and advanced treatments:
Cognitive symptoms
Attention deficit
Abulia (loss of motivation)
Executive dysfunction (disorganized)
Memory difficulty
Chronic persistent headaches
Arterial dissection
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Migraines
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
Language difficulty
Dysarthria (difficulty enunciating clearly)
Expressive aphasia (difficulty speaking)
Receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding)
Movement disorders (too much movement)
Dystonia (intermittent severe cramps)
Tremor
Motor abnormalities (less movement)
Cerebellar (imbalance, incoordination)
Foot drop
Hemiparesis (loss of muscle power)
Hemiparkinsonism (slowness or complete inability to activate muscles)
Spasticity (tightness of muscles)
Mood disorders
Anxiety
Depression (especially non-responsive to standard treatments)
Impulsivity
Irritability
Post-traumatic stress
Seizures
Epilepsy (post-stroke)
Re-emergence of stroke deficits (caused by subtle seizures)
Sensory abnormalities
Central pain syndrome (neuropathic pain - burning, tingling, abnormal temperature sensitivity, squeezing)
Vision loss