Dr. Megan Donnelly, Headache Neurologist

06/08/2026

Attacks on research have real, lasting, negative impact. Though this was written about diabetes research, the same applies to neurological research. The authors (which include the past president of the ADA, and speakers at the ADA conference) were kicked out for distributing this article (that was published in the ADA’s own journal). This just further highlights how imminent and real this existential threat is to science.

The opinions expressed in this editorial are the personal views of the authors (S.E. Kahn, C.A.M. Anderson, J.B. Buse, and E. Selvin) and do not represent

06/01/2026

The future is bright in neurology. In the last week, 3 of my students from this past year graduated medical school and have matched into neurology residencies. Dr Harshini Sirvisetty is heading to University of South Florida, Dr Shounak Lahiri is going to ECU, and Dr Ayesha Syed is staying at UNC. I couldn’t be more proud of these amazing future neurologists. I look forward to counting you colleagues in the future.
And I can’t wait until the day comes (summer of 2028 to be exact), that instead of excellent candidates like these matching elsewhere, they can stay here and match to train at Novant Neurology Residency.

01/27/2026

In medicine, silence is not neutral. As Elie Wiesel reminded us, “Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Our profession has long anchored itself in the Hippocratic call to first, do no harm. To my patients who are immigrants, marginalized, or underserved: I am here for you and stand with you, and weap with you.

Many faith traditions echo the importance of caring for humanity, especially the less fortunate. What is happening right now, is not ok. I plead on the most moral and ethical level that we choose humanity, kindness, and care. The Bible calls us to care for our shared humanity and for those in need—reminding us that how we treat others defines who we are. In choosing care over silence, we uphold both our oath and our humanity.

I’ve seen posts from healthcare workers stating they wish ill on the oppressors (and they are losing their jobs over this). To my patients who voted differently than me, I hope this post reaches you, too, for this reason. My oath is still the same: to provide the best possible care to every patient, without exception or qualification. Care is not conditional on beliefs, politics, or roles. Whether a neighbor, or stranger, or differing views, every person who comes to us is worthy of dignity, skill, and compassion. All are welcome. Especially those in greatest need and marginalized, but everyone is, without exception.

I do wish though, that Alex could have lived to do the same, instead of being murdered. Your healthcare community stands united with you. May your memory be a blessing to all who knew you. “Look for the helpers” said Mr Rogers. If we helpers could feel safe and protected while providing the help our hearts call us to serve, that would be great.

"I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman."

These words from Alex Pretti's parents, Michael and Susan, cut to the heart of everything.

Alex saw a federal agent pepper-spray a woman in the face, and guided her to the sidewalk away from danger. He saw another woman violently shoved to the ground by the same faceless coward and he didn't hesitate.

He stepped between them, using his body to protect her, raising his arms, his phone in one hand, the other empty and open, trying to deescalate a situation rapidly made dangerous by a man out of control. An armored thug, enraged by a man blocking him from reaching the woman he wanted to punish -- the woman who had dared to blow a whistle at him. And for that, they killed him.

One commentator observed how this moment of heroism encapsulated the contrast between real and false masculinity. The fragile masculinity of the faceless coward who attacked the vulnerable and executed the man who stood up for them -- versus the quiet courage of Alex Pretti. The healer who tried to protect while the agent raged.

"When I think about the 'crisis of masculinity' and the need for boys to have a healthy concept of masculine virtue," Amanda G. wrote, "I think of men who use their strength to help others. A good man is a man who helps people weaker than him or worse off than him: carries an exhausted child, reaches the stuff others can’t reach, controls his temper, uses his voice and presence to help, not hurt, and stands up to bullies. That’s the kind of men that are in my family and it’s the kind I am proud that my son is becoming. It's the kind of man Alex Pretti was.

A strong man in life's prime, working as a nurse, and showing up in a volatile scene to put himself between women and a jackboot who was shoving them around. He didn't swing a punch, he just stepped in to deescalate, to use his man's body as a shield for a person knocked to the ground. And the government that has forged itself into the grotesque inverse of that manly virtue executed him on the street for it."

This is the choice America faces: the healer or the thug. The protector or the executioner. Alex made his choice.

Now we make ours: stand with the heroes or the faceless cowards.

--> Here's how to take action against this lawlessness: Congress must fund the Department of Homeland Security by January 30, and spending bills require 60 votes in the Senate.

* Call your Senators at (202) 224-3121. Demand no DHS funding until ICE and Border Patrol are reined in and an independent investigation is launched into the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

* Call your Representative and demand real oversight of these lawless agencies -- and an independent investigation into the killings of American citizens by DHS agents.

