“Anatomy is destiny.”
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst
Team Biographies
Meet our Team
The Washington Neuroscience Institute team of physicians and specialists is led by Medical Director David Vossler, MD, a nationally-renowned pioneer in epilepsy research and technique studied by physicians across the nation.
In the creation of the WNI, Dr. Vossler has brought together a team of multi-disciplinary neuroscience and orthopedic specialists to offer the most exceptional and comprehensive care available.
David Vossler, MD, Medical Director
Dr. David Vossler holds his Doctor of Medicine degree, cum laude from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and Bachelor or Arts, magna cum laude from University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He completed his Neurology Residency at Boston University in 1987. He completed an additional Fellowship in Clinical Neuro-physiology in 1989 at University of Washington.
Dr. Vossler is the Medical Director of WNI and a national authority on epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology. He has authored over 50 scientific articles and has served on journal editorial boards and boards of national neurology organizations. Dr. Vossler treats people with seizure disorders using standard medical and surgical techniques, and conducts ongoing research.
Peter Balousek, MD
Dr. Balousek graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his residency in neurosurgery and a fellowship in interventional neuroradiology at the University of California, where he was an assistant clinical professor of radiology.
Dr. Balousek is one of the few neurosurgeons in Seattle with special training and expertise in general and endovascular neurosurgery and radiosurgery. His interests include treatment of cerebral aneurysms, AVMs, and cerebrovascular disease/stroke, as well as treatment of brain tumors by both open surgery and with VMC’s BrainLab radiosurgery unit.
Erica M. Brandling-Bennett, PhD
Erica Brandling-Bennett completed her BA in psychology and neuroscience at Dartmouth College. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, which included an internship in clinical psychology at the University of Illinois, Chicago in the Department of Psychiatry. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the UCLA Semel Institute and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, where she served as Chief Fellow of the UCLA Medical Psychology Assessment Center. She is now the clinical neuropsychologist for the WNI Level 4 Epilepsy Program, conducting pre- and post-surgical neuropsychological evaluations of patients with epilepsy. She also conducts neuropsychological evaluations of patients with other neurological conditions. She is involved in ongoing research, most recently focusing on the cognitive sequelae of temporal lobe epilepsy in both children and adults.
Kaya Y. Hasanoglu, MD, Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services
Dr. Hasanoglu is a board certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist. He received his medical degree from Medical College of Wisconsin, and completed his Rehabilitation Residency at the University of Washington. He is the Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services at Valley Medical Center. Dr. Hasanoglu's clinical focus is conservative spine care, epidural steroid injections, Electrodiagnostic Studies (EMG's) as well as general rehabilitation consultations.
David Lundin, MD, Neurosurgery Medical Director of The Spine Center
David A. Lundin, MD, received his medical degree from the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, where he graduated at the top of his class. He completed his internship and residency in Neurological Surgery at the UW and served as a Senior Registrar at the renowned Atkinson Morley’s Hospital in London, England. He then completed a fellowship in spinal surgery at the UW with the departments of Orthopaedic and Neurological Surgery followed by a Chief Residency in Neurological Surgery. He served as Director of Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine at the Southern California Center for Neuroscience and Spine in Los Angeles before joining the WNI as the Neurosurgery Medical Director of The Spine Center in 2008. Dr. Lundin specializes in all types of complex and minimally invasive spinal surgery, including non-fusion techniques such as artificial disk replacement.
Dr. Lundin has been widely published in numerous medical and neurology journals and currently serves as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington's Department of Neurosurgery.
Cynthia Murphy, MD, Medical Director of the Stroke Center
Cynthia Murphy, MD, received her undergraduate degree in anthropology from Mount Holyoke College in Amherst, Mass., and her medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. She completed her internship, residency and fellowship at Boston University Medical Center.
Dr. Murphy’s interests include vascular neurology, neurorehabilitation and dementia. She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Stroke Association.
Her personal interests include spending time with her dog and family, and traveling.
Mark Piker, MD, Medical Director of the Headache Clinic
Born and raised in the former Soviet Union, Republic of Lithuania, Dr. Mark Piker moved to the United States in 1991, where he earned his undergraduate degree at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. He received medical degree at University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, in 2002.
Dr. Piker finished his Neurology residency training at University of Washington in Seattle, WA, in 2006. He then completed a year-long fellowship training, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of headaches. He joined WNI/VMC in late 2007 as the Medical Director of the Headache Clinic.
