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Flavia M Nelson

Flavia M Nelson, MD

NeuroimmunologyNeurology

Accepting New Patients
Virtual Visits Available
Need help scheduling? Call 305-243-3100

Highlights

Age Groups Seen

  • Young Adults (ages 19-26)
  • Adults
  • Geriatrics (ages 70+)

Languages

  • Spanish
  • English

About Flavia M Nelson

Roles

Chief, Multiple Sclerosis and CNS Autoimmune Disorders Division
Director, National Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence

Areas of Expertise

Multiple Sclerosis, Nero-Immunology, CNS Autoimmune Disorders

Clinical Centers & Programs

National Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence

Biography

Dr. Flavia Nelson is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Division, and a Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami. Prior to that, she was Director of the MS Division at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Interim Director of the MS Research Group at the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, where she also  co-directed the MRI-Analysis Center.

She received her MD degree at UACH in Mexico, followed by two residencies; Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Science Center and Neurology at UTHSC-H where she completed a research/clinical fellowship in MS with focus on imaging.

She is a pioneer in detection of cortical gray matter lesions by MRI and their relationship to cognitive dysfunction in MS. Her current research focuses on multimodal MRI by combining functional MRI and other advanced techniques to assess cognition in MS. Another important research focus is hematopoietic stem cell transplant in MS patients.

Dr. Nelson has multiple publications on MRI findings in MS; has participated in centralized MRI analysis of important worldwide multicenter trials, and as PI for clinical trials of disease modifying therapies such as Copaxone, Avonex, Tysabri, Gilenya, Vumerity and Ocrevus and was the site PI for the autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (Beat-MS) trial at the UMN.

She has served as chair and reviewer for both the Department of Defense MS research program, and the National Institutes of Health, MS and pregnancy study section. She is the Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Consortium of MS Centers and served as Chair of the Healthcare Provider Council for the National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter. She has multiple recognitions for her work as a clinician such as “America’s top Doctors 2022” and as role model “Female Executive of the Year Award 2011”.

 

 

Locations

      Expertise

      Education

      • Fellowship: University of Texas Health Science Center, Multiple Sclerosis, 2005
      • Residency: University of Texas Health Science Center, Neurology, 2004
      • Internship: University of Texas El Paso, Internal Medicine, 2001
      • Medical School: UACH Faculty Of Medicine, 1991

      Board Certifications

      • Neurology: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
      • Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

