MEMBERSHIP
The VNS boasts a long tradition of excellence in education, statewide representation, and comradery. We invite you to join us as we continue to grow, share ideas, and strive to improve the practice of neurology in the state of Virginia.
New Members
The neurologists below were admitted as new members at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
Jason Bateman, MD
VCU Health
Richmond, VA
2026
Seyedeh Nasim Cheraghi, MD
Bon Secours Neurology-Hanover
Richmond, VA
2026
Rachel Donaldson, DO
Bon Secours Neurlogy-St. Mary’s
Richmond, VA
2026
Ludna Maiden, NP
Bon Secours Neurology-Hanover
Richmond, VA
2026
Francesco Michelassi, MD, PhD
UVA Adult Neurology Clinic
Charlottesville, VA
2026
Sanaz Mzadeh, MD
Memorial Regional Medical Center
Richmond, VA
2026
In Memoriam
To our beloved colleagues, friends, and leaders…you will be missed
H. Blair Marstellar, MD
June 2, 1955 – July 17, 2018
For thirty years, Blair was dedicated to caring for his patients and making a positive difference in their lives. His colleagues will remember his work founding the first ALS clinic in Virginia and successfully introducing neuromuscular ultrasound to the Riverside EMG lab, one of the first such labs in the state to be certified by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Blair also served as President of the Virginia Neurological Society. Blair was a gentleman, a man of honor and integrity, committed to improving the world around him.
Justiniano “Justo” Fernandez Campa, MD, PhD
November 6, 1936 – November 23, 2019
Well known for being an outstanding diagnostician and truly caring for each of his patients, Dr. Campa retired in 2009 after 39 years of practice. Born out of his love for neurology and helping others, after retirement, Dr. Campa designed and produced the Neurostaff using Virginia artisans. He called this walking aid a “beautiful third leg” to help those with vertigo, post-surgical balance, casual hiking and walking. Full of a life well-lived and beautiful memories with family and friends, we can all be sure to fulfill his favorite Native American quotation, “I will be alive for as long as people remember me.”
Gordon Osler White, MD
November 14, 1935 – April 26, 2020
Dr. White thoroughly enjoyed the practice of medicine. He was the first Neurologist in the central Shenandoah Valley in 1971 and was a member of the AAN and the VNS.
Dr. White was a member of the Mennonite Church and served on disaster response teams with both Mennonite Disaster Services and Brethren Disaster Services. He volunteered at the Harrisonburg Free Clinic and with ESGR for the National Guard and Reserve troops. His other interests included membership in the Antique Automobile Club of America, the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, Europlate (European License Plate group), and the North American Vexillological Association. He was a docent at the Military Sea Service Museum in Sebring, Fla. and a Life Member of both the Seabee Veterans Association and Navy League. In Sebring, he was on the Board of Directors for the Sebring Historical Society, a member of the Ridge Coin Club, and a member of the Rotary Club of Harrisonburg, Va. and Sebring, Fla.
Travel was a lifelong passion and the White’s have traveled to all 7 continents, 188 countries of the world. In 2014, he and Linda completed a quest to visit every county of the 3143 counties in the United States. This last achievement was recognized by the Extra Miler Club of which they were members.
Dr. White is survived by his loving wife, Linda 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Ted Michael Burns, MD
September 2, 1966 – June 12, 2022
Ted Michael Burns is remembered for his unwavering curiosity and interest in other people, always wanting to learn more about each of us. Ted also had a passion for educating residents and other doctors. His battle with cancer gave him an opportunity to train doctors from the perspective of a patient including the importance of kindness as an essential element of treatment.
Throughout Ted’s career he was dedicated to clinical research, particularly the assessment and treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG). He developed and validated the use of the MG Composite and MG Quality of Life scales. The scales have been translated and validated into more than a dozen languages and are recognized worldwide as the standard for clinical trials. In 2010, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America presented him with its Doctor of the Year award.
Perhaps Ted’s most distinguished honor came in 2020 when fellow colleagues with support of the American Brain Foundation/AAN established the Ted M. Burns Humanism in Neurology Award. This endowed award, which will always bear his name, recognizes annually a neurology professional who is a gifted educator, one who delivers compassionate patient-centered care, and is passionate in educating future generations of neurologists to do the same.
Ted had a wide variety of interests beyond medicine. He excelled in academics and his interest in wine led to the founding of the Williams Corner Wine company by Ted and two partners. In 2009 Ted was a finalist for a James Beard award for one of his interviews, “Thomas Jefferson and Wine,” for the wine podcast GrapeRadio.
Ted is survived by his wife, Bonnie F. Burns, and children, Charles Griffin, Elizabeth Ward, and Sarah Ann, all of Charlottesville.