Marisara Dieppa, M.D., becomes first Sports Neurology Fellow at UT Southwestern
By Julie Kirchem, Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics
Marisara Dieppa, M.D.,was once on the path to becoming a professional volleyball player, but her career was cut short in her senior year of high school by an ACL injury. When she realized that volleyball wasn’t a part of her future, Dr. Dieppa set her sights on becoming a doctor.
She attended Ponce Medical School in her native Puerto Rico where one of her professors stirred her interest in neurology.
"My neurosciences professor was so passionate about the field and he made neurology look fun,” said Dr. Dieppa.
She also had a very personal motivation for her interest in how the brain works – three of her four grandparents suffered from dementia. Dr. Dieppa applied to several residency programs in neurology but UT Southwestern stood out.
“When I came to interview, I felt very comfortable here,” she said. “That was important to me as well as having so many neurology faculty who are experts in their specialties.”
Dr. Dieppa completed her residency at UT Southwestern in 2013 and then trained here as a fellow in neurophysiology. She is now an Instructor in the Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics and the first ever Sports Neurology Fellow at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Dieppa will work with Dr. John Hart Jr., Medical Science Director at the UTD Center for BrainHealth and Professor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics and Psychiatry at UT Southwestern. Dr. Dieppa's focus will be treating concussions and brain injuries in patients who have suffered symptoms such as memory problems, headaches and balance.
Sports neurology is an emerging field and encompasses all neurological disorders and complications that can occur as a consequence of sports and athletic activity.
As a former athlete herself, Dr. Dieppa enjoys working with sports enthusiasts.
“It feels great to help people who are passionate and have worked so hard and made many sacrifices to do what they love,” said Dr. Dieppa. “Athletes are motivated to get better so they can get back to playing as soon as possible.”
Dr. Dieppa is also enthusiastic about conducting research in her new specialty.
“This is the forefront of something new in neurology. There are still so many questions yet to be answered and so many research opportunities.”