Dr. Piker’s firm belief is that while genuine physiological factors affect the frequency and severity of the headaches, lifestyle choices are also contributing factors. Treating just one side of the equation may not be adequate. His other subspecialty interest includes multiple sclerosis. He enjoys outdoor activities, travel, and throwing his two sons at a local judo dojo.
Mark Remington, MD, PhD
Dr. Mark Remington is a spine surgeon specializing in degenerative and traumatic conditions of the spine. He believes spine surgery can be very effective in alleviating pain and significantly improving quality of life. However, Dr. Remington appreciates the success of any surgery depends on determining if surgery is actually needed and, if it is, choosing the most appropriate and reliable procedure. He understands in most cases surgery should only be considered after thorough non-operative treatments have been attempted, such as medications, physical therapy and spinal injections. Dr. Remington practices at Valley Orthopedic Associates' Renton clinic.
Don Q. Thai, MD, Medical Director of Pediatric Neurology
Don Q. Thai, MD, obtained his medical degree from the University of Washington. He completed his internship and residency in the department of pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and at the University of Washington. He also served as Chief Resident of Pediatric Neurology at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Thai is board certified in neurology and psychiatry with an exceptional expertise in child neurology.
Dr. Thai has been an active member of the American Academy of Neurology for over a decade and received an AMA Physician Recognition award in Continuing Medical Education.
Jason Thompson, MD, Orthopedic Medical Director of the Spine Center
Dr. Thompson performed his undergraduate studies at Wake Forest University and received his medical degree from the University of Miami. Residency and fellowship training brought him to the University of Washington and, having fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest, he chose to stay and practice in this area. He joined WNI as Orthopedic Medical Director of the Spine Center. His interests include care of the spine across many ages and diagnoses but he is particularly interested in deformity such as scoliosis and spondylolisthesis.
Kimberly Veilleux, ARNP
Kimberly Veilleux, Nurse Practitioner has 22 years of experience in critical care nursing; she returned to graduate school at University of Southern Maine and received MS and Adult Nurse Practitioner and is board certified. As an ARNP in Washington State, she has practiced in long term medicine, emergency medicine and perioperative medicine. Certified in Body-Mind medicine through Harvard School of Medicine and in Self-management of Chronic Disease through Stanford University. Her professional interests also include patient and staff education and program development.
Yahua Yu, MD
Dr. Yu is a board certified general Neurologist who completed her residency at the University of Washington. She graduated from Tongji Medical University in Wuhan, Hubei, China.
Dr. Yu practices the entire range of Neurology and has professional interests in Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG, EMG), treatment of headaches, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke care.
Joy Zhao, MD
Dr. Zhao received her medical degree from the Capital University of Medical Sciences in Beijing, China. She completed a residency in Neurology at Albany Medical Center in New York, and then completed a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is board certified in Neurology and Neurophysiology. Dr. Zhao practices general Neurology including epilepsy, peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, stroke, CNS tumor, multiple sclerosis and all the other central and peripheral nervous system diseases including brain and spine diseases. In addition, she practices Neurophysiology including EMG, EEG and Long Term Video Epilepsy Monitoring.
Other Interests: Dr. Zhao also believes acupuncture serves as a good alternative treatment option for many neurological symptoms. She received acupuncture training at UCLA and Beijing, China.
Tony Bell, R. EEG/EP T., CNIM.
Anthony Bell received his undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia. He attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology and received an Honours Diploma of Technology in Electroneurophysiology. Anthony began working in the field of Electroneurodiagnostic(END) Technology at Harborview Medical Center at the Regional Epilepsy Center, specializing in EEG and long-term monitoring for epilepsy. After several years, he moved on to the University of Washington Medical Center to further specialize in epilepsy monitoring, evoked potentials and intraoperative monitoring of various neurosurgical procedures. Anthony has multiple credentials in END from the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists.
Zoe Goldeshtein, R. EEG/EP T.
Zoë Goldeshtein specialized in Long Term Monitoring for epilepsy, EEG including critical care in-patients, evoked potentials and various intraoperative monitoring procedures. She formerly worked at Harborview Medical Center for 14 years in the Regional Epilepsy Center. She has also worked at Pacific Medical Center in their EEG and polysomnography lab. Goldeshtein is registered with the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists.