Christopher H. Topel, DO
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor of Vascular Neurology
Dr. Christopher H. Topel is currently an Assistant Professor of Neurology at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and also serves the central Texas community as a board certified Vascular Neurologist and clinical researcher at University Hospital. Prior to graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and chemistry minor from Northern Arizona University, Dr. Topel worked in rehabilitation teaching vocational skills to adults with a wide range of disabilities. Dr. Topel obtained his medical degree at A.T. Still University in Missouri. He went on to complete his internal medicine internship and neurology residency at The University of Texas at Austin where his mentors inspired his interests in advanced neuroimaging and acute stroke care. He then finished vascular neurology fellowship at University of Texas Health Sciences at San Antonio and obtained double board certification in Neurology as well as Vascular Neurology.
Dr. Topel is very passionate about teaching the medical students, residents, as well as colleagues and has been awarded the Diane Solomon, MD, Award for Excellence in Teaching multiple times. He actively participates in cerebrovascular clinical research as primary investigator of DISCOVERY (Determinants of Incident Stroke Cognitive Outcomes and Vascular Effects on RecoverY) which aims to investigate the mechanisms of brain resilience and susceptibility to post-stroke vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID.) He is also a co-investigator of several other ongoing clinical stroke trials. In addition to using advanced therapies and diagnostic strategies to treat life threatening strokes, Dr. Topel also stresses a patient centered focus on whole body health including education, diet, and exercise to help prevent disease and promote wellness.
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Professional Background
Education
- 2011 - Doctor of Osteopathic - Osteopathic Medicine - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO
Training
- 2016 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Vascular Neurology - UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- 2015 - Post Doctoral Training - Neurology - University of Texas, Austin, TX
- 2012 - Post Doctoral Training - Internal Medicine - University of Texas, Austin, TX
Highlights
Diane Solomon, MD Award for Excellence in Training : Voted by MS3 students during their 3rd year of clerkships in Neurology for distinction in clinical education (05/2019)
Diane Solomon, MD Award for Excellence in Training : Voted by MS3 students during their 3rd year of clerkships in Neurology for distinction in clinical education (05/2017)Appointments
- 10/2016-present - Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Vascular Neurology - UT Health San Antonio, Department of Neurology, San Antonio, TX
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Instruction & Training
- 11/2019-present, Ischemic and. Hemorrhagic Stroke, UT Health San Antonio
- 07/2019-present, Stroke Documentation, UT Health San Antonio
- 04/2018-present, Stroke Emergencies, UT Health San Antonio
- 10/2017-present, Neurology Core Clerkship, UT Health San Antonio
- 10/2017-present, Neurology Journal Club and Didactics, UT Health San Antonio
- 08/20017-present, Neurology Core Clerkship, UT Health San Antonio
- 07/2017-present, Mind, Brain & Behavior, UT Health San Antonio
- 09/2017-08/2019, Clinical Skills, UT Health San Antonio
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Research & Grants
Grants
Federal
02/2020-present
Funding Agency: NIH StrokeNet/Univ Cincinnati
Title: ICH Survivors With AF To Apixaban or Aspirin
Role: Co-Investigator03/2020-present
Funding Agency: NIH StrokeNet/Univ Cincinnati
Title: Effect of Treatment on Cognition and Silent Infarcts
Role: Co-InvestigatorPrivate
06/2019-present
Funding Agency: Genentech
Title: A Phase III, Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Thrombolysis In Imaging-Eligible, Late-Window Patients To Assess The Efficacy and Safety of Tenecteplase (Timeless)
Role: Co-Investigator02/2019-present
Funding Agency: ReNeuron/Duke Univ
Title: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Intracerebral Stem Cells (CTX0E03) in Subjects with Disability Following an Ischemic Stroke
Role: Principal Investigator -
Service
Department
06/2019-06/2019 Neurology Clinical Competency Committee, UTHealth San Antonio, SOM, Neurology (Member)
10/2016-Present Neurology Resident Selection Committee, UTHealth San Antonio, SOM, Neurology (Member)
10/2016-Present Vascular Fellow Selection Committee, UTHealth San Antonio, SOM, Neurology (Member)School
10/2017-06/2018 Staff Supervised Mentor to Dawn Janysek
10/2017-06/2018 Staff Supervised Mentor to Zachary Seal
07/2016-07/2018 Staff Supervised Mentor to Iffat Suchita
07/2016-06/2017 Staff Supervised Mentor to Raghav Aachi
07/2016-05/2017 Staff Supervised Mentor to Andrew SlusherCommunity
08/2019-Present Bexar County Emergency Response Team (Member)
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Publications
Book Chapter
Brey RL, Topel CH. Primer of Cerebrovascular Disease (Second Edition) In: Anti-Phospholipid Antibodies and Stroke. 2017. p. 590 - 593
Journal Article
Di Napoli, Behrouz R, Topel CH, Misra V, Pomero F, MNEMONICH Investigators. Hypoalbuminemia, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and functional outcome in intracerebral hemorrhage Journal of Critical Care 2017 Oct;41:247-253
Behrouz R, Misra V, Godoy, D, Topel CH, Masotti, L, Klijn, C, Smith C, Parry-Jones A, Slevin M, Silver B, Wiley J, Vallejo J, Nzwalo H, Popa-Wagner A, Malek A, Hafeez S, DiNapoli M. Clinical Course and Outcomes of Small Supratentorial Intracerebral Hematomas. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 2017 Jun;(17):1216-1221
Not Specified
Topel CH. “Laboratory characteristics of ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation on or off therapeutic warfarin. Clinical Cardiology, co-author 2017 Dec
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Clinical
Board Certifications
- 2018 - Vascular Neurology Board Eligible, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology 1st attempt - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- 2016 - Neurology Board Certified - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology