Lawrence J. Goldrich Institute for Integrated Neuro-Health - Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University

The Lawrence J. Goldrich Institute for Integrated NeuroHealth is the first of its kind in Hampton Roads focusing on the complex healthcare Video thumbnail for Goldrich Institute Overview needs of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders, cognitive and memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, and patients in need of palliative care.

The institute provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. It also provides support systems for patients and their families, improves access to new drug therapies and clinical trials, and accelerates research that may lead to better treatment and possible cures.

The new institute is named for Mr. Lawrence J. Goldrich and was made possible through a generous $15 million gift from him and his wife, Janice T. Goldrich. He had Parkinson’s — a disease that affects more than 10 million people around the world.

Mr. and Mrs. Goldrich felt strongly that the need for a program that focused on patients with neurodegenerative could truly make a difference in many patients’ lives in the years to come.

In addition to providing high-quality patient care, physician-scientists at the Goldrich Institute will be able to focus their work on identifying ways to improve diagnostics and therapeutics for patients. Students and residents will also have opportunities to learn from experts in neurodegenerative diseases.

A multidisciplinary care model includes a range of healthcare professionals, from one or more organizations, working together to deliver comprehensive patient care. The ideal multidisciplinary team includes physicians, physician assistants, nurses, allied health professionals (such as occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers), and health educators to provide information to patients, families, and caregivers. The Goldrich Institute’s comprehensive care model includes patient care, patient education, community outreach, professional training, and research.

The institute is located on the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Campus, on the fourth floor of Andrews Hall. Approximately 4,000 square feet of state-of-the-art clinical space is currently dedicated to this institute.

The Goldrich Institute will ensure that patients have access to the most robust and comprehensive team in the region. It will leverage its unique community-based model of medicine, healthcare affiliations, and departments while enhancing educational components. Currently, there is no Center for Excellence in neuro health care, as defined by the Parkinson’s Foundation, within the Commonwealth of Virginia, which means some patients travel outside of Virginia for this specialized care. In addition, the number of physicians with expertise in neurodegenerative diseases is insufficient to care for the growing number of individuals diagnosed with the neurodegenerative diseases that occur in an aging population, including those that have yet to be diagnosed.

The establishment of the Goldrich Institute provides improved healthcare for residents in Hampton Roads and throughout Virginia. The Goldrich Institute offers a full range of medical management and quality-of-life services for people with neurodegenerative diseases and related movement disorders, as well as the families of those patients. We envision a team-based approach to provide specialized care — physical, social, emotional, and spiritual — to maximize each patient’s function and quality of life.

The establishment of the Goldrich Institute provides improved healthcare for residents in Hampton Roads and throughout Virginia.

The Goldrich Institute offers a full range of medical management and quality-of-life services for people with neurodegenerative diseases and related movement disorders, as well as the families of those patients. We envision a team-based approach to provide specialized care — physical, social, emotional, and spiritual — to maximize each patient’s function and quality of life.

Currently, the Goldrich Institute treats the following cognitive disorders:

Alzheimer’s disease
Lewy Body Disorders
Dementia
Frontotemporal Disease with Parkinsonism
Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
Huntington’s disease

Coming soon, the Goldrich Institute will also treat the following movement disorders:

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Myoclonus
Ataxia
Parkinson’s disease
Primary Lateral Sclerosis
Dystonia Restlessness
Epilepsy Spasticity
Stiff Person Spectrum Disorder
Tourette Syndrome
Gait Disorders
Tremors

Meet Our Team

Matthew Bourcier

Matt Bourcier began his research as a student in the Physician Assistant master's program from December 1999 until his graduation in 2001. After working in Occupational Medicine for five years, he rejoined the Strelitz Diabetes Center to begin working in the Neuroendocrine and Clinical Research Units in May 2006. His areas of interest include the diagnosis/management of diabetic neuropathies and neuroendocrine tumors. Matt is a strong advocate of both professional and patient education.

Lois Johnson

Lois Johnson, MSW, is the Patient Navigator for the Goldrich Institute, working closely with family members and caregivers as each situation dictates. She obtained her Bachelor and Master’s of Social Work from Cleveland State University and is licensed in both Virginia and South Carolina. A Navy veteran, Lois’ past experience includes acting as a COVID-19 case investigator for the Chesapeake Department of Health, a medical social worker for Palliative Care at Chesapeake Regional Hospital and a medical social worker for Medi Home Health and Hospice and Sentara Hospice.

Bahar Niknejad, MD

Bahar Niknejad, MD, Assistant Professor, completed her combined Internal Medicine/Geriatrics medicine residency and fellowship training. Since joining the university as a resident, she has led in-patient medicine teams of residents and medical students where she has the opportunity to teach others. She has served as a mentor for medical students and residents on their research projects.

Hamid Okhravi, MD

Dr. Hamid Okhravi is the Alfred E. Abiouness Endowed Professor at the Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology where he is the Medical Director of the Memory Consultation Clinic for diagnosing and treating patients with different types of cognitive disorders.

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Meet Our Team

Matthew Bourcier

Lois Johnson

Bahar Niknejad, MD

Hamid Okhravi, MD