Blair Ford, MD
Overview
Dr. Ford is a clinician, medical educator and clinical-investigator whose practice and research focuses on Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, including tremor, dystonia, Tourette syndrome, myoclonus, ataxia and chorea. Trained in Canada and the US in Internal Medicine and Neurology, he is board-certified in both specialties. His primary clinical work and research involves neuromodulation treatment using deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, tremor and dystonia. He serves as Medical Director for the Center for Neuromodulation and Movement Disorder Surgery, a collaboration between the Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery at Columbia University that he co-founded in 1997.
As an educator, Dr. Ford has held the leadership position of the Department’s main educational programs – the Neurology Clerkship and the Neurology Residency Program; in this latter role, he served as the national Chair of Neurology Residency Program directors. Currently, Dr. Ford is Program Director for Columbia’s Movement disorders fellowship. An innovative teacher who makes extensive use of video, Dr. Ford has won numerous education, including Vagelos Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons Bohmfalk Award, the medical school’s highest recognition for excellence in clinical teaching. He has won both of the Department of Neurology’s highest teaching awards, the Steven Shafer Award for humanism, and the Lewis P. Rowland Award for clinical excellence.
Dr. Ford has served as an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. A Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and a member of the American Neurological Association, Dr. Ford served for two terms on the Education Committee of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). He has contributed over 100 original articles, reviews, and book chapters to the literature. Dr. Ford has lectured extensively on topics ranging from movement disorders, clinical neuroanatomy, neuromodulation to medical education. He has reviewed articles for Archives of Neurology, Movement Disorders, Neurology and the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Ford served as Scientific Editor for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and has been listed as one of America's Best Doctors since 2002.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Movement Disorder
- Parkinson's Disease
- Tourette Syndrome
- Tremor
Academic Appointments
- Professor of Neurology at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Director, Movement Disorders Surgery Center
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Languages
- French
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Phone Appointments
Connect Patient Portal
For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Capital District Physician Health Plan
- Capital District Physician Health Plan
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Elderplan
- Medicare Managed Care
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Health First
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP)
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Health Plus - Amerigroup
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Traditional Medicare
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Oxford Health Plans
- Freedom
- Liberty
United Health Care
- Columbia Employee POS
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth
- Medicare Managed Care
- Select Health
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- McGill University Faculty of Medicine
- Residency: Rhode Island Hospital
- Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
Board Certifications
- Neurology
- Internal Medicine
Research
Research Interests
- Neurosurgical treatment using deep brain stimulati
- Parkinson's disease and movement disorders
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov