Leading neurologists join staff of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital

Lake Forest, Ill. – Neurologists Charulatha Nagar, MD, Laura Goldstein, MD, and Ian Katznelson, MD, have joined the staff of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital as part of Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation.  The physicians join the staff of the hospital with the shared goal of building a patient-centered neurology practice where residents of Lake County will have access to care for a broad range of neurological disorders.

“Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital’s aim is to build a neurology group that is able to provide both inpatient and outpatient treatment to those who are in need of immediate and more elective neurological care,” says Michael G. Ankin, MD, Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital’s chief medical officer.  “We want patients who come to the hospital to have immediate access to physicians who are experts in any number of neurological conditions, from migraines and stroke to cognitive and memory disorders.”

Dr. Nagar, board certified in neurology, has been seeing patients in Lake Forest for more than seven years.  She is fellowship trained in neuromuscular disorders and clinical electromyography from Washington University School of Medicine and has over a decade of clinical research experience, with a keen interest in clinical trials and vascular neurology.  Beyond her work at the hospital, Dr. Nagar sits on a stroke support group, where she counsels stroke victims and their families.        

“The opportunity to join the team of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital is tremendous,” Nagar says.  “This position offers me the chance to work with some of the best in the industry.  I am excited to work alongside Dr. Goldstein and Dr. Katznelson in providing top-notch care for patients and for collaboration with Northwestern Memorial Hospital on clinical trials, which has always been an interest of mine.”

A native of Michigan, Dr. Goldstein moved to suburban Chicago in 1990 to treat area residents with a range of neurological disorders.  She is board certified in neurology and electrodiagnostic medicine, which evaluates the peripheral nervous system.  Dr. Goldstein is a graduate of University of Michigan Medical School, where she also did her residency before completing a fellowship in clinical electrophysiology at the University of Iowa.  Dr. Goldstein joins Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital from Northwest Community Hospital, where she has been the chief of Neurology since 2008 and director of the hospital’s Stroke Medical Program since 2007.

“I am privileged to be joining Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital,” says Goldstein.  “There is a significant need in this community to treat patients with a range of neurology conditions.  Dr. Katznelson, Dr. Nagar and I will be able to provide those patients with first-rate care and treatment along with the opportunity to participate in clinical trials offering advancements in neurological care.”

Ian Katznelson, MD, a graduate of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, will join the staff of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital later this year.  He is board-certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology and sleep medicine.  Dr. Katznelson completed his residency at Washington University in St. Louis and is fellowship trained in clinical neurophysiology from Rush University Medical Center.  He brings more than nine years of experience to his new position, including three years as the medical director of the sleep lab at Resurrection Medical Center.      

“Joining the staff of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital affords Dr. Nagar, Dr. Goldstein and I the ability to bring first-class specialty neurology care to North Shore and Lake County residents,” says Katznelson.  “Patients seeking care for any number of neurological conditions will now have close-to-home access to some of the best treatment and clinical trial options in the region.”