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Medical Expert - Cheryl D. Bushnell, MD, MHS

Area of Expertise: Neurology

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Cheryl D. Bushnell, MD, MHS

Director of the Wake Forest Baptist Stroke Center
Education Associate Professor, Neurology

Dr. Bushnell is an expert on stroke and stroke prevention and has done groundbreaking research that looked at women who experience migraines during pregnancy. She is researching sex differences in subclinical vascular disease in midlife, with a special emphasis on differences occurring with menopause.She is also the director of the Transition Coaching for Stroke (TRACS) Program, which seeks to improve the transition of stroke patients from the hospital to home.

Faculty Profile, Research and Publications

Keywords

cerebrovascular disease (stroke), women's health, stroke prevention, stroke treatment, migraines, migraines in pregnancy

IN THE NEWS

BestHealth of Wake Forest Baptist Releases March Events

Cheryl Bushnell Named Director of Stroke Center

Cheryl D. Bushnell, M.D., associate professor of neurology at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (WFUBMC), has been named director of the Medical Center’s stroke center. Stroke is a major focus at Wake Forest Baptist and its neurosciences program is recognized as among the top 50 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Coach Could Be Key in Helping Stroke Patients With Their Medications and Recovery after Discharge

When a stroke patient is discharged from the hospital, they often must cope with a new disability or lack of function, so changes in their medications or a new dosing prescription can be particularly confusing. This can lead the patient to overmedicate, take the wrong medication or skip medications entirely and can result in being readmitted to the hospital. But a pilot study that is looking at a new discharge strategy and being led by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, indicates that phone calls and conversations with a “stroke coach” seem to keep a patient on the road to recovery.

High Profile Stroke Raises Questions

The 41-year-old son of Vice President Joe Biden suffered a minor stroke. WFUBMC neurologist Dr. Cheryl Bushnell says there are many factors that could come into play.

Hundreds Attend Upper Limb Spasticity Event

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Sept. 16, 2011 – More than 200 people from across the region attended an inspiring community event on Upper Limb Spasticity (ULS), hosted by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Stroke Coach Helps Patients Stay on Preventative Medications Provides Early Warning of Post-Stroke Problems

When stroke neurologist Cheryl Bushnell, M.D., led a national study of stroke patients in Adherence Evaluation After Ischemic Stroke –Longitudinal (AVAIL) last spring, she and her colleagues found that nearly 20 percent of those patients had stopped taking one or more of the medications that prevent a second stroke; 3.5 percent were not taking any medication at all at three months.

Wake Forest Baptist Recognized for Providing Top Quality Stroke Care, Patient Outcomes

Once again, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has awarded Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center its top quality award for stroke care as measured by the Get WithThe Guidelines℠ program.

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