At Hartford HealthCare's Ayer Neuroscience Institute, we’ve taken the concept of a second opinion to a new level.

Each week, all our specialists—neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, neurointensivists, and neuro-critical care nurses—meet to review each individual case. Together, they pool their knowledge and experience to give you the most advanced treatment plan possible.


National MS Society

Center for Comprehensive MS Care

National Association of Epilepsy Centers

Level 4 Epilepsy Center 

2021 & 2022

The Joint Commission

National Quality Approval

Awards & Accreditations



Service Locations

Find inpatient and acute care, long-term care, outpatient services and preventive care at three of our convenient locations.

Patient Stories & Videos

Hear from our patients themselves about our care and their outcomes.

Programs & Classes

Learn about upcoming community education events sponsored by The Institute.



Meet our Neurosciences Specialists:

Name Specialties Location
Abbed, Khalid M., MD Abbed, Khalid M., MD
4.9 /5
198 surveys
203.332.3272
  • Neurosurgery
  • Spine Surgery
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  • Westport
Ade, Swetha, MD Ade, Swetha, MD 860.972.3600
  • Neurology
  • Hartford
  • New Britain
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Aferzon, Joseph A., MD 860.832.4664
  • Spine Surgery
  • Neurosurgery
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  • Portland
Alessi-LaRosa, Stephanie F., MD Alessi-LaRosa, Stephanie F., MD
4.8 /5
63 surveys
860.524.4330
  • Neurology
  • Hartford
Bartoli, Jenifer, APRN Bartoli, Jenifer, APRN 860.224.5538
  • Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
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  • New Britain
  • Southington
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Bauman, Joel A., MD Bauman, Joel A., MD
4.9 /5
182 surveys
860.696.2290
  • Spine Surgery
  • Neurosurgery
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  • Meriden
  • Cheshire
  • Hartford
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Benchaya, Sarah Meira, MD Benchaya, Sarah Meira, MD 860.972.3600
  • Neurology
  • Hartford
  • Torrington
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Cherry, Anton Robert, PA-C Cherry, Anton Robert, PA-C 860.696.2840
  • Pain Medicine
  • West Hartford
  • Meriden
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Colman, Rachel, MD Colman, Rachel, MD
4.8 /5
96 surveys
860.696.2925
  • Headache Medicine
  • Neurology
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  • Cheshire
Cormier, Justine, MD 860.545.5000
  • Neurocritical Care
  • Hartford
Desai, Ninad, MD Desai, Ninad, MD 203.332.1949
  • Neurology
  • Bridgeport
Dorfman, Benjamin, MD Dorfman, Benjamin, MD
4.8 /5
151 surveys
860.870.6385
  • Neurology
  • Cheshire
  • Winsted
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Gill, Nicole, DO Gill, Nicole, DO
4.9 /5
100 surveys
860.696.2925
  • Headache Medicine
  • Neurology
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  • Cheshire
Gordon, Barry Jeff, DO Gordon, Barry Jeff, DO
4.8 /5
128 surveys
203.694.8550
  • Neurology
  • Vascular Neurology
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  • Meriden
Grosberg, Brian Mitchell, MD Grosberg, Brian Mitchell, MD
4.8 /5
167 surveys
860.696.2925
  • Neurology
  • Headache Medicine
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  • West Hartford
Hulland, Oliver, MD Hulland, Oliver, MD
4.9 /5
138 surveys
203.234.5995
  • Pain Medicine
  • North Haven
Kane, Renee D., APRN, ANP-BC Kane, Renee D., APRN, ANP-BC
4.8 /5
80 surveys
860.696.2925
  • Headache Medicine
  • Cheshire
Knopf, Lisa V., MD Knopf, Lisa V., MD
4.9 /5
38 surveys
860.972.3600
  • Neurology
  • Hartford
Kost, Jonathan Anthony, MD Kost, Jonathan Anthony, MD 860.696.2840
  • Pain Medicine
  • Anesthesiology
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  • West Hartford
  • Meriden
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Kuzmik, Gregory A., MD Kuzmik, Gregory A., MD
4.8 /5
89 surveys
203.694.7550
  • Spine Surgery
  • Neurosurgery
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  • North Haven
  • Meriden
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Macannuco, Annette Karen, MD Macannuco, Annette Karen, MD 203.694.8414
  • Pain Medicine
  • Anesthesiology
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  • Meriden
Modi, Jignesh M., MD Modi, Jignesh M., MD 203.694.8405
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Neuroradiology
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  • Meriden
Patel, Dhiren, MD Patel, Dhiren, MD 860.224.5538
  • Sleep Medicine
  • New Britain
  • New Britain
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Sami, Hamid R., MD Sami, Hamid R., MD 203.630.1000
  • Neurology
  • Vascular Neurology
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  • Meriden
Sheth, Anumeha, MD Sheth, Anumeha, MD
4.8 /5
31 surveys
860.972.3600
  • Neurology
  • Hartford
  • Southington
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Tkeshelashvili, David, MD Tkeshelashvili, David, MD
4.9 /5
131 surveys
860.972.3600
  • Neurology
  • Bridgeport
  • Cheshire
  • North Haven
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Tomak, Patrick R., MD Tomak, Patrick R., MD
4.9 /5
210 surveys
203.694.7550
  • Spine Surgery
  • Neurosurgery
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  • North Haven
  • Meriden
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Wong, Brian, MD Wong, Brian, MD
4.9 /5
111 surveys
860.628.3910
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Neurology
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  • Southington