2013: Owner and Medical Director, Wellspring Clinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 
2012 S Tollgate Road, suite 206, Bel Air, MD, 21015,

Professional Experience

2006- 2013 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Medical Director and Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

2005-2006 Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

2003-2005 Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Instructor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

2000-2003 Long Island Jewish Medical Center, NY, USA
Resident in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

1999-2000 Brooklyn Hospital Center, NY, USA
Intern in internal medicine,

1997-1998 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Newcastle General Hospital, United Kingdom,
Research Fellow in Neurosurgery

1997: Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow (FRCS)

1992-1997 National Health Service Hospitals, United Kingdom
General surgery and  neurosurgery                                                    


Education and Training

1985-1990 MB BS, (MD),
College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria

1990-1991 intern in internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology and surgery, St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Certification

Licensure:
Maryland State Medical License                   

Board Certifications:
American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

American Board of Pain Medicine

American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Brain Injury Medicine Sub-specialization 

 

Organizational Activities

 

A continuum of care approach to stroke and chronic conditions management, beginning with community education for timely delivery of care, and ongoing medical and rehabilitative management to facilitate transition of patients back to family and the community.

Research Activities

         
1997-1998 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Newcastle General Hospital, United Kingdom,
Research Fellow in Neurosurgery,
Chair: Professor A D Mendelow.

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of thrombolytic therapy with intravenous alteplase in acute ischemic stroke. Second European-Australian Acute Stroke Study (ECASS II): Patient recruiter, 1997

The International Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Hemorrhage (STICH): a multicenter, international, randomized controlled trial: Patient and center recruiter, data manager, 1997-1998

2007- 2008. Cognitive deficits following stroke: Effect of Prism Adaptation on Neural Structures Involved in Spatial Attention Allocation and Retinotopic Egocentric Reference Frame Computation in Hemispatial Neglect Patients; Good Samaritan Hospital and F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Primary Investigator.

2006 – Present: clinical outcomes research in inpatient stroke and neurorehabilitation – impact of comorbidities on rehabilitation outcomes, morbidity and mortality
              
Publications                         

1.       Understanding Motor Impairment in the Paretic Lower Limb after a Stroke: A Review of the Literature. N. Arene and J. Hidler. Topics in stroke rehabilitation, 2009; 16 (5) 346-356

2.       Translation Research for the Rehabilitation of Left Spatial Neglect and Associated Disorders of Attention in stroke patients. Nkiruka Arene, MD, Argye E. Hillis, MD. ASHA Division 2 Perspectives, June 2008.

3.       Rehabilitation of Unilateral Spatial Neglect and Neuro-imaging. NU Arene, MD, A.E. Hillis, MD Europa Medicophysica, 2007, Jun;43(2):255-69

4.       Changes in Cerebral Blood Flow as Measured by HMPAO SPECT in Patients Following Spontaneous Intracerebral Haemorrhage. Siddique MS, Fernandes HM, Arene NU, Wooldridge TD, Fenwick JD, Mendelow AD. Acta Neurochir Suppl 2000; 76:517-20.

5.       Comparative Antioxidant Potential of Anaesthetics and Perioperative Drugs in Vitro. Mantle D, Eddeb F, Arene N (K), Snowden C, Mendelow AD. Clin Chim Acta 2000 Nov; 301(1-2):41-53

6.       Arene N.U., Wilson S., Mendelow A.D., Gregson B. and Fernandes H.M. Grading subarachnoid haemorrhage: is a grading system based on GCS alone better than the WFNS scale? British Journal of Neurosurgery 1999, 13 (1), 117.

7.       Arene N.U., Eddeb F., Mantle D. and Mendelow A.D. Investigation of free radical antioxidant activity of anesthetic agents and neurosurgical drugs. British Journal of Neurosurgery 1999, 13 (1), 103-104.

8.       Arene N.U., Fernandes H.M., Wilson S., Wooldridge T., Grivas A.G., Deogaonkar M.S. and Mendelow A.D. Intraventricular haemorrhage from spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage and aneurysmal rupture. Pathophysiological Principles and Controversies in Neurointensive Care: KRH von Wild 1998

9.       Excitotoxicity in Intracerebral Hemorrhage. A D Mendelow, N U Arene, M Deogaonkar. Pathophysiological principles and controversies in neuro-intensive care: journal of the 2nd congress of the Eurocademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumalogica (EMN), Munster Germany, Aug.1997.

Presentations      
1.       Michelle Poliak, MD, Nkiruka Arene, MD. Transfer to the Acute Medical floor and not Case Mix Groups Predicts Mortality at 90-days Post Acute Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation. Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting, Las Vegas February, 2012. 

2.       Michelle Poliak, MD, Nkiruka Arene, MD. Pattern of FIM gains and comorbidities can predict 90-day mortality post acute inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, February, 2012.

