Holly Elser
Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Department: Neurology
Contact information
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Education
BS (Biology and Community Health)
Tufts University, 2011.
MPH (Epidemiology)
UC Berkeley School of Public Health, 2015.
PhD (Epidemiology)
UC Berkeley School of Public Health, 2019.
MD
Stanford University School of Medicine, 2021.
BS (Biology and Community Health)
Tufts University, 2011.
MPH (Epidemiology)
UC Berkeley School of Public Health, 2015.
PhD (Epidemiology)
UC Berkeley School of Public Health, 2019.
MD
Stanford University School of Medicine, 2021.
Post-Graduate Training
Postdoctoral Scholar in Epidemiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 2020-2021.
Intern in the Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2021-2022.
Resident Physician in the Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2022-2025.
Fellow Physician in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2025-2026.
Permanent linkPostdoctoral Scholar in Epidemiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 2020-2021.
Intern in the Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2021-2022.
Resident Physician in the Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2022-2025.
Fellow Physician in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2025-2026.
Selected Publications
Elser H, Kiang V. M., Humphreys K, Zhang J: High-risk emergency department visits and risk of all-cause mortality, suicide, and fatal overdose among US military veterans American Journal of Epidemiology 195(1): 102-108, Jan 2026 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwaf002.Stulberg EL, Wu C, Law CA, Sabayan B, Elser H, Kumar A, Zheutlin AR, Bress AP, Wolk DA, Rising K, Casten R, Rovner B, de Havenon A, Schneider ALC: Income, Race-ethnicity, and Dementia Risk Factors in the United States. Neurology 105(11): e214402, Dec 2025.
Elser H, Magee RG, Abbruzzese S, Sandsmark D, Gottesman RF, Mosley TH, Wolk DA, Schneider ALC: Traumatic Brain Injury and Depressive Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study Neurology 105(12): e214407, Dec 2025.
Balali, Pargol, Acton, Emily K., Elser, Holly, Navi, Babak Benjamin, Kasner, Scott E.: Anticoagulant Usage and Risk of Thromboembolic Events After Ischemic Stroke in Adults With Cancer Neurology 105(10): e214325, Nov 2025 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214325.
Kim B, Blam K, Elser H, Xie SX, Van Deerlin VM, Penning TM, Weintraub D, Irwin DJ, Massimo LM, McMillan CT, Mechanic-Hamilton D, Wolk DA, Lee EB: Ambient Air Pollution and the Severity of Alzheimer Disease Neuropathology JAMA Neurol 82(11): 1153-1161, Nov 2025.
Rosenkrantz O, Farkas DK, Horváth-Puhó E, Martiny SK, Elser H, Fuglsang CH, Sørensen HT: Venous thromboembolism and cancer risk in patients with a history of migraine: a population-based cohort study Res Pract Thromb Haemost 9(7): 103202, Sep 2025.
Shapiro HFJ, Gelfand AA, Shapiro DJ, Elser H, Chen C, Casey JA.: Association between wildfire smoke exposure and pediatric emergency department visits for headache Headache Sep 2025 Notes: doi: 10.1111/head.15056.
Elser, Holly, Farkas, Dóra, Körmendiné, Collin, Lindsay J., Lykke, Malene Risager, Fuglsang, Cecilia Hvitfeldt, Sørensen, Henrik Toft : Cancer in persons diagnosed with facial nerve paresis: A hospital-based cohort study in Denmark Cancer Epidemiology 97: 102863, Aug 2025 Notes: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2025.102863.
Gribsholt SB, Horváth-Puhó E, Elser H, Laugesen K, Skajaa N, Fuglsang CH, Henderson V, Sørensen HT: Obstructive sleep apnea and risk of dementia: a Danish population-based cohort study BMJ Neurol Open 7(2): e001174, Aug 2025.
Law CA, Elser H, Walter AE, Mosley TH, Walker K, Gottesman RF, Schneider ALC: Traumatic brain injury and anger proneness: results from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study Front Psychol 16: 1546443, Jun 2025.