Barbara S. Giesser, MD

Accepting New Patients
2125 Arizona Avenue, Floor 2
Santa Monica, CA 90404
2284.2 miles away
Medical Groups & Affiliations
Speaks: English
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Pacific Neuroscience Institute

2125 Arizona Avenue, Floor 2, Santa Monica, CA 90404

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About Barbara S. Giesser

Dr. Barbara S. Giesser, FAAN, FANA, is an internationally recognized clinician and award-winning educator who has specialized in the care of persons with Multiple Sclerosis since 1982.

Dr. Giesser received her BS from the University of Miami, an MS from the University of Texas School of Biomedical Sciences in Houston, and her MD from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She completed her Neurology residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and did fellowship training in MS there at the first MS Comprehensive Care Center.

She was faculty at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine from 1983 until 1991 and was subsequently faculty at the University of Arizona Health Science Center. She joined the UCLA Department of Neurology in 2002 and is Professor (emeritus) of Clinical Neurology.

Dr. Giesser’s approach to the diagnosis & management of persons with MS combines state of the art diagnostics and a personalized medication plan for each patient with an emphasis on integrating lifestyle and wellness strategies into the neurologic treatment plan.

Dr. Giesser has conducted peer reviewed research on exercise as a therapeutic modality and has served as a consultant for the National MS Society on several wellness, exercise and nutrition related work groups. She has also been an investigator on multiple clinical trials of novel medications to treat MS.

Dr. Giesser has received a dozen awards for excellence in education at the local, regional and national levels, and is the author of over 100 publications including peer reviewed research articles, reviews, textbooks, chapters and abstracts. She has prepared curricula for the National MS Society and the American Academy of Neurology, and frequently lectures to lay and professional groups.

She has been listed in “Best Doctors in America “since 2005, received the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center “Exceptional Physician Award” in 2015, and in 2018 was honored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society by her election to their Volunteer Hall of Fame.

In addition to her clinical, research and educational activities, Dr. Giesser has been active as a patient and professional advocate at state and national levels. She has advocated for legislation to address patient issues such as lowering prescription drug prices and access to care in Washington and Sacramento, and is a recipient of the American Academy of Neurology prestigious Palatucci Public Policy fellowship.

Medical School

University of Texas Health Science Center

Board Certifications
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
2125 Arizona Avenue, Floor 2
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Medical Groups & Affiliations
Saint John’s Physician Partners

