private practice

• specialized training in ultrasound: DEGUM Certificate neurovascular ultrasund (Level 1)
• 2017 doctorate at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin in the subject of (title translated) “Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 3 Tesla for the evaluation of cardiac function in patients with acute ischemic stroke”
• 2025: Habilitation (venia legendi) in neurology (translated title: “Diagnosis, treatment, and predictive significance of cardiac pathologies in acute ischemic stroke”) and conferral of the right to teach (facultas docendi)
• Memberships:
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie (DGN)
  • European Stroke Organization (ESO)
  • World Stroke Organization (WSO)
  • Council on Stroke der European Society for Cardiology (ESC)
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin (DEGUM)
  • Berliner Gesellschaft für Neurologie und Psychiatrie (BGPN)

Languages

german, english

Career

• Born in 1986 in Frankfurt am Main
• State Medical Examination: 2012
• 2013–2017: Research Fellow, Center for Stroke Research, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• 2017–2024: Residency in Neurology at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Benjamin Franklin Campus
• 2025–2026: Worked as a teleconsultant, ANNOTeM Network (acute neurological care in northeastern Germany with telemedical support)
• 2025–2026: Head of the “Interdisciplinary Carotid Board,” Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Areas of specialization

• Stroke (pre- and post-stroke care, vascular diagnostics of the carotid and intracranial vessels)
• Cardiac MRI
• Disorders of the peripheral nervous system (including peripheral nerve lesions, radicular syndromes, and polyneuropathies)
• Movement disorders (including Parkinson’s disease, dystonias, and tremors)
• Vertigo
• Headaches
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Dementia
• Multiple sclerosis and other chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system

Publications (selected):

• Hellwig S et al. Unrecognized myocardial fibrosis detected by contrast-enhanced cardiovascular MRI in patients with ischemic stroke. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2025 Dec;18(12):1399-1401 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2025.06.020
• Hellwig S et al. Enhanced diagnostic workup increases pathological findings in patients with acute ischaemic stroke: results of the prospective HEBRAS study. Stroke Vasc Neurol. 2024 Apr 30;9(2):145-152. Epub 2023 Jun 23 DOI: 10.1136/svn-2022-002179
• von Rennenberg R, […], Hellwig S et al. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and cognitive function over 12 months after stroke – results of the DEMDAS study J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Mar 19;13(6):e033439. Epub 2024 Mar 8. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.033439
• Polymeris AA, […], Hellwig S et al. Aetiology, secondary prevention strategies and outcomes of ischaemic stroke despite oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022 Jun;93(6):588-98. Epub 2022 Apr 8 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-328391
• Hellwig S et al. Cardiac Troponin and Recurrent Major Vascular Events after Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack. Ann Neurol. 2021 Dec;90(6):901-12. Epub 2021 Oct 11 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26225
• Montellano FA, […], Hellwig S et al. Role of Blood-Based Biomarkers in Ischemic Stroke Prognosis: A Systematic Review. Stroke. 2021 Jan;52(2):543-51. Epub 2021 Jan 12 DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029232
• Hellwig S et al. Evaluation of left ventricular function in patients with acute ischaemic stroke using cine cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. ESC Heart Fail. 2020 Oct;7(5):2572-80. Epub 2020 Jul 15 DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.12833
• Hellwig S et al. Temporal Trends in Pharmacological Stroke Prevention in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Known Atrial Fibrillation. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2020 Dec;29(12):105266. Epub 2020 Sep 10 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105266
• Hellwig S et al. Non-vitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulants have a positive impact on ischaemic stroke severity in patients with atrial fibrillation. Europace. 2018 Apr 1;20(4):569-74. Epub 2017 Apr 27 DOI: 10.1093/europace/eux087