      Insurance

      Health plans that are currently contracted with UHealth are listed below. However, please check with your insurance provider to verify that UHealth is part of your provider network.
      Search plans
      • Aetna - WC
      • Aetna Affiliates/Signature Adm. (ASA)
      • Aetna Behavioral Health
      • Aetna Elect Choice (EPO)
      • Aetna-FL Healthy Kids
      • Aetna-HMO
      • Aetna-Medicaid HMO
      • Aetna-Medicare HMO
      • Aetna-Medicare PPO
      • Aetna-POS
      • Aetna-PPO
      • Aetna-UM Employee-HMO 1
      • Aetna-UM Employee-HMO 2
      • Aetna-UM Employee-POS HRA
      • Aetna/Coventry - Institutes of Excellence (IOE)
      • Amerigroup-FL Healthy Kids
      • Amerigroup-Medicaid HMO
      • Argus Vision
      • AvMed Choice
      • AvMed-HMO/POS
      • AvMed-MDC and JHS Groups
      • AvMed-Medicare HMO
      • AXIS
      • BCBS Blue Options-Network Blue-PPO
      • BCBS BlueCare-HealthOptions HMO
      • BCBS BlueChoice PPC-PPO
      • BCBS Miami Dade Blue-PPO
      • BCBS of FL - except "SELECT" Plans
      • BCBS of FL (Commercial plans exclude HIX Select)
      • BCBS Traditional-PHS-PPO
      • Beacon Health (FKA ValueOption)
      • Beech Street-PPO
      • Broward Health Medical Center
      • CarePlus-Medicare HMO
      • Catholic Hospice
      • CCP-CMS Title XIX (Medicaid Enrolled in South Florida)
      • CCP-CMS Title XXI (Non-Medicaid Enrolled in South Florida)
      • CCP-MMA (Broward County residents)
      • Charlotte County Sheriff's Office-PPO
      • Cigna Affiliates
      • Cigna Behavioral Health
      • Cigna Dental-HMO and PPO
      • Cigna Life Source (Intracorp is part of Cigna Lifesource)
      • Cigna Shared Administration
      • Cigna-EPO
      • Cigna-HMO
      • Cigna-MDCPS Jackson Sr. High
      • Cigna-POS
      • Cigna-PPO
      • Clear Health Alliance-SNP Medicaid HMO
      • CompCare (Comprehensive Behavioral Care)
      • Concordia Behavioral Health
      • CorVel - WC
      • Coventry First Health - WC
      • Coventry Health Care of FL (HIP)-HMO/POS
      • Coventry Health Care of FL (HIP)-PPO
      • Coventry Health Plan of FL (Foundation)-HMO
      • Coventry Health Plan of FL (Foundation)-POS
      • Coventry National-PPO
      • Coventry Summit-Medicare HMO
      • Coventry Vista-Medicare HMO
      • Coventry-First Health-PPO
      • Delta Dental-PPO
      • DentaQuest (ADI)
      • DIKLA
      • Dimension - WC
      • Dimension Plus-PPO
      • EHN - PPO
      • EQUIAN (fka Health Systems International)
      • Europe Assistance/Global Corporate Solutions
      • eyeQuest
      • FCCI - WC
      • Florida Healthcare Plan (Affiliate of BCBSFL)
      • Florida PACE (FPC)
      • Freedom Health-Medicaid HMO
      • Freedom Health-Medicare HMO
      • Gallagher Bassett - WC (MDCPS & FCSRMC)
      • Global Excel Mgt PPO
      • Global Health Claims Services
      • Great West (Cigna)-HMO/POS
      • Guardian Life PPO
      • HAA Preferred Partners
      • Health First Health-HMO/POS
      • Health First Health-Medicare HMO
      • Health First Health-PPO
      • Health Net Veterans Choice HMO
      • Heritage Summit Healthcare - WC
      • Humana - HUMx
      • Humana Behavioral Health (fka LifeSynch)
      • Humana Dental/CompBenefits/OHS
      • Humana National Transplant
      • Humana-EPO
      • Humana-HMO
      • Humana-Medicaid HMO
      • Humana-Medicare HMO
      • Humana-PPO
      • Humana-Premier
      • iCare Health Solutions
      • Interlink Health Services
      • International Kids Fund (IKF)
      • League Medical Concepts-Federal Inmates
      • Life Trac
      • Magellan Behavioral Health
      • Magellan Complete Care-SNP Medicaid HMO
      • MDAbroad
      • Medica-Medicare HMO
      • Medical Development In't (MDI)-Federal Inmates
      • Medicus
      • Metlife Dental-PPO
      • MHNet Behavioral Network
      • Molina
      • Molina - Market Place
      • Molina-Medicaid HMO
      • Molina-Medicare HMO
      • Morgan White International
      • MultiPlan-PPO
      • Naphcare (Federal Prisoners)
      • National Healthcare Solutions Inc.
      • Neighborhood HealthPlan-HMO/POS
      • Neighborhood HealthPlan-PPO
      • North Broward Hospital District-PPO
      • Olympus Managed Healthcare
      • Optum
      • Positive Healthcare-SNP Medicaid HMO
      • Positive Healthcare-SNP Medicare HMO
      • Prestige Health Choice-Medicaid HMO
      • Prime Health Services - WC
      • Quality Health Management
      • Religious Order of Jehovah's Witnesses-PPO
      • Rockport Healthcare Group - WC
      • Royal Caribbean Cruises-PPO
      • Sanus Health Corporation
      • Simply Healthcare-Medicaid HMO
      • Solstice Dental-HMO and PPO
      • Start Healthcare Network
      • Sunshine
      • Sunshine - AMBETTER
      • Sunshine-Healthy Kids HMO
      • Sunshine-Medicaid HMO
      • Sunshine-Medicare HMO
      • Tricare South Prime-HMO
      • Tricare South Standard-PPO
      • United Behavioral Health (UBH)
      • UnitedHealthcare Affiliates
      • UnitedHealthcare-Healthy Kids HMO
      • UnitedHealthcare-HMO/POS
      • UnitedHealthcare-Medicaid HMO
      • UnitedHealthcare-Medicare Nursing Home Plan
      • UnitedHealthcare-PPO
      • University of Miami Athletic Dept-PPO
      • VUMI
      • Wellcare/Staywell-Healthy Kids HMO
      • Wellcare/Staywell-Medicaid HMO
      • Wexford Health-State Inmates
      • Worldwide Managed Care

      Ratings & Reviews

      4.8 out of 5

      187 ratings, 31 reviews

      UHealth is committed to being transparent with our patients and community. To achieve this, we include positive and negative comments from the care provider section of the medical practice survey. All ratings and comments are submitted by patients who have experienced outpatient care with our providers. Comments are carefully reviewed to ensure that each one accurately reflects the patient's perception of the care they received.