Clinical Interests

  • Abducens Nerve Disease
  • Abducens Nerve Injury
  • Abducens Nerve Palsy And Paresis
  • Abnormal Echoencephalogram
  • Abnormal Eeg
  • Abnormal Emg
  • Abnormal Head Shape
  • Abnormal Neuroimaging
  • Abnormal Reflexes
  • Abnormal Tendon Reflex
  • Abnormal Vestibular Function Test
  • Abnormal Videonystagmography (Vng) Test
  • Absence Epilepsy
  • Accessory Nerve Disease
  • Accessory Nerve Injury
  • Acoustic Neurofibromatosis
  • Acromegaly
  • Action Tremor
  • Acute Cerebellitis (Ac)
  • Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
  • Acute Flaccid Myelitis
  • Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy
  • Agnosia
  • Alcoholic Encephalopathy
  • Alogia
  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Ambulatory Eeg
  • Amnesia
  • Amyloid Neuropathy
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Aneurysm
  • Anosmia
  • Anoxic Encephalopathy
  • Anticonvulsant Toxicity
  • Anti-Nmda Receptor Encephalitis
  • Aphasia
  • Arachnoiditis
  • Arm Weakness
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (Avm)
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Cervical Spine
  • Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery In The Thoracic Spine
  • Ataxia
  • Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
  • Athetosis
  • Atypical Parkinsonism
  • Aura
  • Auricular Neuralgia
  • Autoimmune Encephalitis
  • Autoimmune Encephalopathy
  • Autoimmune Meningitis
  • Autonomic Dysreflexia
  • Autonomic Nervous System Disorders
  • Autonomic Neuropathy
  • Bacterial Meningitis
  • Balance Testing
  • Benign Focal Amyotrophy
  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
  • Benson's Syndrome
  • Beriberi
  • Berry Aneurysm
  • Bethlem Myopathy
  • Body Awareness Disorder
  • Botox For Bells Palsy
  • Botox For Cerebral Palsy
  • Botox For Dystonia
  • Botox For Migraines
  • Botulinum Toxin For Movement Disorders
  • Brachial Plexopathy
  • Brachial Plexus Injury
  • Brachial Plexus Lesions
  • Brachycephaly
  • Brain And Spine Arteriovenous Malformations
  • Brain Arteriovenous Malformation
  • Brain Concussion
  • Brain Function Mapping
  • Brain Injury
  • Brain Lesions
  • Brain Stem Sign
  • Bulbar Palsy
  • Cadasil
  • Cadasil Syndrome
  • Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (Cgrp) Inhibitor
  • Cancer Related Cognitive Disorder
  • Capacity Assessment
  • Carbidopa Levodopa Intestinal Gel Therapy
  • Carbidopa Levodopa Oral Therapy
  • Carotid Stenosis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Cts)
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome
  • Causalgia
  • Causalgia Of Lower Limb
  • Causalgia Of Upper Limb
  • Central Nervous System (Cns) Human T Lymphotropic Virus (Htlv)
  • Central Nervous System (Cns) Lyme
  • Central Nervous System Abscess
  • Central Nervous System Lupus
  • Central Sensitization
  • Cerebellar Anomalies
  • Cerebellar Ataxia
  • Cerebellar Disease
  • Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Cerebral Anomalies
  • Cerebral Arteritis
  • Cerebral Atherosclerosis
  • Cerebral Contusion
  • Cerebral Cyst
  • Cerebral Edema
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage
  • Cerebral Hernia
  • Cerebral Laceration
  • Cerebral Lipidosis
  • Cerebral Microvascular Injury
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (Csvd)
  • Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Abnormalities
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Headache
  • Cerebrovascular Accident (Cva)
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders
  • Cerebrovascular Insufficiency
  • Cervical Dystonia
  • Cervical Plexopathy
  • Cervical Spine Stress Fracture
  • Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
  • Childhood Epilepsy
  • Chorea
  • Choreoathetosis
  • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
  • Chronic Migraines
  • Chronic Post Traumatic Headache
  • Ciliary Neuralgia
  • Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder
  • Clinically Isolated Syndrome (Cis)
  • Cluster Headache
  • Cns Vasculitis
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Common Peroneal Nerve Lesions
