Amy Gelfand, MD

Dr. Amy Gelfand is a board-certified child neurologist and Director of Pediatric Headache at UCSF. She specializes in diagnosing and treating children who suffer from a variety of headache disorders, as well as children with childhood periodic syndromes such as abdominal migraine that may be precursors to migraine headache later in life. Her research focuses on the epidemiology and treatment of pediatric migraine and childhood periodic syndromes.

Gelfand received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. Subsequently, she completed a residency in pediatrics and residency in child neurology at UCSF, then subspecialty fellowship training in pediatric headache at UCSF.

She is the recipient of a teaching award from the UCSF Pediatrics Residents and writing awards from the Resident and Fellows Section of the medical journal, Neurology. Gelfand is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society, American Headache Society and International Headache Society.

She is the Principal Investigator of the BRAiN-M Study (Bringing Relief to Adolescents Naturally using Melatonin): http://brain-m.ucsf.edu.
Education
Cert, 2013 - Medicine (Advance Training in Clinical Research), University of California, San Francisco
M.D., 2006 - School of Medicine, Harvard University
Residency, - School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Websites
  1. Goadsby PJ, Evers S, Gelfand AA, Lipton RB, May A, Pozo-Rosich P, Schoenen J, Schwedt TJ, Tassorelli C, Terwindt G, Wang SJ. International Classification of Headache Disorders-4 - Work in Progress 1. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2024. PMID: 38388354


  2. Vallimont J, Gibler RC, Gelfand AA. Headache launches the publication of plain language summaries. Headache 2023. PMID: 37964612


  3. Cohen F, Vallimont J, Gelfand AA. Caution regarding fabricated citations from artificial intelligence. Headache 2023. PMID: 37873980


  4. Gelfand AA, Allen IE, Grimes B, Irwin S, Qubty W, Greene K, Waung M, Powers SW, Szperka CL. Melatonin for migraine prevention in children and adolescents: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial after single-blind placebo lead-in. Headache 2023. PMID: 37466211


  5. Canfora M, Pallotto IK, Davis JK, Farley S, Khayata MJ, Hornik CP, Reeve BB, Rikhi A, Gelfand AA, Szperka CL, Kessel S, Pezzuto T, Hammett A, Lemmon ME. More Than a Headache: Lived Experience of Migraine in Youth. Pediatric neurology 2023. PMID: 37451179



  6. Begasse de Dhaem O, Wattiez AS, de Boer I, Pavitt S, Powers SW, Pradhan A, Gelfand AA, Nahman-Averbuch H. Bridging the gap between preclinical scientists, clinical researchers, and clinicians: From animal research to clinical practice. Headache 2023. PMID: 36633108



  7. Gelfand AA. Infantile colic. Handbook of clinical neurology 2023. PMID: 38043962




  8. Gelfand AA, Robbins MS, Szperka CL. New Daily Persistent Headache-A Start With an Uncertain End. JAMA neurology 2022. PMID: 35788252


  9. Gelfand AA, Halker Singh RB, Robbins MS. Worsening migraine: Another casualty of natural disasters. 2022. PMID: 35670096


  10. Khayata MJ, Farley S, Davis JK, Hornik CP, Reeve BB, Rikhi A, Gelfand AA, Szperka CL, Kessel S, Pezzuto T, Hammett A, Lemmon ME. Beyond pain control: Outcome and treatment preferences in pediatric migraine. 2022. PMID: 35524445



  11. Myers KA, Barmherzig R, Raj NR, Berrahmoune S, Ingelmo P, Saint-Martin C, Khan AQ, Kouri M, Morris C, Hershey AD, Kacperski J, Kabbouche MA, Mohamed N, Rao RR, Lagman-Bartolome AM, Gelfand AA, Szperka CL, Orr SL. The spectrum of indomethacin-responsive headaches in children and adolescents. 2022. PMID: 35302385




  12. Hsu WY, Anderson A, Rowles W, Peters KE, Li V, Stone KL, Ashbrook LH, Gelfand AA, Bove RM. Effects of melatonin on sleep disturbances in multiple sclerosis: A randomized, controlled pilot study. 2021. PMID: 34777854


  13. Halker Singh RB, Bobker SM, Roberts JL, Charleston L, Robbins MS, Pradhan A, Sprenger T, Pozo-Rosich P, Orr SL, Powers SW, Houle TT, Turner DP, Gelfand AA. Advancing our commitment to our peer reviewers. Headache 2021. PMID: 34643953


