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Neurological Associates began in 1929
The practice now known as Neurological Associates began in 1929, when Harry Everett LeFever (1900-1961)  returned to Columbus, OH, after training with Daniel Petit-Dutaillis and Clovis Vincent in Paris, France. Before his European experience, Dr. LeFever had trained with Charles Frazier, Philadelphia General Hospital, University of Pennsylvania. He had also "audited" Alfred Adson at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Harvey Cushing at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospitals in Boston. Neurosurgical training in those days was very much a "one-on-one" apprenticeship, as formal training programs in this fledgling surgical sub-specialty did not exist.
Dr. LeFever was born in Glouster, OH, son of Everett LeFever, State Senator from that area. He attended Ohio University, graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa and went on to medical school at Jefferson in Philadelphia. He completed an internship at Philadelphia General Hospital.
Neurosurgery is a new concept
In 1939, Dr. LeFever took the first neurosurgical board examination offered and received the highest grade of that session.
 At that time, neurosurgery was a new concept, and as the first neurosurgeon in central Ohio, Dr. LeFever had some difficulty convincing people that his chosen area of sub-specialty was a legitimate one. One day, the daughter of a prominent Columbus family was admitted to the hospital with symptoms and signs of epidural hematoma (blood clot over the surface of the brain). Unfortunately, these signs went unrecognized by the prominent general surgeon who attended her. As her condition worsened, the family insisted on further evaluation and the general surgeon turned finally to Dr. LeFever for his help.
Dr. LeFever expeditiously made the proper diagnosis and after successful surgical intervention. With drainage of the clot, the patient's condition improved significantly. He was instantly established as a legitimate practitioner of neurological surgery.
Dr. LeFever takes an assistant
Although a formal training program was not established until after World War ll, Dr. LeFever took Dr. Roy J. Secrest as an assistant, teaching him as he would a resident. Dr. Secrest joined the practice after finishing his training.
 At the outbreak of World War ll, Dr. LeFever volunteered his services to the military and Dr. Secrest maintained the practice in his absence.
The next additions to the group were Dr. William E. Hunt and Dr. Martin P. Sayers, both of whom were influenced by Dr. LeFever as medical students at OSU. After finishing their training at Philadelphia General Hospital and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis respectively, these two joined the group making it LeFever, Secrest, Sayers and Hunt. Dr. Sayers would go on to become Professor of Neurological Surgery and head of the Pediatric Neurosurgery service, while Dr. Hunt became Professor and Chairman of Neurosurgery at Ohio State University. At about this time, the practice moved from the Buttles Road office, next to White Cross Hospital, to a new office building on Olentangy River Road, in order to obtain much needed space.
 Shortly thereafter, Dr. John N. Meagher, a graduate from the Ohio State University, completed the neurosurgical residency training program and did further clinical and bench research at Barnes Hospital with Dr. Henry Schwartz and the neurophysiology team of Bishop and O'Leary. He then returned to Columbus to join the practice. Dr. Meagher was very active in teaching the Ohio State neurosurgical residents as they rotated through Riverside Methodist Hospital and became the residency program coordinator at Riverside. He was succeeded in this position by Dr. James Barnes and more recently by Dr. Janet Bay. The heritage of teaching residents and medical students has remained strong at Neurological Associates with most of our current staff holding clinical faculty positions at OSU.
When Dr. Hunt left the practice to pursue full-time academic work, Dr. Charles Rossel and Dr. James Barnes were added to the practice to help manage the increasing workload. Soon thereafter, Dr. Edward Kosnik joined as Pediatric Neurosurgeon to assist Dr. Sayers. He succeeded Dr. Sayers as head of the Pediatric Neurosurgery section at Children's Hospital when Dr. Sayers retired.
Neurological Associates grows
During the mid-sixties, the group incorporated as Neurological Associates and added Dr. George Paulson in neurology. Dr. Paulson was an active member of the practice until he left to become Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology at Ohio State. 
Once again in search of more space, the group moved to 931 Chatham Lane near Riverside Hospital, where we continue to practice today.
The neurology section of Neurological Associates has continued to grow. Dr. Robert Wyatt is currently the senior neurologist in our group, having trained at Ohio State University and having spent several years on the faculty there. Our neurology staff currently includes Dr. Robert Wyatt, Dr. Albert Berarducci, Dr. Geoff Eubank, Dr. Erick Arce, Dr. James Fulop, Dr. Xiaomei Gao-Hickman and Dr. William Mayr.
In the mid-eighties Dr. Michael Meagher, Jack Meagher's son, joined the group following completion of his residency at Syracuse with Dr. Robert King. In 1987, Dr. Janet Bay was recruited from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation faculty, with a special interest in the surgical treatment of brain tumors. In 1990, Dr. Sigurdur Stephensen joined the practice following residency at Ohio State with a special interest in cerebrovascular disease and complex spine problems. Our neurosurgery team now includes Dr. Bay, Dr. Brightman, Dr. Buster, Dr. Hnilica, Dr. Meagher, and Dr. Stephensen.
Continued Expansion
In addition to a growing staff, Neurological Associates has added new services to better care for patients, including the MediBack program, physical therapy services, spine physiatry and pain management, and an office infusion center. The MediBack program is directed by Stephen Barr, Ph.D. and treats patients for lower back pain. Our physical therapy program is staffed by licensed physical therapist Corey Urbanski, and treat patients with upper spine, neck, and back problems. Dr. Yeshwant Reddy is Neurological Associates' spine physiatrist and pain consultant, specializing in the non-operative treatment of spinal disorders. At our office infusion center, patients can receive intravenous therapies at the comfortable setting of our office instead of at a hospital. Neurological Associates also features an in-house sleep lab and a full suite of neurodiagnostic testing. The sleep medicine program is headed by Dr. James P. Fulop. Dr. Fulop diagnoses and treats patients for sleep apnea, narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. In addition, we are proud to offer a comprehensive range of neurodiagnostic testing, including Evoked Potential (EP) Testing, Electroencephalograms (EEG), Electromyography (EMG), Nerve Conductions Studies (NCS) and Electronystagmography (ENG). Neurological Associates is proud to continue to serve the Central Ohio community, with a full spectrum of neuroscience services including adult and pediatric neurosurgery and the full array of neurology services including clinical evaluation, and all neurodiagnostic studies. We hope to continue to serve our patients and referring physicians for at least another 75 years into the future.
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