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Melissa B. Pergakis, MD

Academic Title:

Assistant Professor

Primary Appointment:

Neurology

Additional Title:

Associate Fellowship Director

Education and Training

Education

B.A., Psychology, Summa cum laude, Tufts University, Medford, MA

M.D., University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, Worcester, MA

Post-graduate Training

2015-2016: Internship, Internal Medicine, Salem Hospital, Salem, MA

2016-2019: Residency, Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

2018-2019: Chief Resident, Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

2019-2021: Fellowship, Neurocritical Care, University of Maryland Medical Center/R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore, MD

Certifications

2021: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - NeuroCritical Care

2019: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - Neurology

Research/Clinical Keywords

Education research, simulation research, large hemispheric infarct, physiologic modeling

Highlighted Publications

  1. Pergakis, M. B., Chang, W. T. W., Gutierrez, C. A., Neustein, B., Podell, J. E., Parikh, G., ... & Morris, N. A. (2022). Education Research: High-Fidelity Simulation to Evaluate Diagnostic Reasoning Reveals Failure to Detect Viral Encephalitis in Medical Trainees. Neurology: Education1(2).
  2. Podell, J., Pergakis, M., Yang, S., Felix, R., Parikh, G., Chen, H., Chen, L., Miller, C., Hu, P. and Badjatia, N., 2022. Leveraging Continuous Vital Sign Measurements for Real-Time Assessment of Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction After Brain Injury: A Narrative Review of Current and Future Applications. Neurocritical Care, pp.1-14.
  3. Ali, A.A., Chang, W.T.W., Tabatabai, A., Pergakis, M.B., Gutierrez, C.A., Neustein, B., Gilbert, G.E., Podell, J.E., Parikh, G., Badjatia, N. and Motta, M., 2022. Simulation-based assessment of trainee’s performance in post-cardiac arrest resuscitation. Resuscitation plus10, p.100233.
  4. Pergakis, M. B., Chang, W. T. W., Tabatabai, A., Phipps, M. S., Neustein, B., Podell, J. E., ... & Morris, N. A. (2021). Simulation-based assessment of graduate neurology trainees' performance managing acute ischemic stroke. Neurology97(24), e2414-e2422.
  5. Pergakis, M., Badjatia, N., & Simard, J. M. (2021). An update on the pharmacological management and prevention of cerebral edema: current therapeutic strategies. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy22(8), 1025-1037.
  6. Pergakis, M., Badjatia, N., Chaturvedi, S., Cronin, C. A., Kimberly, W. T., Sheth, K. N., & Simard, J. M. (2019). BIIB093 (IV glibenclamide): an investigational compound for the prevention and treatment of severe cerebral edema. Expert opinion on investigational drugs28(12), 1031-1040.

Additional Publication Citations

  1. Pergakis, M. B., Hasan, N. S., Heller, N. R., & Waldinger, R. J. (2010). Octogenarian reports of lifetime spiritual experiences: Types of experience and early life predictors. Journal of religion, spirituality & aging22(3), 220-238.

Awards and Affiliations

  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Tufts University, Medford, MA
  • Psi Chi Honor Society, Tufts University, Medford, MA
  • Priscilla N. Dunne Award for Undergraduate Research, Tufts University, Medford, MA
  • Class of 1921 Leonard Carmichael Award in Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA
  • Highest Honors in Thesis Honors Program, Tufts University, Medford, MA
  • Clinical Translational Research Pathway, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
  • Senior Scholars Research Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
  • Resident of the Year Award, Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, MA
  • Golden Brain Award for Excellence in Teaching, Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, MA