TRIADELPHIA – WVU Medicine officials and clinicians celebrated the opening of the new WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Highlands Clinic on Friday.

On hand for the event were Douglass Harrison, president and CEO of WVU Medicine North Region, and Dr. David Watson, vice chairman of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.

Neuroscience involves the brain, spine and nervous system in one’s body. The clinic’s medical providers include neurologists Drs. Rebecca Barnes and Benjamin Paserba and nurse practitioner Karena Del Vecchio.

The clinic is located in the same plaza as Panera Bread at The Highlands.

Watson said a big part of his job as chairman of the institute is to make sure it expands beyond Morgantown.

He noted he grew up in New Martinsville.

“Wheeling was the big city we came to,” he said. “I did all my shopping and movie watching in this part of the state growing up. So having a presence in Wheeling is really personal for me.”

Watson said with the opening of the new clinic site less people will have to travel to Morgantown for neurological care.

“We’re proud of what we have in Morgantown, but we need to serve people of the state and region better,” he said. “We have big plans not just for neurology, but other areas such as neurosurgery and behavioral medicine and psychiatry. … We look forward to building our presence here in the Northern Panhandle.”

Watson quipped that he was “a little jealous” about how nice the office was, noting that he might “work out a deal” with Harrison to start seeing patients there in the future.

Harrison, who also serves as president and CEO of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, said the hospital plans to use more space at The Highlands and to make it a “medical destination” in the future.

Randy Russell, administrator of the Ohio County Commission and Ohio County Development Authority, said the OCDA was pleased to partner with Wheeling Hospital and the RNI.

“I think it’s a great addition and a great service to our community,” he said. “We look forward to continuing that partnership with Wheeling Hospital and WVU Medicine going forward.”

Russell said the OCDA is working on additional space for the hospital to use in the future.

Site development of The Highlands began in 2000 with Cabela’s opening there in 2004. The site is now home to dozens of retailers, offices, hotels, restaurants, light manufacturing and more.

“We’ve been going strong for a long time. We feel we’re doing the right thing to keep this development alive and healthy,” he added.

The new clinic site will begin seeing patients on Monday.