Brett Theeler MD, FAAN

Education

Black Hills State University, B.S. 1996-2001
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, M.D. 2001-2005
Internship and Residency, Neurology, Madigan Army Medical Center 2005-2009
Fellowship, Neuro-Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center 2010-2012

Biography

Dr. Theeler graduated from Black Hills State University (Summa Cum Laude) in Spearfish, South Dakota in May 2001. He was directly commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in June 2001. 2LT Theeler attended the Uniformed Services University, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (Alpha Omega Alpha) from 2001 to 2005. Captain Theeler completed internship and residency training at Madigan Army Medical Center in Adult Neurology from 2005 to 2009.

Captain Theeler served as Chief, Department of Neurology at William Beaumont Army Medical Center from 2009 to 2010. From 2010 to 2012, he completed fellowship training in Neuro-Oncology at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

In 2012, Major Theeler was stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the Department of Neurology. From 2012 to 2021, he served in multiple GME and leadership roles at WRNMMC including Associate Residency Program Director, Deputy Chief, and Chief, Department of Neurology.

LTC Theeler was named Chair, Department of Neurology at the Uniformed Services University on June 1, 2021. He holds the academic rank of Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at USUHS.

COL Theeler has an active, Neuro-Oncology practice at the John P. Murtha Cancer Center located within WRNMMC. He is a Clinical Collaborator in the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Neuro-Oncology Branch in Bethesda, MD.

Dr. Theeler’s research focuses on rare primary central nervous system neoplasms including pilocytic astroctyomas, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas, diffuse midline gliomas and other brain cancers that have an increased incidence in adolescent and young adult populations.

Career Highlights: Positions, Projects, Deployements, Awards and Additional Publications

Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence, 2001-02 (USUHS).

Malcolm B. Carpenter Award, Excellence in Fundamentals of Neuroscience, 2001-02 (USUHS).

Theater Neurologist, Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, July to November 2013

Captain Calvin B. Early Award for Excellence in Teaching from the National Capital Consortium Neurosurgical Residency Program, June 4, 2018.

Workshop Co-Chair. NCI-CONNECT - Comprehensive Oncology Network Evaluation Rare CNS Tumors. Histone Mutated Midline Glioma Workshop. September 27, 2018. National Institutes of Health.

Honorary Doctorate of Science from Black Hills State University, awarded at the graduation ceremony, May 4, 2019.

‘A’ Proficiency Designator awarded November 2019 by the United States Army Medical Command.

FY2024-FY2026, Chair, Programmatic Review Panel, Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP). Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. https://cdmrp.health.mil/rcrp/default

Inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3) in June 2020.

Master Clinician, Neuro-Oncology, Awarded at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, May 2023

Representative Bibliography

Gregory TA, Chumbley LB, Henson JW, Theeler BJ. Adult pilocytic astrocytoma in the molecular era: a comprehensive review. CNS Oncol. 2021 Mar 1;10(1):CNS68. PMID: 33448230.

Theeler BJ et al. NCI-CONNECT: Comprehensive Oncology Network Evaluating Rare CNS Tumors-Histone Mutated Midline Glioma Workshop Proceedings. Neurooncol Adv. 2020;2(1):vdaa007. PMID: 32642676.

Penas-Prado M, Theeler BJ et al., NCI-CONNECT Adult Medulloblastoma Workshop, Proceedings of the Comprehensive Oncology Network Evaluating Rare CNS Tumors (NCI-CONNECT) Adult Medulloblastoma Workshop, Neurooncol Adv. 2020 Aug 17;2(1):vdaa097. PMID: 33005896..

Theeler BJ. De novo and secondary anaplastic meningiomas: natural history, prognosis, and the TERT promoter. Neuro Oncol. 2018; 20(8):1009-1010. PubMed PMID: 29982653.

Theeler BJ, Gilbert MR. Advances in the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma. BMC Med. 2015;13:293. doi: 10.1186/s12916-015-0536-8. PMID: 26646075.

Theeler BJ, Ellezam B, Sadighi ZS et al. Adult pilocytic astrocytomas: clinical features and molecular analysis. Neuro Oncol. 2014; 16(6):841-7. PMID: 24470550.

Theeler BJ, Yung WK, Fuller GN, De Groot JF. Moving toward molecular classification of diffuse gliomas in adults. Neurology. 2012;79(18):1917-26. PMID: 23109653.

Ellezam B, Theeler BJ et al. Recurrent PIK3CA mutations in rosette-forming glioneuronal tumor. Acta Neuropathol. 2012; 123(2):285-7. PMID: 21997360.

Theeler B, Lucas S, Riechers RG 2nd, Ruff RL. Post-traumatic headaches in civilians and military personnel: a comparative, clinical review. Headache. 2013; 53(6):881-900. PMID: 23721236.

Theeler BJ, Mercer R, Erickson JC. Prevalence and impact of migraine among U.S. Army soldiers deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Headache. 2008 ;48(6):876-82. PMID: 18549370.