Donald P. Younkin, MD
Areas of expertise: Epilepsy, Headaches, Stroke
About Donald P. Younkin, MD
Donald P. Younkin, MD, has a longstanding interest in pediatric headache disorders. He has participated in many therapeutic drug trials in pediatric headache and has contributed to several books and publications in headache.
A graduate of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo, NY, Dr. Younkin completed an internship and three-year pediatric residency at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, NY. He completed a pediatric neurology residency and subsequent fellowship at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, both in Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Younkin is board certified in child neurology and pediatrics.
Titles
Attending Physician
Professor Emeritus of Neurology and Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Child Neurology – American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Headache Medicine – National Headache Foundation
Pediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics
Awards and Honors
2022, Main Line Today Top Docs, Neurology
2022, SJ Mag's Top Docs in Neurology
1983-1988, Teacher-Investigator Award, National Institute of Health (NSI-EA 1 K07 NS 00774-01 NSPB)
1980, American Heart Association Individual Research Grant
1979, Muscular Dystrophy Association Fellowship
1967-1980, Charles Dana Scholar, Hamilton College
1970, Highest Honors in Chemistry, Hamilton College
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
American Academy for the Advancement of Science
American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for the Study of Headache
Child Neurology Society
International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
Professors of Child Neurology
Society for Pediatric Research
Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Editorial and Academic Positions
Academic Committees
2006 - Evaluation Sub-Committee, Committee on Appointments and Promotions
1996 - Member, Neurology/Neuroscience Education Committee, Department of Neurology
Education & training
Medical Degree
MD - State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine, Buffalo, NY
Internship
Pediatrics - Buffalo Children's Hospital, Buffalo, NY
Residency
Pediatrics - Buffalo Children's Hospital, Buffalo, NY
Pediatric Neurology - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship
Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical Fellowship - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cerebrovascular Research Center Fellowship - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Publications
Publications
2014
Milligan Carol J, Li Melody, Gazina Elena V, Heron Sarah E, Nair Umesh, Trager Chantel, Reid Christopher A, Venkat Anu, Younkin Donald P, Dlugos Dennis J, Petrovski Slavé, Goldstein David B, Dibbens Leanne M, Scheffer Ingrid E, Berkovic Samuel F, Petrou Steven: KCNT1 gain of function in 2 epilepsy phenotypes is reversed by quinidine. Annals of neurology 75(4): 581-90, 2014.
2011
Goldberg E.M., Schwartz E.S., Younkin D., Myers S.R.: Atypical syncope in a child due to a colloid cyst of the third ventricle. Pediatr Neurol 45: 331-4, 2011.
2004
Telfeian AE, Judkins A, Younkin D, Pollock AN, Crino P: Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma with cranial and spinal metastases in a patient with tuberous sclerosis. Case report. J Neurosurg 100: 498-500, 2004.
2002
Pegelow C.H., Macklin E.A., Moser F.G., Wang W.C., Bello J.A., Miller S.T., Vichinsky E.P., DeBaun M.R., Guarini L., Zimmerman R.A., Younkin D.P., Gallagher D.M., Kinney T.R.: Longitudinal changes in brain MRI findings in children with sickle cell disease. Blood 99: 3014-3018, 2002.
2001
Licht D.J., Berry G.T., Brooks D.G., Younkin D.P.: Reversible subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord in a 14-year old due to a strict vegan diet. Clinical Pediatrics 40: 413-415, 2001.
Sun P.P., Harrop J., Younkin D., Sutton L.N.: Complete spontaneous resolution of childhood chiari I malformation and associated syringomyelia. Pediatrics 107: 182-4, 2001.
Miller S.T., Macklin E.A., Pegelow C.H., Kinney T.R., Sleeper L.A., Bello J.A., DeWitt L.D., Gallagher D.M., Guarini L., Moser F.G., Ohene-Frempong K., Sanchez N., Vichinsky E.P., Wang W.C., Wethers D.L., Younkin D.P., Zimmerman R.A., DeBaun M.R.: The cooperative study of sickle cell disease. Silent infarction as a risk factor for overt stroke in children with sickle cell anemia: a report from the cooperative study of sickle cell disease. J. Pediatr 139: 385-390, 2001.
1998
Thorarensen O., Younkin D.P.: Factor V Leiden as a cause of hemiplegic cerebral palsy, neonatal stroke, and placental thrombosis? Ann Neurol 42:426-427, 1998 (letter to editor).
1997
Thorarensen O., Ryan S., Hunter J., Younkin D.P.: Factor V Leiden mutation: An unrecognized cause of hemiplegic cerebral palsy, neonatal stroke and placental thrombosis. Ann Neurol 42: 372-376, 1997.
