Verna R. Porter, MD

Accepting New Patients
Offers Video Visits
1301 20th Street, Suite 150
Santa Monica, CA 90404
2284.3 miles away
Medical Groups & Affiliations
Speaks: English
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Pacific Neuroscience Institute

1301 20th Street, Suite 150, Santa Monica, CA 90404

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About Verna R. Porter

Verna Porter, M.D., is an adult and geriatric neurologist with board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and subspecialty certification from the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry. She is also distinguished as a Fellow of the American Neurological Association (FANA). Dr. Porter is the Director of Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Neurocognitive Disorders at the Pacific Brain Health Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI) located at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.

Dr. Porter graduated Phi Beta Kappa, College Honors, Departmental Honors and Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She then went on to earn her MD degree from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine (1994). Dr. Porter completed her Internship at UCLA in the Department of Medicine, followed by her residency training in the UCLA Department of Neurology. She continued with a combined research/clinical fellowship in Dementia, Behavioral Neuroscience and Geriatric Medicine, between the UCLA Department of Neurology and the UCLA Division of Geriatric Medicine.

Dr. Porter subsequently joined the UCLA faculty in 2002, and was elected to Chief of the Division of Neurology of UCLA/Santa Monica Medical Center that same year. She was the founder and lead physician of UCLA Santa Monica Neurological Associates, a faculty group practice in general neurology with additional subspecialty expertise and care, which opened its doors in 2002. She served as a lead physician and UCLA Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Neurology in this group until 2015 when she was named Director of Clinical Programs for the Mary S. Easton Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. She served in this capacity until joining Pacific Neuroscience Institute in 2018 as Director of Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Neurocognitive Disorders.

Dr. Porter has numerous peer-reviewed publications and extensive teaching and clinical experience. Her expertise is recognized by her selection for inclusion in The Leading Physicians of the World, a subsidiary of the International Association of HealthCare Professionals (IAHCP) which is made up of over 100 different medical societies. She has also received recognition in Southern California Super Doctors, and recently was named a “Top Doctor” in Los Angeles Magazine (2018). She has also been selected for inclusion in the National Association of Professional Women, Marquis Who’s who in Medicine and Healthcare, and Marquis Who’s who in the World among other awards and professional honors. Dr. Porter was selected for the 2018 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Who’s who.

Dr. Porter’s clinical and research interests focus on the intersection between immunological, genetic, and biomarker characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases and the impact of health lifestyle and dietary practices on optimizing brain health and cognitive vitality in the context of aging. Dr. Porter is maintaining her academic affiliations with UCLA as a volunteer Clinical Professor of Neurology, and looks forward to continuing to provide comprehensive clinical consultations and continuity of care for patients at Pacific Neuroscience Institute.

Dr. Porter is a Santa Monica native with three boys, and is active in the community with her family. She is pleased to be able to give back to the community where she grew up and where her family continues to thrive.

Medical School

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine - Los Angeles, CA

Residency

UCLA Department of Neurology - Los Angeles, CA

Fellowship

UCLA Dementia and Behavioral Neuroscience - Los Angeles, CA

Intership

UCLA Department of Internal Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Fellowship

UCLA Geriatric Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Board Certifications
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
1301 20th Street, Suite 150
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Medical Groups & Affiliations
Saint John’s Physician Partners

Affiliated Locations
Saint John’s Health Center Cancer Clinic – Santa Monica
Providence Saint John's Health Center

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
  • Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • 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 Injury Rehabilitation
  • 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
  • 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 Impulse Test
  • 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) Rehabilitation
  • 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 Disorders
  • 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
  • Parasellar Tumors
  • 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
  • Shunt Dysfunction
  • Shunt Over-Drainage
  • Sinus Stenosis
  • Skin Biopsy
  • Skull Lesions
  • Sleep Related Headache
  • Slit Ventricle Syndrome
  • Slurred Speech
  • Small Fiber Neuropathy
  • Solitary Sclerosis
  • Spasticity
  • Spasticity Management
  • Spinal Cord Diseases
  • Spinal Dural Fistula
  • 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
  • Virtual Care
  • 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