Welcome Dr. Abrams as Section Chief & Director of the Neuromuscular Center
The Neuromuscular division of the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation at UIH has taken off! The Division delivers patient care in its three multidisciplinary clinics. The Muscular Dystrophy Association sponsored Certified Care Center provides medical services for patients with any of 40 acquired or inherited neuromuscular illnesses including myasthenia gravis, Charcot Marie Tooth Disease and Muscular dystrophy among others. The ALS Association Certified Center of Excellence has a goal of providing the highest level of multidisciplinary care and support for all patients with ALS and their families. In addition, our multidisciplinary Neuropathy clinic, established by Dr. Larry Zeidman in 2014, provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for all causes of neuropathy and nerve injuries. These three clinics are an integral part of student and house staff education, are the focus of multiple research studies and provide an excellent platform for clinical trials and investigations.
The division welcomes a new Division head, Dr Charles Abrams last year. Dr Abrams is an expert in the care and treatment of patients with a variety of neuromuscular disorders. He is the director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and ALS Association sponsored clinics and is the director of the Neuromuscular fellowship. In addition, he directs a laboratory research program focused on the roles of connexin proteins in inherited neuropathy and demyelinating disease of the peripheral and central nervous system. Other neuromuscular related research in the department includes several projects related to ALS, including our rapid autopsy program that uses Big Data to find cures, as well as clinical projects looking at the epidemiology of peripheral neuropathy and small fiber neuropathy.
The Neuromuscular electrophysiology laboratory is directed by Dr Larry Zeidman, who also directs the multidisciplinary neuropathy clinic and heads several clinical neuromuscular research projects. This laboratory performs nerve conductions, electromyography and peripheral nerve ultrasound for the diagnosis of a wide range of neuromuscular disorders. We again have an active ACGME accredited fellowship to train the next generation of neuromuscular experts. The fellowship includes exposure to the broad field of neuromuscular medicine including experience with pediatric patients and nerve and muscle pathology.