Steven Joel Frucht MD

Steven Frucht, MD, a renowned expert in hyperkinetic movement disorders, has joined The Mount Sinai Medical Center as Director of the Movement Disorders Division in the Robert and John M. Bendheim Parkinson and Movement Disorders Center, and as Professor of Neurology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His appointment began on January 1.

"As a leader in movement disorders, Dr. Frucht has made significant contributions to understanding and treating dystonia, myoclonus, and tremor," said Stuart C. Sealfon, MD, Glickenhaus Professor and Chair, Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "We are very happy to have recruited this master clinician, outstanding teacher, and researcher to direct the division."

In addition to evaluating the full spectrum of patients with movement disorders, Dr. Frucht’s research interests focus on the evaluation and treatment of tremors and myoclonus, or brief and involuntary movements of the arms and legs. He is especially interested in task-specific dystonia, a movement disorder characterized by abnormal, involuntary, and sometimes painful muscle contractions. As a classically trained violinist and pianist, Dr. Frucht has a particular interest in how task-specific dystonia affects musicians. Research shows musicians may be more susceptible to the condition, which can be a career-ending diagnosis.

At Mount Sinai, Dr. Frucht plans to further his research of hyperkinetic movement disorders and expand experimental therapeutics research in the Movement Disorders Division. He plans to consolidate the strengths of the program, further its commitment to community medicine, and increase funding for research happening at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Frucht serves as a permanent member of the National Institutes of Health K-award study section for neurology, which supports a period of mentored or independent career development in preparation for a role as an independent researcher. He has participated in numerous clinical trials, published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, and authored two textbooks. Dr. Frucht is an active member of the Parkinson Study Group, Huntington Study Group, and Dystonia Study Group, and has lectured nationally and internationally in courses sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and International Movement Disorders Society.

A native New Yorker, Dr. Frucht received his undergraduate and medical degrees at Harvard before training in neurology at New York Hospital, where he served as chief resident. After completing training in Clinical Movement Disorders at Columbia University, he joined the Columbia faculty where he remained until his appointment at Mount Sinai.