1995
Yoshioka, A., Hardy M., Younkin D.P., Grinspan J.B., Stern J.L., Pleasure D.: a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptors mediate excitotoxicity in the oligodendroglial lineage. J. Neurochem 64: 2442-2448, 1995.
1994
Hardy, M., Younkin D.P., Tang C-M., Pleasure J., Shi Q-Y.S., Williams M., Pleasure D.: Expression of non-NMDA glutamate receptor genes by clonal human neurons. J. Neurochem 63: 482-489, 1994.
1993
Younkin, D.P.: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Clin Invest Med 16: 23-29, 1993.
Younkin, D.P., Tang C-M., Hardy M., Reddy U.R., Pleasure S.J., Lee V.M-Y., Pleasure D.: Inducible expression of neuronal glutamate receptor-channels in the NT2 human cell line. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 2174-2178, 1993.
1992
Younkin, D.P.: Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury of the newborn - statement of the problem and overview. Brain Pathology 2: 209-210, 1992.
1991
Barron T.F., Younkin D.P.: Propranolol therapy for shuddering attacks. Neurology 42: 258-9, 1991.
Barron T.F., Galetta S.L., Arner J.A., Younkin D.P.: Bilateral ophthalmoparesis associated with bacterial meningitis. Clin Pediatr 30: 258-9, 1991.
1988
Younkin, D.P., Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M., Obrist, W.D., Jaggi, J., Reivich, M.: Regional differences in newborn cerebral blood flow, J. Pediatrics 112: 104-108, 1988.
Younkin D.P., Medoff-Cooper B, Sinwell T, Guillet R, Delivoria-Papadopoulos M, Chance B: In vivo 31-P NMR measurement of chronic changes in cerebral metabolites following neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage. Pediatrics 82: 331-336, 1988.
1987
Younkin, D.P., Berman, P., Sladky, J., Chee, C., Bank, W., Chance, B.: 31-P NMR Studies in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Age related metabolic changes. Neurology 37: 165-169, 1987,
Younkin, D.P., Wagerle, L.C., Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M., Maris, J., Chance, B.: 31-P NMR spectroscopic studies of cerebral metabolic changes during graded hypoxia in newborn lambs. Am J Appl Physiol 62: 1569-1574, 1987.
Younkin, D.P., Reivich M., Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M.: Effect of hematocrit and systolic blood pressure on cerebral blood flow in healthy newborn infants. J CBF and Metabolism 7: 295-300, 1987.
1986
Burke, A.M., Younkin, D.P., Gordon, J., Goldberg, H., Graham, T., Kushner, M., Obrist, W., Jaggi, J., Rosen, M., Reivich, M.: Changes in cerebral blood flow and recovery from acute stroke. Stroke 17: 173-178, 1986.
Younkin, D.P., Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M., Maris, J., Donlon, E., Clancy, R., Chance, B.: Cerebral metabolic effects of neonatal seizures measured with in vivo 31-P NMR spectroscopy. Ann Neurol 20: 513-519, 1986.
Chance B, Younkin DP, Kelly R, Bank WJ, Berkowitz HD, Argov Z, Donlon E, Boden B, McCully D, Buist NMR, Dennaway N: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of normal and diseased muscles. Am. J. Genetics 25: 659-679, 1986.
1985
Clancy, R., Kurtz, M., Baker, D., Sladky, J., Honig, P., Younkin, D.P.: Neurological manifestation of the organoid nevus syndrome. Arch Neurol 42: 236-240, 1985.
Younkin, D.P., Hungerbuhler, J.P., O’Connor, M., Goldberg, H., Burke, A., Kushner, M., Hurtig, H., Obrist, W., Gordon, J., Gur, J., Gur, R., Reivich, M.: Superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery anastomosis: Immediate and long term impact on cerebral blood flow, neurologic examination, and neuropsychologic function. Neurology 35: 462-469, 1985.
Clancy, R.R., Malin, S., Laraque, D., Baumgart, S., Younkin, D.P.: Focal motor seizures heralding strokes in neonates and infants. Am J Dis Child 139: 601-606, 1985.
Leonard, J.C., Younkin, D.P., Leigh, J.S., Jr., Alavi, A., Kressel, H.Y., Zimmerman, R., Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M., Chance, B.: Nuclear magnetic resonance: An overview with emphasis on the application of P-31 spectroscopy and H-1 proton imaging in pediatric patients. J Pediatr 106: 756-761, 1985.