  • Concussion
  • Concussive Seizure
  • Congenital Brain And Spine Malformations
  • Convulsion
  • Cortical Dysplasia
  • Cortical Tuber
  • Cortical Visual Impairment
  • Corticobasal Degeneration
  • Cranial Nerve Diseases
  • Cranial Nerve Disorders
  • Cranial Nerve Injury
  • Cranial Nerve Palsy
  • Creutzfeldt Jakob Syndrome
  • Data (Pkg) Bracelet
  • Degenerative Brain Disorder
  • Degenerative Disorders Of The Balance Organs
  • Dejerine Sottas Disease
  • Delirium
  • Dementia
  • Demyelinating Disease
  • Diabetic Nephropathy
  • Diabetic Neuropathy
  • Diabetic Polyneuropathies
  • Diagnostic Lumbar Puncture
  • Dietary Management In Epilepsy
  • Diffuse Axonal Injury
  • Diplegia Of Upper Limbs
  • Disorder Of Balance
  • Distal Motor Neuropathy
  • Distal Muscular Dystrophy
  • Distal Myopathy
  • Disturbance Of Skin Sensation
  • Dizziness
  • Drop Attack
  • Dropped Head Syndrome
  • Drug Induced Acute Dystonia
  • Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Embolization
  • Dysarthria
  • Dysautonomia
  • Dysesthesia
  • Dyskinesia
  • Dysphagia
  • Dysphonia
  • Dystonia
  • Early Onset Dementia
  • Eeg Telemetry
  • Electrodiagnostic Medicine
  • Electroencephalography
  • Elevated Growth Hormone
  • Encephalitis
  • Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (Edas)
  • Encephalomalacia
  • Encephalopathies
  • Enlarged Optic Nerve
  • Enlarged Ventricle
  • Enuresis
  • Epidural Injection
  • Epilepsia Partialis Continua
  • Epilepsy
  • Epilepsy Medication Management
  • Episodic Migraine
  • Essential Tremor
  • Evaluation For Deep Brain Stimulation (Dbs)
  • Executive Function Disorder
  • Extrapyramidal Disorders
  • Exvacuohydrocephalus
  • Facet Injection
  • Facet Joint Syndrome
  • Facial Asymmetry
  • Facial Nerve Palsy
  • Facial Nerve Palsy And Paresis
  • Facial Nerve Paralysis
  • Facial Pain
  • Facial Paresis
  • Facial Spasm
  • Facial Tingling
  • Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
  • Familial Ataxia
  • Fasciculations
  • Fecal Incontinence
  • Femoral Nerve Lesions
  • Filar Cyst
  • Filum Terminale Lipoma
  • Flaccid Hemiplegia
  • Focal Cerebral Arteriopathy (Fca)
  • Focal Dystonia
  • Focal Resection Surgery Brain
  • Focused Ultrasound
  • Forceful Blinking
  • Friedreich Ataxia
  • Frontal Lobe Disinhibition
  • Functional Movement Disorders
  • Functional Quadriplegia
  • Fungal Meningitis
  • Gadolinium Brain Deposition
  • Ganglioneuroblastoma
  • Generalized Seizures
  • Genetic Dystonia
  • Gigantism
  • Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
  • Grand Mal Status Epilepticus
  • Guillain Barre Syndrome (Gbs)
  • Handwriting Tremor
  • Hashimoto Encephalitis
  • Hashimoto Encephalopathy
  • Head Trauma
  • Headache
  • Headache Associated With Sexual Activity
  • Hearing Loss
  • Hemiatrophy
  • Hemicrania Continua
  • Hemidystonia
  • Hemimegalencephaly
  • Hemineglect
  • Hemiparesis
  • Hemiplegia
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke
  • Hereditary Neuropathy With Pressure Palsies (Hnpp)
  • Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy
  • Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
  • Herpes Zoster
  • Hiv Associated Neurocognitive Disorder
  • Hiv Dementia
  • Hiv Myopathy
  • Hiv Neuropathy
  • Hiv/Aids
  • Horner Syndrome
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Hydromyelia
  • Hypertonia
  • Hypnic Headache
  • Hypoglossal Nerve Disease
  • Hypoglossal Nerve Injury
  • Hypotonia
  • Idiopathic Transverse Myelitis
  • Impaired Coordination
  • Inclusion Body Myositis
  • Increased Intracranial Pressure
  • Infantile Cerebral Palsy
  • Infantile Spasms
  • Infectious Neuritis
  • Intention Tremor
  • Intermittent Cerebral Ischemia
  • Intermittent Tremor
  • Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia (Ino)
  • Intracranial Arterial Occlusion
  • Intracranial Hemorrhage
  • Intracranial Hypertension
  • Intraventricular Cyst
  • Intraventricular Tumor
  • Ischemic Stroke
  • Isolated Central Nervous System Vasculitis
  • Jc Virus
  • Juvenile Parkinson's Disease (Jpd)
