Navigating a movement disorder can feel overwhelming. Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, and Huntington’s disease can deeply affect a person’s mobility, independence, and quality of life. At UTMB Health, patients benefit from expert care delivered with compassion—and conveniently close to home.
UTMB’s dedicated movement disorder specialists offer personalized, evidence-based treatments tailored to each patient’s unique needs. This is particularly valuable for patients in Galveston and the Bay Area who may face challenges traveling long distances for specialized care.
“Many of my patients used to travel downtown for treatment,” says Dhanya Vijayakumar, MD, FANA, a movement disorders neurologist at UTMB. “They tell me how much easier it is to receive the same level of subspecialty care closer to home—especially those with mobility issues.”
Dr. Vijayakumar joined UTMB in June 2024 as an Associate Professor after seven years of practice in South Carolina. She completed her medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, followed by an Internal Medicine internship and Neurology residency at the Medical College of Virginia. She went on to complete her Movement Disorders Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine under the mentorship of internationally recognized expert Dr. Joseph Jankovic.
Treating movement disorders requires in-depth knowledge of the brain’s motor systems and a wide range of therapeutic options. Many patients benefit from medication management, while others may need botulinum toxin (Botox) injections for conditions such as dystonia and spasticity. For patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor who no longer respond well to medication, Dr. Vijayakumar collaborates with neurosurgeon Patrick Karas, MD, to offer deep brain stimulation (DBS)—a procedure that involves implanting electrodes in the brain to help control symptoms.
“We work closely with Dr. Karas to provide DBS surgery,” explains Dr. Vijayakumar. “After the procedure, I continue managing the patient’s care by fine-tuning the device’s settings based on how their symptoms evolve.”
Dr. Vijayakumar joins Laura Wu, MD, PhD, bringing the number of movement disorder specialists at UTMB to two. Their presence reflects a broader strategic effort by UTMB’s Chair of Neurology, Dr. Anish Bhardwaj, to expand the department with subspecialists and build a comprehensive neurology center.
While Dr. Vijayakumar initially expected to divide her time between general neurology and movement disorders, the demand for her expertise quickly surpassed expectations.
“I thought it would take time to build a predominantly movement disorders practice, but within just six or seven months, most of my patients have these conditions,” she says. “There’s clearly a great need in the community.”
That need is driving her plans for growth. Dr. Vijayakumar is working toward launching a movement disorders fellowship to train the next generation of specialists. She also envisions developing a multidisciplinary clinic that integrates physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work—providing holistic support for patients and caregivers navigating complex movement disorders.
To help patients access care more easily, she has worked closely with UTMB’s scheduling team to ensure appropriate referrals and routing based on key diagnoses. As awareness spreads among primary care providers and general neurologists in the region, she expects the movement disorders program at UTMB to continue expanding.
 | Dhanya Vijayakumar, MD, FANA sees patients at the Clear Lake and Galveston Campuses. Learn more about movement disorders services at UTMB Health. |