2025 Headache Medicine Reading List

Reading List

Please click below to access the 2025 Headache Medicine reading list.

C-cert Activity Description

The Continuous Certification (C-cert) activities provide subspecialty learning and knowledge assessment to ensure that diplomates are staying up to date on the latest science, treatments, and therapeutics relating to their subspecialty. The annual activities include: 1) reading the subspecialty  journal articles, and 2) taking and passing the 25-question online post-reading quiz to assess knowledge gained from the journal article content. 

Learning Objectives

• Identify the disability and stigma associated with migraine
• Discuss the evaluation and management of less common non-migraine conditions, such as indomethacin responsive headaches, cluster headache, visual snow, and orofacial pain syndromes 
• Recognize the clinical presentations of, and need for advanced management strategies for, secondary headache, such as headache and brain tumors
• Discuss the evaluation and management of pediatric headache
• Apply evidence-based treatment strategies, including the use of CGRP-targeting treatments and neuromodulation, for migraine and other headache syndromes

Core Competencies

• Medical Knowledge
• Patient Care
• Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Instructions

To claim CME credits, answer question 26 on the quiz to reflect the total time spent completing the required reading and online quiz. This question is not included in the scoring of the quiz. A passing score of 80% of higher is needed to meet C-cert requirements and receive CME credit. CME credit confirmation will be emailed within 24 hours of passing the quiz.

ACCME Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American Academy of Neurology Institute (AANI) and United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. The AANI is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement

The American Academy of Neurology Institute designates this enduring material for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1^TM credit(s). Physicians should claim only their credit commensurate with the extent of the participation in the activity.

AMA Credit Designation Statement

The American Academy of Neurology Institute designates this enduring material for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1^TM credit(s). Physicians should claim only their credit commensurate with the extent of the participation in the activity.

ABPN Self-Assessment Designation Statement

The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) has reviewed the UCNS Continuous Certification (C-cert) self-assessment activity and has approved this activity as part of a comprehensive self-assessment (SA) CME activity, which is mandated by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) as a necessary component of continuing certification.

Disclosures

The UCNS complies with all standards and policies of the ACCME, including identification and resolution of all conflicts of interest prior to the educational activity being delivered to learners. Accordingly, UCNS  planners, authors, and staff comply with the UCNS’s Conflicts of Interest Policy. 

2025 C-cert Activity Planner (Certification Council) Disclosures
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Headache Medicine Certification Examination Committee Contributors

Stephanie J. Nahas, MD, MSEd, Chair, Thomas Jefferson University/Jefferson Headache Center
Disclosures: Received honoraria for consulting from Amneal (ended June 2024), Axsome (ended May 2024), AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Lundbeck (ended October 2023), Pfizer (ended November 2023), Tonix (ended November 2023); non-compensated roles as Member-at-Large for the American Headache Society (2022-2024), past Member-at-Large for Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (2022-2023), and current Executive Board Member for The Headache Alliance (2023-2024).

Teshamae S. Monteith, MD, Vice Chair, University of Miami
Disclosures: Received compensation in the past two years for previous advisory work for Abbvie, Pfizer, Teva, eNeura/Aruene, and Merz; receives compensation for AAN: Associate Editor for Continuum Audio and deputy editor for Neurology Minute; received research support indirect funding to institution for involvement in industry research (site PI) for Abbvie, Ipsen (2024), and Eli Lily; Non-compensation for serving on board of directors for Florida Society of Neurology, Prior board of directors for International Headache Society and current committee co-chair; for American Headache Society, serve as committee co-chair and committee member. For the American Academy of Neurology, serve on multiple subcommittees and on the editorial board for the Brain and Life Magazine. Serve on the editorial board for the American Migraine Foundation.

Jerry W. Swanson, MD, Mayo Clinic – Rochester
Disclosures: Receives compensation as MER CPD speaker; receives UpToDate editor royalties as well as Elsevier editor honorarium.

Robert G. Kaniecki, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Disclosures: Receive compensation as UpToDate contributor; research support from Bloch Foundation (non-profit organization) research grant; in the past two years have served on American College of Physicians MKSAP review course (Internal Medicine) materials.

P. Christopher H. Gottschalk, MD, Yale Neurology – Headache Division
Disclosures: Receives compensation for serving as Consultant or SAB: Abbvie, Pfizer, Theranica, Impel NeuroPharma, Lundbeck, Biodelivery Sciences, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LinPharma, Satsuma, Tonix, Ventura, and Spherix Global Insights; receives compensation as Trustee: Headache Cooperative of the Northeast (HCNE) Executive Committee: Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA); receives research support for Rehaler: PAREMA trial (device for acute migraine with aura).

Christopher B. Oakley, MD, Johns Hopkins University – Department of Child Neurology
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose.

Nina Riggins, MD, Headache Centers of Excellence VA Healthcare
Disclosures: Receives compensation as author AcademicCME, PI on Eli Lilly, Theranica clinical trials, Guest Editor and Advisory Board Member NeurologyLive, Theranica Advisory Board, Advisory Board: Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Lundbeck; receives compensation for serving as consultant for Theranica Advisory Board, Advisory Board Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck; receives compensation from Amneal Pharmaceuticals (pending compensation), Lundbeck (pending compensation), Theranica Advisory Board; serves on Board of Directors of Miles for Migraine (no personal compensation); receives research support as PI on Eli Lilly, Theranica clinical trials, performs uncompensated work as PI on Research Device from Dolor Technology and Theraspecs.

Hossain Ansari, MD, Kaizen Brain Center
Disclosures: Receives compensation as Consultant for Neoma Pharmaceutical (to develop clinical trial); receives compensation for serving on speakers bureau for AbbVie pharmaceutical, Lundbeck Pharmaceutical.

Seniha Ozudogru, MD, University of Pennsylvania
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose.

Carrie E. Robertson, MD, Mayo Clinic - Rochester
Disclosures: Receives compensation as UpToDate author; receives compensation from Linpharma-advisory board and Satsuma-advisory board; receives compensation as UpToDate associate editor; receives Pfizer-research support and Lundbeck-research support.

Staff Contact

Bryan Hagerla, Continuous Certification Manager
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose.
[email protected]
(612) 928-6326