Univ.-Doz. Dr. Willi Gerschlager

Curriculum Vitae

PERSONAL PROFILE

Univ.-Doz. Dr.
Willi Gerschlager

Univ.-Doz. Dr. Willi Gerschlager I am pleased to welcome you to my practice. As a specialist in neurology with many years of experience, my particular focus lies in the diagnosis, consultation, and support of individuals affected by Parkinson’s syndrome and movement disorders such as gait disorders, tremors, dystonia, restless legs syndrome, and memory disorders (dementia). My goal is to provide personal, sound, and clear medical care – individually tailored to your situation.

EDUCATION & ACADEMIC CAREER

CAREER

• 1974–1978 – Primary school in Vienna (1200)

• 1978–1986 – Secondary school (Gymnasium), Schulbrüder Strebersdorf

• 1986–1993 – Medical studies at the University of Vienna

• July 1993 – Graduation as Doctor of General Medicine (MD); Dissertation: “In-vivo study on the influence of neurotransmitters on vascular tone” (Clinical Pharmacology)

• 10/1993–05/1994 – Civil service at the Austrian Multiple Sclerosis Society

• 09/1994–10/1995 – Research Associate at the University Clinic for Neurology

• 11/1995–03/2003 – Resident/Assistant Physician at the University Clinic for Neurology, Vienna

• 01/2000–12/2001 – Schrödinger Fellowship (“Honorary Clinical Assistant”), Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London

• 12/2002 – Board Certification in Neurology (Specialist Physician)

• April 24, 2003 – Awarded the Venia Docendi (Habilitation) for Neurology

• 04/2003–01/2009 – Senior Physician at the Department of Neurology, Hospital of the Brothers of Saint John of God (Barmherzige Brüder), Vienna II

• 02/2009–09/2011 – Senior Physician at the Neurological Department Rosenhügel, Hietzing Hospital

• Since 10/2011 – Lead Specialist Physician at Hartmannspital Vienna (now Franziskusspital)

• 05/2014–04/2015 – Medical Director at Hartmannspital

• Since 2003 – Private Practice

• 2024 – Generally sworn and court-certified expert witness

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

11/1995–03/2003 – University Assistant, University Clinic for Neurology Vienna, Dept. of Clinical Neurology (Head: Prof. L. Deecke)
Inpatient and outpatient care at the Clinical Department for General Neurology. A special focus was the work in the Parkinson’s Outpatient Clinic (since 1997), as well as the pre- and postoperative care of Parkinson’s and tremor patients treated with Deep Brain Stimulation (STN stimulation) in cooperation with the University Clinic for Neurosurgery. Specialist clinic for Multiple Sclerosis (1995–97). Consultative neurology services across all clinical departments and emergency services at the Vienna General Hospital (AKH) (from 2002).

Elective rotations for Specialist Training:

• 09/1996–11/1996 – Hospital Resident at KH Lainz, Vienna (Urology).

• 10/1998–09/1999 – Psychiatry at the University Clinic for Psychiatry Vienna.

• 04/2002–12/2002 – Internal Medicine at the University Clinic for Emergency Medicine, Vienna.

01/2000–12/2001 – Honorary Clinical Assistant to Prof. Quinn at the Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Focus on diagnosis, therapy, and care for patients with complex movement disorders (Parkinson’s syndrome, Dystonia, Huntington’s disease, Tourette syndrome, etc.).

04/2003–01/2009 – Senior Physician at the Hospital of the Brothers of Saint John of God, Vienna.
Head of the Special Clinic for Movement Disorders and the Special Clinic for Dystonia (Botulinum Toxin injections). Senior Physician in charge of the Stroke Unit (including early rehabilitation) for 2 years. Head of the General Outpatient Clinic and General Ward.

02/2009–09/2011 – Senior Physician at the II. Neurological Department Rosenhügel, Hietzing Hospital.
Head of the Outpatient Clinics for Movement Disorders (Parkinson’s), Botulinum Toxin, and Memory Disorders.

05/2014–04/2015 – Medical Director at Hartmannspital: Planning and preparation of the merger between “Sankt Elisabeth-Spital” and “Hartmannspital.”

Since 2015 – Private Practice Specialist: Consultant and attending physician at the Döbling Private Clinic.

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY

• 1992–1993 – Dissertation on the effects of neurotransmitters on vascular tone.

• 1994–2002 – Member of the Neurophysiology Research Group (“cortical plasticity”).

• Key Research Areas: Non-invasive pre-surgical testing for epilepsy patients; clinical studies on β-Interferon in Multiple Sclerosis; effects of Deep Brain Stimulation (STN) on motor and cognitive functions in Parkinson’s patients.

International Research (London, 2000–2001):

• Research on Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and cortical plasticity.

• Syndrome description of “Orthostatic Tremor” (study of 41 patients), establishing a new classification system.

• Research on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in stroke and Parkinson’s patients.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS & PROJECTS

• Habilitation (2003): “Clinical and Functional Imaging of Parkinson’s Disease,” Medical Faculty of the University of Vienna.

• Project Management: Head of the research group for rTMS (2002–2003). Lead for FWF research project on cortical activity in Parkinson’s.

• Congress Management: Co-founder and organizer of the BRAINDAYS (2004–2006), an interdisciplinary neurological training series (Stroke, Pain, Dementia).

AWARDS & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Walter Birkmayer Prize (Austrian Parkinson’s Society, 2001).
Peer Reviewer: Regular reviewer (2000–2025) for journals including Brain, Neurology, Movement Disorders, and European Journal of Neurology.
Scientific Advisory Board: Austrian Parkinson’s Society (2005–2013).

PATIENT ADVOCACY & PUBLICATIONS

• Patient Forum: Operated an online forum for Parkinson’s patients and relatives (2004– 2013).

• Columns: Regular neurological columns in the weekly magazine “Ganze Woche” (2004– 2011).

• Books: ◦ Alzheimer’s – The Disease of Forgetting (Maudrich Verlag, 2008). ◦ Parkinson’s – Diagnosis, Symptoms, and Therapy Options (Maudrich Verlag, 2009).