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Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS

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Specializes in: Neurology (Brain & Spinal Cord Disease)

Duke University School of Medicine (2009)

Professional interests include: stroke, neurological disorders, poisoning, and more.

12605 E 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045

(720) 848-0000

Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS is a neurologist in Aurora, CO specializing in neurology (brain & spinal cord disease). He graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 2009 and has 15 years of experience. Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS is affiliated with UCHealth, University of Colorado Hospital - Neurosciences Center, University of Colorado Medicine and UNIVERSITY PHYSICIANS INCORPORATED.

Office Locations

Address:

12605 E 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045

Address:

1635 Aurora Court 4th Floor
Aurora, CO 80045

Some issues Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS can help you with:

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

Heart disease
Older age
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“Some strains are harmless or possibly beneficial, but the strain in this particular outbreak produces a toxin that can eat through the lining of the gut, causing bloody diarrhea, or, in rare cases,...”—"What is E. coli? How do you get sick from it and what to do?", Dallas News, October 2024

“"It's a fungus that lives in soil in certain areas around the world," Dr. Daniel Pastula, chief of neuro-infectious diseases and global neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine...”—"What you need to know about Valley fever after 19 infected at California music festival", ABC7 News, September 2024

“About 5% of people infected with the virus develop severe swelling of the brain or the spinal cord, Dr. Daniel Pastula, chief of neuro-infectious diseases and global neurology at the University of...”—"Healthy 41-year-old man dies from mosquito-borne virus EEE: 'Sudden and rare'", Yahoo News, August 2024

**Gender**
Male	64
Female	94

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	110
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	60
From 75 to 84	60
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	62
Ischemic Heart Disease	47
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	57
Asthma	27
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	24
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	42
Dementia	20
Cancer	16

hospital care	160
inpatient care	160

**Gender**
Male	51
Female	43

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	68
Black	13
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	29
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	33

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	40
Stroke	33
Ischemic Heart Disease	37
Depression	44
Chronic Kidney Disease	48
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	23
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	26
Dementia	37
Cancer	13

hospital care	160
inpatient care	160

**Gender**
Male	61
Female	57

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	85
Black	12
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	43
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	43

Hypertension	69
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	30
Ischemic Heart Disease	44
Depression	56
Chronic Kidney Disease	46
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	33
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	19
Diabetes	36
Dementia	45
Cancer	18

hospital care	78
inpatient care	78

**Gender**
Male	35
Female	44

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	54
Black	0
Hispanic	11
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	25
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	25

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	51
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	53
Chronic Kidney Disease	59
Asthma	20
Osteoperosis	20
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	35
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	30
Diabetes	37
Dementia	39
Cancer	23

hospital care	97
inpatient care	97

**Gender**
Male	61
Female	56

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	81
Black	18
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	47
From 75 to 84	29
85 and over	16
Less than 65	25

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	52
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	46
Chronic Kidney Disease	50
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	24
Heart Failure	36
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	26
Diabetes	37
Dementia	28
Cancer	21

hospital care	64
inpatient care	64

**Gender**
Male	38
Female	30

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	50
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	29
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	18

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	31
Ischemic Heart Disease	54
Depression	46
Chronic Kidney Disease	62
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	24
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	29
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	44
Dementia	46
Cancer	0

hospital care	29
inpatient care	29

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2015 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS treated as a neurologist in Aurora, CO were hospital care and inpatient care.

doctor visit	15
hospital care	97
inpatient care	97

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2015 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS.

**Gender**
Male	31
Female	32

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	4
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	44
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	1
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	8
85 and over	1
Less than 65	14
65 to 74	23

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS From 2015 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	44
High Cholesterol	35
Stroke	25
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	32
Asthma	8
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	22
Atrial Fibrillation	10
Cancer	9
Dementia	21

Education & Training

Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 2009. He completed residency at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Affiliated Hospitals. He has a state license in Colorado.

Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine (2009)

Residency: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Affiliated Hospitals (2013)

Licensed In: Colorado

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

UCHealth

University of Colorado Hospital - Neurosciences Center

University of Colorado Medicine

UNIVERSITY PHYSICIANS INCORPORATED

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Daniel Michael Pastula, MD, MHS. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.	$78 $78

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$78

Biography

Dr. Daniel Pastula is a medical specialist in neurology (brain & spinal cord disease). Dr. Pastula attended medical school at Duke University School of Medicine. He trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) for residency. His areas of expertise consist of poisoning, stroke, and viral infection. Dr. Pastula's professional affiliations include the University of Colorado Hospital - Neurosciences Center and the University of Colorado Medicine.