  14. Schubert RD, Hawes IA, Ramachandran PS, Ramesh A, Crawford ED, Pak JE, Wu W, Cheung CK, O'Donovan BD, Tato CM, Lyden A, Tan M, Sit R, Sowa GM, Sample HA, Zorn KC, Banerji D, Khan LM, Bove R, Hauser SL, Gelfand AA, Johnson-Kerner BL, Nash K, Krishnamoorthy KS, Chitnis T, Ding JZ, McMillan HJ, Chiu CY, Briggs B, Glaser CA, Yen C, Chu V, Wadford DA, Dominguez SR, Ng TFF, Marine RL, Lopez AS, Nix WA, Soldatos A, Gorman MP, Benson L, Messacar K, Konopka-Anstadt JL, Oberste MS, DeRisi JL, Wilson MR. Author Correction: Pan-viral serology implicates enteroviruses in acute flaccid myelitis. Nature medicine 2021. PMID: 34548659


  15. Abu-Arafeh I, Gelfand AA. The childhood migraine syndrome. Nature reviews. Neurology 2021. PMID: 34040231



  16. Greene KA, Lu V, Luciano MS, Qubty W, Irwin SL, Grimes B, Gelfand AA. Benign paroxysmal torticollis: phenotype, natural history, and quality of life. Pediatric research 2021. PMID: 33564129


  17. Gelfand AA, Ross AC, Pavitt S, Szperka CL, Irwin SL, Bertisch S, Stone KL, Frazier R, Grimes B, Allen IE. Would chronotype change the impact of the relationship between early school schedules and adolescent migraine frequency? A response. Headache 2021. PMID: 33544394


  18. Gelfand AA. Headache refresh 2021. Headache 2021. PMID: 33616933


  19. Gelfand AA, Goadsby PJ. Treating Migraine in Children and Adolescents. JAMA pediatrics 2021. PMID: 32761182


  20. Gelfand AA, Pavitt S, Ross AC, Szperka CL, Irwin SL, Bertisch S, Stone KL, Frazier R, Grimes B, Allen IE. Later high school start time is associated with lower migraine frequency in adolescents. Headache 2020. PMID: 33237581


  21. Cabana MD, Wright P, Scozzafava I, Olarte A, DiSabella M, Liu X, Gelfand AA. Newborn Daily Crying Time Duration. Journal of pediatric nursing 2020. PMID: 33181371



  22. Orr SL, Gelfand AA, Hranilovich J, Irwin SL, Kabbouche M, Lagman-Bartolome AM, Lavell C, O'Brien HL, Rajapakse T, Rao R, Szperka C, Werner K, VanderPluym J, Yonker M, Hershey A. The Development of the Medical Transfer Packet for Transition of Care of the Pediatric Patient with Headache. Headache 2020. PMID: 32969505


  23. Gelfand AA, Ross AC, Irwin SL, Greene KA, Qubty WF, Allen IE. Melatonin for Acute Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Randomized Trial. Headache 2020. PMID: 32965037



  24. VanderPluym J, Gautreaux J, Burch R, Whitaker E, Roberts J, Turner DP, Gelfand AA. Evidence Regarding Medication Overuse Headache in Children and Adolescents: Protocol for a Systematic Review. Headache 2020. PMID: 31913513



  25. Hornik CP, Gelfand AA, Szperka CL, Pezzuto T, Utevsky A, Kessel S, McCune S, Alexander JJ, Benjamin DK, Cohen-Wolkowiez M. Development of a Prospective Real-World Data Clinical Registry of Children and Adolescents With Migraine. Headache 2019. PMID: 31758549


  26. Turner SB, Rende EK, Pezzuto T, Weaver S, Henderlong-Kropp A, Greene KA, Bicknese AR, Dilts JJ, Gautreaux J, Victorio MCC, Strauss LD, Lagman-Bartolome AM, Szperka CL, Yonker M, Hershey AD, Gelfand AA. Pediatric Migraine Action Plan (PedMAP). Headache 2019. PMID: 31710105


  27. Turner SB, Rende EK, Szperka CL, Hershey AD, Gelfand AA. The Development of the Pediatric Migraine Action Plan (PedMAP). Headache 2019. PMID: 31710107


