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NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has designated the Vanderbilt Neuromuscular Clinic as an MDA/ALS Clinic. Comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, and follow up care are provided for people with neuromuscular disorders. Among the many disorders covered are the muscular dystrophies, motor-neuron diseases like ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) spinal muscular atrophies, genetic polyneuropathies (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), and periodic paralysis. Visit the MDA website (www.mdausa.org) for a complete list of diseases and for more information.

Vanderbilt's clinic is the only one in the Mid-South with the support to provide a complete range of services that include specially trained physicians, physical therapists, speech pathologists, nutritionists, and experts to provide and maintain mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and splints. Patients in the clinic have the opportunity to enroll in national research studies and drug trials as they become available. Patients are seen from Western Kentucky, Northern Alabama, and Middle and East Tennessee.

Since 1970, the MDA has provided financial support to the clinic to make it possible to provide physician services and mobility equipment that insurance will not cover.

Faculty and Staff
Dr. Peter Donofrio is now Director of the Division, succeeding Dr. Gerald Fenichel, who had been Director of the Division since its inception in 1969. Dr. Donofrio had been Director of the Neuromuscular Division at Wake Forest University prior to coming to Vanderbilt. He specializes in ALS, Myasthenia Gravis, and Peripheral Neuropathy.

Dr. Jane Howard, the Associate Director, has been with the clinic since 1993, and limits her practice to adults.

Dr. Amanda Peltier specializes in ALS, diabetic neuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP), myasthenia gravis, and myasthenic syndrome.

Susan Dolan is the MDA coordinator.

Physician Information
Patient referrals to the clinic require that the referring physician send records to Vanderbilt for review and assignment.

Patient Information
The MDA clinic meets every Thursday afternoon and sees all ages of patients with a neuromuscular diagnosis. The ALS clinic is typically held the first Friday of every month. The clinic is located in the basement of the Preston Research Building.

The MDA clinic is staffed by physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dieticians, social workers, a DME vendor, and MDA personnel.

If the patient uses braces and/or wheelchair, these items should be brought to the clinic. The function and fit of the equipment will be evaluated and corrected, if necessary.

To contact the clinic directly, call (615) 322-7246.

For more information about the clinic or for answers to billing questions, contact Susan Whatley at the Muscular Dystrophy Association at (615) 834-5005.

For more information on the Neurodiagnostics Lab, click here.

Research
The Division has a history of participating in clinical studies of promising treatments. Past studies have tested drug therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and ALS. The clinic has recently joined national consortia of neuromuscular centers to participate in therapeutic trials on ALS and pediatric neuromuscular disorders. Current efforts are combined with other basic science programs at Vanderbilt, including genetics research with Dr. Alfred George (dna.mc.vanderbilt.edu/genetics/default.htm)

Education
As the only MDA-sponsored clinic in the Mid South, Vanderbilt's Neuromuscular Division helps train Vanderbilt medical students and offers fellowship training in neuromuscular disease.