Matthew Robbins, MD

“We’ve seen a number of secondary headaches disorders with COVID-19 at our institution. This includes various types of cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral venous thrombosis, cervical artery dissection, post-irreversible encephalopathy syndrome.”

While researchers have continued to uncover more about the neurologic symptoms linked to COVID-19, few have noted the differences in primary and secondary headaches, which may offer additional insight. Although, as the director of the Neurology Residency Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, Matthew Robbins, MD, took a keen look at whether the majority of the headaches were primary or secondary. 

Robbins then shared the department’s overall experience in a presentation at the 2020 American Headache Society (AHS) Annual Meeting. The intention of the overview was to present how the virus impacted headache-focused and general neurological care, review emerging phenomenology of headache and COVID-19, and to shed light on the experience of those in the residency program. 

Among other things, Robbins understands that this has been a learning experience for everyone involved. In an interview with 

, he provided insight on headaches and their association with the virus, as well as the long-term takeaways from pandemic from a clinician perspective.

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The director of the Neurology Residency Program at Weill Cornell Medicine highlighted some of the differences in types of headaches that patients with COVID-19 experience, as well as overall takeaways from the pandemic itself.

Matthew Robbins, MD: Headaches Associated With COVID-19

“The neurology that emerges from this will teach them [not just] about what COVID-19 can do, but what other disorders can do as well.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors, clinicians, and medical professionals at all levels have been thrust into uncomfortable roles and asked to adapt to a climate that is just as unfamiliar. The same has been the case for residents, who are inexperienced to some extent and did not initially expect to handle a pandemic in the early days of their careers.

Matthew Robbins, MD, assistant professor, and director, Neurology Residency Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, shared insight from his experience throughout the pandemic as well as in his role as an overseer of residents at the 

2020 American Headache Society (AHS) Annual Meeting

. Robbins went on to commend his residents, claiming that this learning experience will be like none other and may offer them a unique chance to take on hard lessons.

, Robbins details how his residents handled the pandemic, and explained the long-term benefits an experience such an this can provide them.

The director of the Neurology Residency Program at Weill Cornell Medicine provided insight on the experience residents have had during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has shaped them for the future.

Matthew Robbins, MD: Residency During COVID-19

“The way this has impacted both our patients and the way we care for them has been extraordinary and unpredictable.”

2020 American Headache Society Annual Meeting

, Matthew Robbins, MD, presented his experience on how COVID-19 impacted headache and neurological care in New York, as well as giving an overview of emerging clinical phenomenology of headache and COVID-19 to provide perspective from him and his colleagues.

The assistant professor of neurology and director of the Neurology Residency Program at Weill Cornell Medicine noted the substantial changes and adjustments that needed to be made on the fly at all levels throughout the pandemic. He claims that everyone is thrusted into uncomfortable positions but being able to adapt under the pressure has shown the true colors of those on the front lines.

, Robbins discusses how his team of clinicians continued to adjust as the pandemic continued to increase, and why having an open mind has been helped the situation.

The director of the Neurology Residency Program at Weill Cornell Medicine details his first-hand experience working in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and how his department adapted.

Matthew Robbins, MD

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