  28. Schubert RD, Hawes IA, Ramachandran PS, Ramesh A, Crawford ED, Pak JE, Wu W, Cheung CK, O'Donovan BD, Tato CM, Lyden A, Tan M, Sit R, Sowa GA, Sample HA, Zorn KC, Banerji D, Khan LM, Bove R, Hauser SL, Gelfand AA, Johnson-Kerner BL, Nash K, Krishnamoorthy KS, Chitnis T, Ding JZ, McMillan HJ, Chiu CY, Briggs B, Glaser CA, Yen C, Chu V, Wadford DA, Dominguez SR, Ng TFF, Marine RL, Lopez AS, Nix WA, Soldatos A, Gorman MP, Benson L, Messacar K, Konopka-Anstadt JL, Oberste MS, DeRisi JL, Wilson MR. Pan-viral serology implicates enteroviruses in acute flaccid myelitis. Nature medicine 2019. PMID: 31636453



  29. Hershey AD, Oskoui M, Pringsheim T, Holler-Managan Y, Potrebic S, Billinghurst L, Gloss D, Licking N, Sowell M, Victorio MC, Gersz E, Vrijsen E, Zanitsch H, Yonker M, Mack K, Gelfand AA, Szperka CL, Powers SW. New Guidelines: Interpretation, Application and the Future. Headache 2019. PMID: 31529478


  30. Greene K, Irwin SL, Gelfand AA. Pediatric Migraine: An Update. Neurologic clinics 2019. PMID: 31563234


  31. Gelfand AA, Buse DC, Cabana MD, Grimes B, Goadsby PJ, Allen IE. The Association Between Parental Migraine and Infant Colic: A Cross-Sectional, Web-Based, U.S. Survey Study. Headache 2019. PMID: 31222745


  32. Hall AL, Karvounides D, Gelfand AA, Mankin H, Kessel S, Corroo J, Malavolta CP, Pezzuto T, Chadehumbe M, Szperka CL. Improving the Patient Experience With Migraine Camp, a One-Day Group Intervention for Adolescents With Chronic Headache and Their Parents. Headache 2019. PMID: 31165479


  33. Berger A, Litwin J, Allen IE, Qubty W, Irwin S, Waung M, Gelfand AA. Preliminary Evidence that Melatonin Is not a Biomarker in Children and Adolescents With Episodic Migraine. Headache 2019. PMID: 31054199


  34. Gelfand AA, Pavitt S, Greene K, Szperka CL, Irwin S, Grimes B, Allen IE. High School Start Time and Migraine Frequency in High School Students. Headache 2019. PMID: 31016722


  35. Gelfand AA, Loder E. Potential Benefits of Migraine-What Is It Good For? JAMA neurology 2019. PMID: 30556821



  36. Szperka CL, VanderPluym J, Orr SL, Oakley CB, Qubty W, Patniyot I, Lagman-Bartolome AM, Morris C, Gautreaux J, Victorio MC, Hagler S, Narula S, Candee MS, Cleves-Bayon C, Rao R, Fryer RH, Bicknese AR, Yonker M, Hershey AD, Powers SW, Goadsby PJ, Gelfand AA. Recommendations on the Use of Anti-CGRP Monoclonal Antibodies in Children and Adolescents. Headache 2018. PMID: 30324723







  37. Qubty W, Patniyot I, Gelfand A. Telemedicine in a pediatric headache clinic: A prospective survey. Neurology 2018. PMID: 29626180


  38. Gelfand JM, Gelfand AA, Goadsby PJ, Benn BS, Koth LL. Migraine is common in patients with sarcoidosis. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2018. PMID: 29580067


  39. Irwin SL, Qubty W, Allen IE, Patniyot I, Goadsby PJ, Gelfand AA. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Migraine Prevention in Adolescents: A Pilot Open-Label Study. Headache 2018. PMID: 29528485


  40. Starling AJ, Tepper SJ, Marmura MJ, Shamim EA, Robbins MS, Hindiyeh N, Charles AC, Goadsby PJ, Lipton RB, Silberstein SD, Gelfand AA, Chiacchierini RP, Dodick DW. A multicenter, prospective, single arm, open label, observational study of sTMS for migraine prevention (ESPOUSE Study). Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2018. PMID: 29504483


  41. Buse DC, Powers SW, Gelfand AA, VanderPluym JH, Fanning KM, Reed ML, Adams AM, Lipton RB. Adolescent Perspectives on the Burden of a Parent's Migraine: Results from the CaMEO Study. Headache 2018. PMID: 29355924