  • Kinetic Tremor
  • Landau Kleffner Syndrome
  • Late Effect Of Spinal Cord Injury
  • Late Effects Of Poliomyelitis
  • Lateral Sclerosis
  • Leg Numbness
  • Leg Weakness
  • Lesions Of Popliteal Nerve
  • Lesions Of Sciatic Nerve
  • Leukodystrophy
  • Leukoencephalopathy With Calcifications And Cysts
  • Lip Droop
  • Lissencephaly
  • Lobar Atrophy Of Brain
  • Locked In Syndrome
  • Loss Of Consciousness
  • Loss Of Tendon Reflex
  • Lumbar Herniated Disc
  • Lumbar Puncture
  • Lumbar Spine Epidural Steroid Injection
  • Lumbosacral Plexus Lesions
  • Macrocephaly
  • Major Neurocognitive Disorder
  • Mal De Debarquement Syndrome (Mdds)
  • Marcus Gunn Phenomenon
  • Maternal Neurologic Disorders
  • Medication Overuse Headache
  • Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome
  • Memory Disorders
  • Meningitis
  • Meralgia Paresthetica
  • Metabolic Brain Disorders
  • Microcephaly
  • Migraine
  • Migraine Treatment
  • Miller Fisher Syndrome
  • Mononeuritis
  • Mononeuritis Multiplex
  • Monoplegia
  • Monoplegia Of Upper Limb
  • Motion Sickness
  • Motor Neuron Disease
  • Movement Disorders
  • Moyamoya
  • Mri Guided Focused Ultrasound
  • Multifocal Motor Neuropathy
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis (Ms) Infusion Treatment
  • Multiple Sclerosis (Ms) Rehabilitation
  • Multiple Sclerosis (Ms) Therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis Testing
  • Multiple System Atrophy
  • Multisystemic Disseminated Toxoplasmosis
  • Muscle Spasticity
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Myelitis
  • Myelitis/Myelopathy
  • Myelomeningocele
  • Myelopathy
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy With Ragged Red Fibers
  • Myoclonus
  • Nerve Biopsy
  • Nerve Diseases
  • Nerve Laceration
  • Nerve Root Disorder
  • Nerve Sheath Tumor
  • Nervous System Disorders
  • Neuralgia
  • Neuralgic Amyotrophy
  • Neuravive
  • Neuritis
  • Neuro Complications Of Pellagra
  • Neuro Infectious Diseases
  • Neuroborreliosis
  • Neurocognitive Disorder
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Neuroinflammatory Disorders
  • Neurointerventional Biplane Angiography System
  • Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
  • Neurologic Disorder Treatments
  • Neurological Disorders
  • Neurolysis
  • Neuroma
  • Neurometabolic Disorder
  • Neuromuscular Diseases
  • Neuromuscular Ultrasound
  • Neuronal Migration Disorders
  • Neuropathic Pain
  • Neuropathic Pruritus
  • Neuropathy
  • Neurosarcoidosis
  • Neurosyphilis
  • Neurovascular Disease
  • New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (Norse)
  • New Onset Seizure
  • Non Epileptic Event
  • Non Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm
  • Noninvasive Brain Stimulation
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
  • Numbness
  • Occipital Neuralgia
  • Olfactory Nerve Disease
  • Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy
  • Opsoclonus Myoclonus Ataxia Syndrome
  • Optic Migraines
  • Optic Nerve And Pathway Injury
  • Optic Nerve Disease
  • Orofacial Pain
  • Orthostatic Hypotension
  • Pachygyria
  • Papilledema
  • Paralysis
  • Paramyotonia Congenita
  • Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration (Pcd)
  • Paraneoplastic Polyneuropathy
  • Paraplegia
  • Parasitic Meningitis
  • Paresthesia
  • Parkinson's Disease (Pd)
  • Parkinson's Disease (Pd) Related Depression/Anxiety
  • Parkinson's Treatment
  • Paroxysmal Hemicrania
  • Pellagra
  • Periodic Paralysis
  • Peripheral Autonomic Neuropathy
  • Peripheral Nerve Disease
  • Peripheral Nerve Injury
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Periventricular Lesions
  • Periventricular Leukomalacia
  • Periventricular Mass
  • Peroneal Muscular Atrophy
  • Peroneal Nerve Injury
  • Peroneal Nerve Lesions
  • Petit Mal Status
  • Phelan Mcdermid Syndrome
  • Pial Synangiosis
  • Pinched Nerve
  • Pituitary Adenoma
  • Pituitary Cancer
  • Plagiocephaly
  • Plantar Nerve Lesions
  • Plexitis
  • Plexopathy
  • Poliodystrophia Cerebri
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Polymicrogyria
