Michael Sowell, M.D., FAHS

Professor, Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics

Director, University of Louisville Child Neurology Residency Program
Director, University of Louisville Comprehensive Headache Program


Room 113A, A Bldg., HSC (502) 852-7981

Dr. Sowell joined the University of Louisville School of Medicine faculty full-time in 2002 and founded the University of Louisville Comprehensive Headache
Program, of which he serves as Director. In 2005, he also established and is Director of the Child Neurology Residency Program. The Headache Program is
the first Academic Headache Medicine Program of its kind in Kentucky to serve the needs of patient care, teaching, research and community service in the field
of Headache Medicine, serving both the pediatric and adult age groups. The Child Neurology Residency program is the first training program for Child
Neurology at the University of Louisville. Dr. Sowell is board-certified in Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology, as well as, board-
certified in Headache Medicine. He is also a Fellow of the American Headache Society since 2010, one of the first in the state of Kentucky.

Dr. Sowell completed medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1987. He completed a residency in Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in 1990. He then completed a residency-fellowship in Neurology (Child) at Washington University in St. Louis (Barnes Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospitals) in 1993. He came to Louisville in 1993 and was in private practice in both adult and pediatric neurology prior to joining the University of Louisville.

Specializes in

Headache Disorders, Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, Neurology Education

Education

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, MD 1987
Southern Methodist University, BA (Chemistry)/BA (Psychology) 1983, cum laude

Training

Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1987-1990
Neurology and Child Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Complex and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, 1990-1993

Board Certifications

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology, 1994, 2004
United Council of Neurological Subspecialties; Headache Medicine 2010
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure #29570

Clinical Interests

Headache, Migraine, Cluster, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Facial Pain, Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion

Research Interests

Dr. Sowell is interested in headache, facial pain, traumatic brain injury, concussion and other headache disorders, both in the adult population and the pediatric population.

Selected Publications

Hershey A.D., Powers S.W., Nelson T.D., Kabbouche M.A., Winner P, Yonker M, Linder S.L., Bicknese A., Sowell M.K., McClintock W. and the American Headache Society Pediatric Adolescent Section: “Obesity in the Pediatric Headache Population: A Multi-Center Study”, Headache 2009;49:170-177

Sowell M.K., Plato B.M.: Oral Levetiracetam as a Transitional Medication in Medication Overuse Headache: A Retrospective Review, Headache and Pain 18(3): 42-57, 2007.

Lewis D.W., Yonker M., Winner P. and Sowell, M.K.: The Treatment of Pediatric Migraine. Pediatric Annals. 34 (6): 448-460, 2005.