  42. Özge A, Abu-Arafeh I, Gelfand AA, Goadsby PJ, Cuvellier JC, Valeriani M, Sergeev A, Barlow K, Uludüz D, Yalin OÖ, Faedda N, Lipton RB, Rapoport A, Guidetti V. Experts' opinion about the pediatric secondary headaches diagnostic criteria of the ICHD-3 beta. The journal of headache and pain 2017. PMID: 29285571


  43. Özge A, Faedda N, Abu-Arafeh I, Gelfand AA, Goadsby PJ, Cuvellier JC, Valeriani M, Sergeev A, Barlow K, Uludüz D, Yalin OÖ, Lipton RB, Rapoport A, Guidetti V. Experts' opinion about the primary headache diagnostic criteria of the ICHD-3rd edition beta in children and adolescents. The journal of headache and pain 2017. PMID: 29285570


  44. Gelfand AA, Qubty W, Goadsby PJ. Pediatric Migraine Prevention-First, Do No Harm. JAMA neurology 2017. PMID: 28628697


  45. Bear JJ, Gelfand AA, Goadsby PJ, Bass N. Occipital headaches and neuroimaging in children. Neurology 2017. PMID: 28667183



  46. Gelfand AA, Qubty W, Patniyot I, Grimes B, Pletcher MJ, Goadsby PJ, Cummings SR. Home-Based Trials in Adolescent Migraine: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA neurology 2017. PMID: 28437521





  47. Gelfand AA, Johnson H, Lenaerts ME, Litwin JR, De Mesa C, Bogduk N, Goadsby PJ. Neck-Tongue syndrome: A systematic review. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2017. PMID: 28100071






  48. Johnson HF, Goadsby PJ, Gelfand AA. Predictors of Triptan Response in Pediatric Migraine. Pediatric neurology 2016. PMID: 26968976


  49. Eller M, Gelfand AA, Riggins NY, Shiboski S, Schankin C, Goadsby PJ. Exacerbation of headache during dihydroergotamine for chronic migraine does not alter outcome. Neurology 2016. PMID: 26843569





  50. Gelfand AA. Infant Colic. Seminars in pediatric neurology 2015. PMID: 27017027



  51. Pressman A, Jacobson A, Eguilos R, Gelfand A, Huynh C, Hamilton L, Avins A, Bakshi N, Merikangas K. Prevalence of migraine in a diverse community--electronic methods for migraine ascertainment in a large integrated health plan. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2015. PMID: 26069243



  52. Gelfand AA, Fullerton HJ, Jacobson A, Sidney S, Goadsby PJ, Kurth T, Pressman A. Is migraine a risk factor for pediatric stroke? Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache 2015. PMID: 25754176






  53. Young-Lin N, Shalev S, Glenn OA, Gardner M, Lee C, Wynshaw-Boris A, Gelfand AA. Teaching neuroimages: infant with glutaric aciduria type 1 presenting with infantile spasms and hypsarrhythmia. Neurology 2013. PMID: 24323445







  54. Gelfand AA, Croen LA, Torres AR, Wu YW. Genetic risk factors for perinatal arterial ischemic stroke. Pediatric neurology 2013. PMID: 23290018



  55. Gelfand AA, Thomas KC, Goadsby PJ. Before the headache: infant colic as an early life expression of migraine. Neurology 2012. PMID: 22972642


  56. Gelfand AA, Goadsby PJ. Primary sex headache in adolescents. Pediatrics 2012. PMID: 22753551




  57. Wu YW, Croen LA, Vanderwerf A, Gelfand AA, Torres AR. Candidate genes and risk for CP: a population-based study. Pediatric research 2011. PMID: 21857382


  58. Pham CB, Kratz JR, Jelin AC, Gelfand AA. Child neurology: Brachial plexus birth injury: what every neurologist needs to know. Neurology 2011. PMID: 21844527


  59. Gelfand AA, Sznewajs A, Glass HC, Jelin AC, Sherr EH. Clinical Reasoning: An encephalopathic 3-day-old infant. Neurology 2011. PMID: 21727263



  60. Gelfand AA, Fullerton HJ, Goadsby PJ. Child neurology: Migraine with aura in children. Neurology 2010. PMID: 20679627



  61. Gelfand AA. A piece of my mind. Triggers. JAMA 2006. PMID: 16968834