3.       Nkiruka Arene MD. The Effects of Prism Adaptation on Reaction Time to Left Sided Stimuli in Left Unilateral Neglect Patients. Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, April 2010

4.       Nkiruka Arene MD. Sensorimotor Adaptation May Augment Neglect Rehabilitation in Acute Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation. Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, April 2010

5.       Nkiruka Arene MD. The Effect of Prism Adaptation on BOLD FMRI Changes during an Egocentric Reference Frame Task.Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, April 2010

6.       Phong Kieu MD, Vishal Thakral MD, Nkiruka Arene MD, Zachary Martin MD Recovery of an Infected Baclofen Pump: A Case Report. Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, April 2010

7.       Nathan J. Neufeld, DO, Mariam Hameed, MD, Phong Kieu MD, Nkiruka Arene, MD. The Effect of Steroid Joint Injections on Blood Glucose in Inpatient Rehabilitation. Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, April 2010

8.       Nkiruka Arene MD. Effect of Prism Adaptation on Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Acute Left Unilateral Spatial Neglect. Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, April 2010

9.       Nkiruka Arene MD. Is Traditional Stroke Rehabilitation Adequate for Ameliorating Left Unilateral Spatial Neglect in the Acute Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Setting? Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, April 2010

10.   Nkiruka Arene MD. Pattern of FIM Gains in Left Unilateral Neglect Patients and Non-Neglect Patients. Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, April 2010

11.   Nkiruka Arene MD. The Effect of Prism Adaptation on BOLD FMRI during Spatial Attention Allocation to the Left in Left Spatial Neglect Patients. Association of Academic Physiatrists, Annual Meeting, Bonita Springs, April 2010

12.   T H Chung, MD, S Park, N U Arene, MD. Stroke Patients with Depressive Symptoms Have Lower FIM gains in the Subacute but not Acute Phase Post Stroke. International Stroke Conference, San Antonio, TX, Feb. 2010.  

13.   T H Chung, MD, S Park, N U Arene, MD.  Impact of Functional Deficits versus Co-morbidities on Depressive Symptoms in an Acute Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Population. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Assembly, Oct.2009

14.   E Brand, MD, N U Arene, MD. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings and Clinical Correlations of Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain after Stroke: A Case Series. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Assembly, Oct.2009

15.   K Chandran, MD, N U Arene, MD. Efficacy of Early Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Placement in the Management of Stroke Related Spastic Hypertonia: A Case Report. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Assembly, Oct.2009

16.   N U Arene. High Cervical Catheter Tip Placement for Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Administration in Stroke Patients: a report of 2 cases. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Assembly, Oct.2009

17.   N U Arene, MD, A E Hillis, Md, R F Gottesman, Md. Admission Blood Glucose Levels May Influence The Severity Of Unilateral Neglect In Right Hemisphere Stroke Patients. International Stroke Conference, Feb.20-23, 2008, New Orleans, La, Usa   18.   N U Arene, MD, Michael O’dell, Md, Wing Ng, Md, Emma Iskhakbayeva, Md.Gabapentin In Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain: A Case Series. American Academy Of Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation 62nd Annual Assembly, Sep.12-15, 2001, New Orleans, La, Usa  

19.   M S Siddique, H M Fernandes, N U Arene, K Bingham, I R Chambers, A D Mendelow Clinical Correlation and Comparative Assessment of Simultaneous In-vivo Intracranial Pressure Monitoring by Codman and Camino Transducers; A Prospective Trial. Society of British Neurological Surgeons meeting, Sept. 25, 1998, UK

20.   N U Arene, A D Mendelow, J Fenwick, H Fernandes Pathophysiology of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Research Society of American Neurosurgeons meeting, Jun. 17- 19, 1998, Oklahoma, USA

21.   N U Arene, F Eddeb, D Mantle, A D Mendelow. Investigation of Free Radical Antioxidant Activity of Anesthetic Agents and Neurosurgical Drugs. British Neurosurgery Research Group (BNRG) Meeting, May. 27-29, 1998, Glasgow, UK

22.   N U Arene, A D Mendelow, B Gregson, H Fernandes, S Wilson. Grading Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Is A Grading System Based on The Glasgow Coma Scale Alone Better Than the WFNS Scale? British Neurosurgery Research Group (BNRG) Meeting, May. 27-29, 1998, Glasgow, UK

23.   N U Arene, S Kolluri, R Kumar, A D Mendelow, S Wilson. Management of Poor Grade Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients (WFNS Grades IV & V); a Review of 250 Cases. The Society of British Neurological Surgeons Meeting, Apr. 4-7, 1998, Sheffield, UK

24.   N U Arene, S Wilson, T Wooldridge, A D Mendelow, A Grivas, H Fernandes. Intraventricular Hemorrhage from Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Aneurismal Rupture. The 2nd congress of the Eurocademia Multidisciplinaria Neurotraumalogica (EMN), Aug. 14, 1997, Munster, Germany

Mentoring 
1.       Johns Hopkins physical medicine and rehabilitation residents –methodologies in clinical rehabilitation research, observational and cohort studies in neuro- rehabilitation. Production and presentation of oral and poster presentations at national and international conferences

2.       Foreign medical students: tenants of clinical research in stroke rehabilitation– 6 week research elective program in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Journal Peer Review Activities
1.       Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 2009

2.       Neurorehabilitation and Neuro-repair 2007

Professional Societies
Association of Academic Physiatrists

American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

American Heart Association

Awards and Honors

2012 - Outstanding Oral Presentation Award:  Michelle Poliak, MD, Nkiruka Arene, MD. Transfer to the Acute Medical floor and not Case Mix Groups Predicts Mortality at 90-days Post Acute Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation. Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting, Las Vegas February, 2012.

2010 - Exemplary Commendation, the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for the inpatient Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Program at Good Samaritan Hospital

1998 – British Neurosurgery Research Group Prize, United Kingdom, for the study - Novel Antioxidant Properties of Commonly Used Anesthetic and Pre-surgical Drugs.