To support the GoFundMe campaign for Alex's family, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/alex-pretti-is-an-american-hero

To join with others in your community who are standing up for democracy and the rule of law, you can find an Indivisible in your area at https://indivisible.org/groups

Supporting civil rights organizations like the ACLU that challenge DHS in court is one of the most effective ways to constrain their expanding power -- learn more at https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-detention

The New York Times has released frame-by-frame video analysis bringing together all observer footage of Alex Pretti's murder: https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000010668660/new-video-analysis-reveals-flawed-and-fatal-decisions-in-shooting-of-pretti.html?smid=url-share

For books for children and teens about the importance of standing up for truth, decency, and justice, even in dark times, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364

For books for tweens and teens about girls living under real-life authoritarian regimes throughout history that will help them appreciate how precious democracy truly is, visit our blog post "The Fragility of Freedom: Mighty Girl Books About Life Under Authoritarianism" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=32426

For children's books that encourage empathy and understanding of Mighty Girl immigrants of the past and present, visit our blog post, "A New Land, A New Life: 25 Mighty Girl Books About the Immigrant Experience" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12855

To stay connected with A Mighty Girl, you can sign-up for A Mighty Girl's free email newsletter at https://www.amightygirl.com/forms/newsletter

11/09/2025

https://www.empr.com/news/migraine-treatment-reyvow-discontinued-according-to-fda/

The decision to discontinue production was driven by business considerations rather than concerns about the product’s safety or effectiveness.

10/20/2025

When I started the first Center for Women’s Neurology in the state of North Carolina, it was because there was a dire need in the community for the specialty. Still to this day, patients frequently have to travel over 150 miles to get the care they need. Telehealth helps with this, but what is really needed are more neurologists who feel comfortable and confident treating neurological conditions during pregnancy and the postpartum period, during menopause, and in the setting of exogenous hormones of transgender care. At Novant Health, as we build our neurology residency, we will be sure to include this education are core curriculum, so the next generation of neurologists can fill this gap.

Women's Neurology is an emerging subspecialty that focuses on neurologic disorders across a woman's lifetime. This new domain recognizes that both health and disease are directly affected by hormonal and reproductive changes throughout the life span. This ...

10/11/2025

I’m delayed in posting this, because of work, meetings, speaking at Novant’s neuroscience symposium, giving grand rounds at Wake-Forest Baptist, and life. But it’s always wonderful catching with headache colleagues at Southern Headache Society. It’s seriously my favorite conference of the year. I learn so much, but more importantly I grow as a person being surrounded by some of the most humanistic, kind physicians I have the honor to know. Dr Morris Maizels said it best when he said “It’s like coming back to Hogwarts”. To return yearly is to go back to something so familiar, and yet so magical.

09/01/2025

This is a great time for Novant Health. Dr. Lauren Penwell-Waines, Dr. Sid Fletcher, Dr. Mark Higdon, and Dr. Katie Haga formally announced the names of inaugural residency program directors. I am humbled and honored to formally announce that I am the new residency program director for adult neurology. We will accept our first class in the summer of 2027. I am beyond excited for this opportunity, and even more so to get to work with Dr. Robert Wiggins, my neurology colleague, who will be assistant program director. This would not be possible without the unending support of Carl Armato and Dr Pam Oliver in leadership, Dr Joseph Pino in graduate medical education, and Dr Mark Murray in neurosciences, in addition to the support of Dr Penwell-Waines, Dr Higdon, and Dr Fletcher. Thank you for your confidence in me. This role is the perfect intersection of program development, education, leadership, and patient care. Tomorrow, I embark in this new role, and I feel that I’ve been preparing all my career for this. My excitement (with a fair bit of nervousness mixed in) is palpable.

08/21/2025

I am sharing a recent news segment I did with WCCB for migraine awareness month.

June is Migraine Awareness Month, and in today’s Novant Healthy Headlines, Tonya Rivens chats with Dr. Megan Donnelly, a neurologist with Novant Health’s Comprehensive Headache Center and women’s neurology, about migraines and the potential risks for other health complications that can be asso...

08/09/2025

I Agree. Prior auths are ruining healthcare and definitely eroding doctor-Patient relationships, because patients cannot understand why they cant get their medicine or the testing we ordered. They might assume we never ordered it, or that simply dont care. Patients then suffer if they cannot get their testing or medication. Outcomes and safety are seriously at stake.

To make matters worse, they get told by pharmacists “your doctor hasn’t authorized the med”. We ordered it and therefore certainly authorize the orders WE placed; but insurance denies it. Words matter. Moreso, big box pharmacies take zero interest in trying to get meds apprved, utilizing savings cards, or goodrx. They just say nope and punt the problem back to the patient, who is stuck in limbo between what the doctors office is telling them, what their pharmacist is telling them, and what their insurance is telling them- trying to decipher who is telling them the truth.

I am 100% on the patients’ side with their frustration; we are right there frustrated with you. We care deeply, and the moral injury of seeing our patients sad/frustrated/in pain because of their insurance refusing to cover anything is just heartbreaking.

(On a side note, anyone can start a prior authorization— from the medical assistant, to the patient themself, or the pharmacy tech. Best would be to get rid of auths all together, but it might give agency to patients for them to know they have some power in this process to do their auths. I think most are not aware they can.)

Insurers claim prior authorization protects patients. In reality, it’s a costly system that second-guesses doctors, rewards middlemen and drives Americans to abandon treatment altogether.

07/16/2025

We are thrillled to announce the start of several new residency programs at Novant Health Charlotte Region. And more specifically, we will have a categorical Neurology residency, with first class planned for summer of 2027. This is going to be great for the city and patients of Charlotte to ensure expanded access to world class trained neurologists. More info to come in the near future 🧠

The future of medicine is coming to the Queen City.