  • Polyneuropathy
  • Positional Vertigo
  • Post Concussion Syndrome
  • Post Transplant Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Post Traumatic Amnesia
  • Post Traumatic Headache
  • Post Traumatic Seizures
  • Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome
  • Primary Cough Headache
  • Primary Exercise Headache
  • Primary Progressive Aphasia
  • Primary Stabbing Headache
  • Primary Thunderclap Headache
  • Problems With Smell And Taste
  • Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
  • Progressive Muscular Atrophy
  • Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
  • Provisional Tic Disorder
  • Pseudobulbar Palsy
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri
  • Psychogenic Non Epileptic Seizures
  • Pure Autonomic Failure
  • Quadriplegia
  • Radial Nerve Lesions
  • Radiculopathy
  • Radiographic Isolated Syndrome
  • Receptive Aphasia
  • Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
  • Restless Legs Syndrome
  • Retinal Vasculopathy With Cerebral Leukoencephalopathy (Rvcl)
  • Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (Rcvs)
  • Schizencephaly
  • Schwannomatosis
  • Segmental Dystonia
  • Semantic Dementia
  • Sensory Impairment
  • Sensory Neuronopathy
  • Sensory Problem
  • Sensory Problem With Head
  • Sensory Problem With Neck And Trunk
  • Sensory Problems With Limbs
  • Sinus Stenosis
  • Skin Biopsy
  • Sleep Related Headache
  • Slurred Speech
  • Small Fiber Neuropathy
  • Solitary Sclerosis
  • Spasticity
  • Spasticity Management
  • Spinal Cord Diseases
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy
  • Spinal Schwannoma
  • Spine Arteriovenous Malformation (Avm)
  • Spinocerebellar Degeneration
  • Spinocerebellar Diseases
  • Sports Related Concussion
  • Sports Related Concussion Testing
  • Sports Related Head Injury
  • Sports Related Spinal Cord Injury
  • Staring
  • Statin Myopathy
  • Status Epilepticus
  • Stereotypic Movement Disorder
  • Stroke Related Spasticity
  • Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathy
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Subdural Hematoma
  • Subdural Hemorrhage
  • Subdural Hygroma
  • Suna Headache
  • Sunct Headache
  • Supraorbital Neuralgia
  • Syncope
  • Syphilis
  • Syringobulbia
  • Syringomyelia
  • Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Temporal Sclerosis
  • Tension Headache
  • Tetany
  • Tetraplegia
  • Thalamotomy
  • Thoracic Spine Epidural Steroid Injection
  • Tibial Nerve Lesions
  • Tibial Neuropathy
  • Tic Disorders
  • Tingling
  • Tinnitus
  • Tonic Clonic Seizure
  • Torsion Dystonia
  • Torticollis
  • Tourette Syndrome
  • Toxic Myoneural Disorders
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Transcranial Doppler
  • Transient Blindness
  • Transient Cerebral Ischemia
  • Transient Ischemic Attack (Tia)
  • Transient Limb Paralysis
  • Transient Monocular Vision Loss
  • Transverse Myelitis
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Tremor
  • Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgias
  • Trigeminal Nerve Injection
  • Trigeminal Nerve Injury
  • Trigeminal Nerve Palsy And Paresis
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia
  • Trochlear Nerve Injury
  • Tuberculosis Of Meninges
  • Tuberous Sclerosis
  • Twitching
  • Ulnar Nerve Compression
  • Ultrasound Guided Steroid Injection Of The Spine
  • Unable To Grip
  • Unsteady Gait
  • Uremic Encephalopathy
  • Vagal Nerve Disorders
  • Vagus Nerve Disease
  • Vascular Malformations Of The Brain
  • Vascular Myelopathy
  • Vasculitic Neuropathy
  • Vasomotor Symptoms
  • Vein Of Galen Malformation
  • Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis
  • Ventriculomegaly
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency
  • Vertigo
  • Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Testing
  • Viral Meningitis
  • Visual Evoked Potentials (Vep) Test
  • Visual Information Processing
  • Vitamin B Deficiency
  • Vocal Tremor
  • Volitional Tremor
  • Wada Testing
  • West Nile Encephalitis
  • White Matter Hyperintensities
  • White Matter Injury