Bart Demaerschalk

Bart Demaerschalk, MD grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There he completed a B.Sc. in Cell and Developmental Biology (1991) and an M.D. (1994) at University of British Columbia. He moved to Ontario, Canada to complete Neurology Residency (1999) and Vascular Neurology Fellowship (2001) at University of Western Ontario, Medical Professional Education (2001) at University of Toronto, and a M.Sc. in Health Research Methodology (Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics) (2001) at McMaster University. He accepted a clinical and academic position in the Divisions of Cerebrovascular Diseases and Critical Care Neurology, Department of Neurology, at Mayo Clinic in 2001.

His clinical and research interests have included acute ischemic stroke and its management, intracerebral hemorrhage, thrombolysis, regional stroke systems of care, telemedicine, health economic analysis, systematic review and meta-analysis, evidence-based medicine, and patent foramen ovale (PFO) associated ischemic stroke and migraine.

He is the site Principal Investigator for Randomized Evaluation of Recurrent Stroke Comparing PFO Closure to Established Current Standard of Care Treatment (RESPECT) Trial at Mayo Clinic. He has collaborated with Mayo Clinic co-investigators to study the association between PFO and migraine with and without aura. His research has also included studying the screening and detection of PFO and the test-related complications which may result.

For leisure, he enjoys time with family, ice hockey, wilderness exploration, high altitude trekking, and mountain biking.