      Likelihood to Recommend Provider
      Provider Explained Things Clearly
      Provider showed concern
      Provider included you in decisions
      Provider discussed treatment options
      Provider treated you with courtesy and respect
      Provider listened carefully to you
      Provider spent enough time with you
      Search reviews
        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 2/5/2026

        Dr. Flavia Nelson and her staff are the best!

        4 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 12/18/2025

        I trust my doctor,I'm going to get well

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 12/9/2025

        My daughters current neurologist referred us to Dr. Nelson and she has been very good in trying to understand my daughters needs a guiding us in how to proceed.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 11/18/2025

        It was a super satisfying visit with exceptional care

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 10/7/2025

        This was the first appt for our daughter and Dr. Nelson was very accommodating and understanding.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 10/2/2025

        Everyone who works there is friendly and helful.The place is clean and tidy. Dr and their assistance they interact well together...you guy are awsome. Really!!

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 9/19/2025

        Love 🧡 love 🧡 Dr Nelson

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 9/18/2025

        EXCELENTE !!!!!!

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 9/11/2025

        Dr Nelson is great. She listens and offers plans of care that are realistic and supportive. I highly recommend her.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 8/29/2025

        She was professional, knowledgeable, caring, and spent time understanding and addressing my needs

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 8/15/2025

        Dr Flavia is an amazing and very knowledgeable provider which I trust & have all my confidence in.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 8/15/2025

        Dr. F.Nelson is very understanding of my situation and has a well thought plan for my treatment, she is professional and caring. I feel I am in good hands under her care!

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 7/24/2025

        I was very pleased with the overall attention and care I received during my appointment

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 7/12/2025

        We were desperate to find medical help for my newly diagnosed MOGAD disease. Our previous doctors tried their best but lacked the skills, knowledge, and uncanny humanity that Dr. Flavia Nelson and her staff provided with compassion. We are so happy to have confidence in the plan and direction we are finally heading.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 6/19/2025

        As mentioned above, I so appreciated and learned from the professionalism and thoughtfulness of my appointment provides from Dr Nelson’s team

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 6/14/2025

        My doctor Flavia Nelson is great!!

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 5/10/2025

        Dr. Nelson was great. She explained everything that came up in my physical exam so that I understood and felt confident in her. I have and will continue to recommend her to others for she is a great doctor.👍

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 3/13/2025

        Dr Nelson is a great professional. Always easy to understand. Dr Nelson keeps me informed of my medical options and helps me understand the Treatment plan

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 3/3/2025

        We are very happy with Dr. Nelson. She is an expert in MS, my condition. She takes all the time we need to have our questions answered. She is always thinking about ways to manage symptoms/issues with my chronic condition. Would absolutely recommend her to others with enthusiasm.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 1/22/2025

        My visit with Dr. Nelson was outstanding. She clearly and effectively explained the course of my condition. She patiently listened as I explained my experience with the disease and my current living arrangements splitting time between WPB and Estonia. She then developed a treatment plan that I can easily follow. Dr. Nelson masterfully blends compassion, empathy and extraordinary medical experience and knowledge. I am very grateful to her and University of Miami medical team.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 12/23/2024

        She listens, shows concern, and advises in easy to understand language. Also provides helpful information.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 10/3/2024

        Dr. Flavia Nelson is excellent. The best.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 9/24/2024

        Dr. Flavia Nelson is an amazing doctor. Would recommend her to anybody and everybody.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 9/19/2024

        Excellent provider. Easy to understand. Dr Nelson takes time to explain and help me understand what is happing with my health.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 9/17/2024

        Dr. Nelson is fabulous, understand my disease and caring about her patient & family.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 9/4/2024

        Always wonderful

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 8/15/2024

        The best ever.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 8/14/2024

        I recommend Dr Nelson to everyone, she is a great doctor.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 8/2/2024

        Dr. Nelson is an amazing doctor and I feel fortunate to have found her.

        1 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 7/2/2024

        I feel like she never takes my condition seriously and acts like she has other more important patients than my self and it's extremely unfair to make a patient feel this way.

        5 out of 5 stars
        Reviewed on 6/21/2024

        Dr. Flavia Nelson is excellent. Her kindness, the time she took to ask me questions and she was attentive to every detail. She was very explanatory and showed interest in my case. Definitely an excellent doctor. I would recommend her to any other patient without a doubt and I felt that I was talking to a professional who was well trained and also friendly and humane. Thank you very much Dra for all your recommendations and help.