Wendy Sulina Vargas, MD

Overview
Dr. Wendy Vargas is an Assistant Professor in Neurology at the Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) and an Attending Neurologist at the NewYork-Presbyterian NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She is board-certified in Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology. Dr. Vargas is one of a handful of pediatric neurologists with subspecialty training in multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. She is the program leader for the Pediatric MS and Neuroimmunology Program at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Vargas sees and cares for both adults and children with MS and other related inflammatory disorders of the brain and spine.
Dr. Vargas received her Bachelor of Science at Cornell University before obtaining her MD from the State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency training at the Children's Hospital in Boston. Following her residency, Dr. Vargas completed a Pediatric Neurology Fellowship at the NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She went on to complete an additional Fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis and other Demyelinating Diseases at the Weill Cornell Multiple Sclerosis Center, working with adults and children with MS and other demyelinating diseases.
Her clinical interests include pediatric and adult multiple sclerosis, acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis, pediatric neuromyelitis optica, clinically isolated syndromes such as childhood optic neuritis and transverse myelitis, and other autoimmune diseases of the nervous system.
* Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
* ADEM (acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis)
* Transverse myelitis
* Optic neuritis
* Clinically isolated syndrome
* Neuromyelitis optica
* Autoimmune encephalitis
* Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
* Sydenham’s Chorea
* Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome
* CNS Vasculitis
* CNS Lupus
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- ADEM - acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis
- Anti MOG (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein)
- Autoimmune encephalitis
- Child Neurology
- Guillain-Barre
- LGI1 encephalitis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurology complications of lupus
- Neuromyelitis Optica
- Neuro vasculitis
- Optic Neuritis
- Transverse Myelitis
Academic Appointments
- Assistant Professor of Neurology
Administrative Titles
- Pediatric MS/Neuroimmunology Program Leader
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Languages
- Spanish
Gender
- Female
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
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Phone Appointments
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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
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Oxford Health Plans
- Freedom
- Liberty
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- 2007 State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine
- Residency: 2012 NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
- Residency: 2012 Weill Cornell Medical College
Board Certifications
- Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology
- Child Neurology
Research
Dr. Vargas' research focuses on novel MRI techniques and cognitive dysfunction in both childhood and early adult multiple sclerosis.
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov