RESEARCH SUMMARY
Dr. Donofrio’s major
research interests are in the fields of peripheral neuropathy and in motor
neuron disorders. He has authored articles on the treatment of neuropathic
pain in patients with diabetic neuropathy and the treatment of chronic inflammatory
neuropathies, particularly with plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin.
He has participated in many clinical trials of potential agents for the treatment
of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called Lou Gehrig’s Disease
in the United States.
Dr. Donofrio is the director
of the EMG Lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where conventional
and less common electrodiagnostic testing is performed. The highly sophisticated
laboratory performs repetitive nerve stimulation testing, single fiber EMG,
quantitative EMG, autonomic testing, Q-SART testing, and, in the future, nerve
and muscle ultrasound. The EMG lab is the nucleus for training of clinical
neurophysiology fellows who focus on neuromuscular disorders. The Department
of Neurology accepts two full time clinical neurophysiology fellows each year
with this interest. Potential candidates are asked to contact Dr. Donofrio
at peter.d.donofrio@Vanderbilt.edu.
In the near future, Vanderbult University Medical Center will be opening an
ALS Center, sponsored by the Muscular Dystrophy Association, to provide state
of the art care for patients with this disabling disease. This center will
offer a multi-disciplinary approach to ALS patients where patients in one
office setting can see physicians, nurses, nutritionists, physical therapists,
occupational therapists, speech pathologists, respiratory therapists, and
other health care providers. The Clinic will meet one day per month and most
patients will be seen every three months. Patients evaluated at the Center
will be encouraged to participate in clinical research trials of new therapeutic
agents that have potential to treat patients with ALS.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Peter D. Donofrio,
M.D.
Professor of Neurology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
1161 21st Avenue
South
A-0118 Medical Center North
Nashville, Tennessee 37232
Office: (615) 936-0060
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Faculty>
Peter Donofrio, M.D., Professor of Neurology
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BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCH
Dr. Donofrio
graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1972, and
earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University in 1975.
He completed a medicine residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and a neurology residency and fellowship at the
University of Michigan. After serving on the faculty of the University
of Michigan for 5 years, he moved to Wake Forest University in 1986,
where he was a faculty member for 20 years. In 2006, he accepted
the position of Chief of the Neuromuscular Section in the Department
of Neurology at Vanderbilt University. In addition, he is the Head
of the Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinic, the ALS Clinic, and
is the Director of the EMG Lab.
Dr. Donofrio
is presently on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of
Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) and serves
on the Medical Economics and Management Committee of the American
Academy of Neurology. In 1994, he was elected to the prestigious
American Neurological Association. In the past, he served on the
Board of Directors of the North Carolina Chapter of the Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis Association. He was President of the North Carolina
Neurological Society from 2001 to 2005 and is the President –Elect
of the AANEM. Dr. Donofrio is board certified in internal medicine,
neurology, and electromyography.
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