Steven R. Best, M.D.
Dr. Best is Board certified in Psychiatry, with subspecialty training in Neuropsychiatry of Children and Adults. He specializes in disorders of the brain which harm cognitive ability and emotional health, especially in relation to developmental onset (learning disability, early onset of brain injury or disease).
Trained at the University of Cincinnati. M.D. degree in 1987. His fellowship work was in Chicago with Michael Alan Taylor M.D.; a 2 year research fellowship in Neuropsychiatry focusing on both children and adults. His fellowship training was also guided by Dragomir M. Vuckovich M.D. the Chairman of Neurology. During the fellowship he also trained in the use of functional brain imaging (PET) in the diagnosis and prediction of response to medication with Malcolm Cooper, M.D. at the University of Chicago. This research also facilitated the use of psychological measures of temperament to better select the specific medication appropriate to the specific pattern of depression that an individual patient exhibits.
He has had post fellowship training in :
- Psychopharmacology and, is a member of ASCP ( American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology).
- During the Neuropsychiatric fellowship, participated in a special fellowship offered to trainees by the American Psychoanalytic Association.
- Training in Brain Stimulation: rTMS (repetitive Trans Magnetic Stimulation) and VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulation) at the Medical University of South Carolina (Psychiatry/Brain Stimulation Lab). Became a member of ISTS (International Society of Transmagnetic Stimulation). He has provided rTMS to Clinic patients, on a daily basis, since 1999.
- Recently has acquired the training to provide tDCS (transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) at the University of Goetingen / Germany.
Dr. Best has also had extensive clinical and administrative experience in hospital practice:
- Between his residency training and the fellowship, he practiced for 3 years at the Lewis Center in Cincinnati (a State of Ohio Mental Health Hospital). In addition to directing the medical psychiatry unit he was appointed to supervise the Quality Assurance of the Dual Diagnosis (Mental Illness + Mental Retardation) program.
- Afterward he returned to the Academic environment and pursued a 2 year research and Clinical fellowship at the Chicago Medical School.
- During this Fellowship he also provided Neuropsychiatric Services and Consultations at Ann Kiley Center in North Chicago IL, a State Hospital for MRDD (Mentally Retarded/Developmentally Disabled) and practiced Inpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatry for 2 years at Hartgrove Hospital, Chicago IL.
- Upon his completion of the fellowship, he was asked to assume the position of Director of “The Neuroscience Center” in suburban Chicago, Illinois. This private Center had been in existence for over 40 years, and has now become a resource for complex Neuropsychiatric cases coming from local, national and international referral sources.
- Dr. Best is a member of numerous professional Societies.