March Member Spotlight: Larry “LC” Charleston IV, MD, MSc, FAHS

Larry “LC” Charleston reflects on his years of headache disorder advocacy

This March, we are putting the spotlight on Larry “LC” Charleston, MD, MSc, FAHS, a member of the American Headache Society who is dedicated to furthering the field of headache science. He has been a member of AHS for ten years and is a member of multiple Special Interest Sections.

The goal of Dr. Charleston’s neurological career has been to make high-quality headache care available to all who need it. “I’m continuing to learn from others, both in and outside the field of headache medicine, in order to be an advocate for optimal headache care delivery, awareness and policy for those affected by headache disorders,” said Dr. Charleston.

Dr. Charleston was inspired to study headache disorders during his residency after treating a patient diagnosed with chronic migraine. The patient experienced unilateral and side-locked continuous headaches that fluctuated from mildly moderate to severe in intensity, with some cranial autonomic symptoms. Dr. Charleston learned about a diagnosis called hemicrania continua, a headache disorder that is responsive to medication. Once started on medication, the patient’s condition improved.

“This piqued my interest in headache medicine,” Dr. Charleston said. “After that, I began to seriously focus on headache disorders.”

After his residency, Dr. Charleston completed a United Council Neurological Subspecialties accredited headache medicine fellowship at the Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University in 2010. In 2013, Dr. Charleston became an AHS Fellow, and three years later, he was internationally selected for the inaugural class of the AHS Emerging Leaders program. He completed his masters at the University of Michigan in 2017. In 2018, he was selected as a University of Michigan Road Scholar where he was able to begin spreading awareness of headache disorders and headache medicine throughout the state of Michigan.

Currently, within AHS, Dr. Charleston is a member of Procedural Headache Medicine, Underserved Populations in Headache Medicine, Complementary & Integrative Medicine, Refractory, Inpatient & Emergency Care and New Investigators and Trainees Special Interest Sections. He is also the former the former chair of the Underserved Populations in Headache Medicine Section.

“I’ve learned that, unfortunately, many headache disorders are misunderstood and underdiagnosed in the U.S.,” said Dr. Charleston. “I have strived to improve care through a legislative fellowship, advocacy, teaching and training providers, educating patients, continual medical education and more.”

On behalf of the American Headache Society, we would like to thank Dr. Charleston for his membership and dedication to the migraine community.

About Larry “LC” Charleston IV

Name: Larry “LC” Charleston IV, MD, MSc, FAHS

AHS Membership: Member since 2009

Primary: Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan’s Department of Neurology; Member of Procedural Headache Medicine Section; Member of Underserved Populations in Headache Medicine Section; Member of Complementary & Integrative Medicine Section; Member of Refractory, Inpatient & Emergency Care Section; Member of New Investigators and Trainees Section.

Quote: “Our best strategy to overcome the challenges and impact of migraine and headache disorders is through effective collaboration with patients, providers, caregivers, government, industry and the public.”