1984
Kushner, M.J., Younkin, D.P., Weinberger, J., Hurtig, H., Goldberg, H., Reivich, M.: Cerebral hemodynamics in the diagnosis of dementia. Neurology 34: 96-99, 1984.
Wiznitzer, M., Younkin, D.P.: Phenobarbital induced dyskinesia in a neurologically-impaired child. Neurology 34: 1600-1601, 1984.
Younkin, D.P., Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M., Leonard, J.C., Subramanian, V.H., Eleff, S., Chance, B.: Unique aspects of human newborn cortical metabolism evaluated with 31-P NMR spectroscopy. Annals of Neurology 16: 581-586, 1984.
Gur, R.E., Skolnick, B.E., Gur, R.C., Caroff, S., Rieger, W., Obrist, W.D., Younkin, D.P., Reivich, M.; Brain function in psychiatric disorders: II. Regional cerebral blood flow in medicated unipolar depressions. Arch Gen Psych 41: 695-699, 1984.
1983
Gur, R.E., Skolnick, B.E., Gur, R.C., Caroff, S., Rieger, W., Obrist, W.D., Younkin, D.P., Reivich, M.: Brain function in psychiatric disorders: I. Regional cerebral blood flow in medicated schizophrenics. Arch Gen Psychiatry 40: 1250-1254, 1983.
Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M., Younkin, D.P., Wagerle, L.C., DeSoigne, R.C.: Cerebral blood flow of the newborn. Pediatriki 6: 3-8, 1983.
1982
Gur, R.C., Gur, R.E., Obrist, W.D., Younkin, D., Hungerbuhler, J.P., Rosen, A.D., Skolnick,B.E., Reivich, M.: Sex and handedness differences in cerebral blood flow during rest and cognitive activity. Science 217: 659-661, 1982.
Younkin, D.P., Reivich M., Jaggi J., Obrist, W.D., Delivoria-Papadopoulos, M.,: Noninvasive method of estimating human newborn rCBF. J. CBF and Metab, 2: 415-420, 1982.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2008
Abend, N., Younkin, D.P. (2008): Medical Causes of Headache. In, Headache in Children and Adolescents, Second Edition. Eds., Winner P., Lewis D., Rothner A.D., (Hamilton, BC Decker Inc.), pp 177-203.
2002
Younkin, D. P., Hendell M (2002): Breath Holding Spells. In, Encyclopedia of Neurological Sciences. Eds., Aminoff MJ, Daroff RB, in press.
Younkin, D.P., Thorarensen, O. (2002): Pediatric Cerebrovascular Diseases. In, Rudolph’s Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st Edition. Eds. Rudolph CD, Rudolph AM, Hostetter MK, Lister G, Siegel NJ, (New York, McGraw-Hill), pp 2231-2242.
2000
Younkin, D.P. (2000): Neurological Complications of Systemic Disease in Children. In, Neurology in Clinical Practice, Third Edition. eds., Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Marsden CD, (Boston, Butterworth-Heinemann), pp 1035-1045.
1999
Dlugos, D., Younkin, D.P. (1999) Neurocutaneous Disorders. In, Current Pediatric Therapy, 16th Edition. eds., F. Burg, R. Polin, J. Ingelfinger, E.R. Ward, (Philadelphia, WB Saunders), pp 469-472.
1998
Younkin, D.P. (1998): Physiologic Aspects of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. In, Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, Second Edition. eds., Polin RA, Fox WW, (Philadelphia, WB Saunders), pp 2137-2146
1996
Younkin, D.P. (1996): Neurological Complications of Systemic Disease. In, Pocket Companion to Neurology in Clinical Practice Second Edition. eds., Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Marsden CD, (Boston, Butterworth-Heinemann), pp 179-206.
Younkin, D.P. (1996): Neurological Complications of Systemic Disease in Children. In, Neurology in Clinical Practice, Second Edition. eds., Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Marsden CD, (Boston, Butterworth-Heinemann), pp 931-939.
1992
DiMario F.J., Younkin, D.P. (1992): Disorders of the Respiratory System. In, Berg BO, ed, Neurologic Aspects of Pediatrics, ed. Berg BO. (Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann), pp339-360, 1992.
Younkin, D.P. (1992): Developmental Biochemistry: Studies in vivo with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In, Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, eds., Polin RA, Fox WW, (Philadelphia, WB Saunders), pp1531-1539.
1990
Delivoria-Papadopoulos M., Younkin D. P., Chance B. (1990): Cerebral metabolic studies during neonatal seizures with 31-P NMR spectroscopy. In, Neonatal Seizures. eds. C. Wasterlain & P. Vert. (New York: Raven Press), pp. 183-191.