Laura Buyan Dent, MD, PhD

Laura Buyan-Dent, MD, PhD, is a UW Health neurologist. She’s also an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and director of the Movement Disorders and Parkinson’s Program.

Dr. Buyan-Dent diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the brain, nerves and nervous system. She cares for patients with conditions such as tremors, dystonia (involuntary muscle contractions), ataxia (loss of muscle control affecting balance, coordination and movement) and movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder affecting the brain.

Taking time to get to know patients, Dr. Buyan-Dent identifies their interests, activities and goals. She recommends treatments such as medical and physical therapies for balance and coordination, injection therapies for muscle spasms and surgical procedures.

Dr. Buyan-Dent directs specialty movement disorder clinics where she provides therapies tailored to certain conditions and symptoms. Her subspecialty interests include helping performing artists with nerve and movement disorders that affect their performance. She also helps treat and prevent performance-related overuse injuries.

Dr. Buyan-Dent’s research interests include Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders.

In her free time, Dr. Buyan-Dent enjoys spending time with her family, playing the harp and spending time with her pets.

Many of my patients have life-altering diseases. It’s a privilege to help them improve their lives and live life to the fullest — we’re in this together.