Suraj Malhan, DO, MS
Long before I became a neurologist, I was drawn to the invisible. I was fascinated by how pain—especially in the form of headaches—could disrupt a person’s life so completely, yet remain unseen, misunderstood, and often dismissed.
During medical school, I found myself gravitating toward patients whose stories didn’t fit into simple diagnostic boxes. These were the people living with chronic migraine, new daily persistent headache, facial pain, and other conditions that demanded more than a prescription—they required time, attention, and belief.
Being inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society during my training solidified my belief that compassionate care should never be optional. It’s the foundation of everything I do. From that moment forward, I knew I wanted to build a career around treating headache and facial pain, and advocating for patients who too often go unheard.
Neurologist • Headache & Facial Pain Specialist • Educator • Advocate
Why I Chose Headache Medicine
Top Physician under 40
In 2025, I was honored by the Pennsylvania Medical Society as one of their Top Physicians Under 40—a recognition that reflects my dedication to advancing care in headache and facial pain. This milestone fuels my continued passion for advocacy, education, and innovation in neurology.
Training & Clinical Focus
I completed my neurology residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where I developed a deep respect for complex, invisible conditions like migraine, facial pain syndromes, and chronic daily headache.
I then pursued fellowship training at the Jefferson Headache Center, one of the nation's leading programs in headache and facial pain, where I refined my approach to diagnosis, treatment, and clinical research.
🎯 Conditions I Treat Include:
Migraine (episodic, chronic, menstrual-related, vestibular)
New daily persistent headache (NDPH)
Cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs)
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH)
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH)
Post-traumatic headache
Cervicogenic headache
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)–related headache and pain
Trigeminal neuralgia and occipital neuralgia
Primary stabbing headache
Facial pain syndromes, including atypical facial pain and burning mouth syndrome
...and other complex or overlapping headache disorders not listed here
As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), I incorporate Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) into care when appropriate—especially for patients whose pain may stem from musculoskeletal dysfunction, posture issues, or neck-related headache syndromes. I’m currently helping build one of the first integrated cervicogenic headache programs using both neurologic and osteopathic techniques.
I believe advancing care means going beyond the clinic. That’s why I remain deeply involved in research, education, and patient advocacy.
My Efforts Include:
📌 Poster Presentations at:
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
American Headache Society (AHS)
Headache Cooperative of the Pacific (HCOP)
European Headache Congress (EHC)
American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA)
🧠 Research Projects on:
Real-world effectiveness of gepants for migraine prevention and acute treatment in diverse populations
Outcomes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), including post-stenting symptom improvement
Development of an AI-generated question bank for the Headache Board Exam using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Cervicogenic headache program design, integrating osteopathic manipulation and neurologic care pathways
Headache and substance use comorbidities — The SUD-SEM Protocol
Predictors of response to anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in migraine
Health disparities in headache care, including BMI-related outcomes in IIH
🏆 Recognition Through:
Frontiers in Headache Research Award – AHS
Miles for Migraine ACT Now Advocacy Fellowship
American Headache Society Runnin’ for Research Advocacy Award
Dr. Vanitha Appadorai Vaidya Award for Humaneness in Medicine
Inductee: Gold Humanism Honor Society & Omega Beta Iota
Pennsylvania Medical Society Top Physician Under 40
I actively collaborate with leading advocacy organizations like Miles for Migraine, the American Headache Society, and the American Migraine Foundation to promote access to care, empower patients, and reduce stigma surrounding chronic headache disorders.
Contact us
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