* The Executive Committee of SRNA with the medical and scientific council determines the content and topics of the podcasts. Sponsors are not able to influence the education program.
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ABCs of NMOSD is a 10-part education podcast series to share knowledge about Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder – NMOSD, a rare relapsing autoimmune disorder that preferentially causes inflammation in the optic nerves and spinal cord.
In collaboration with
NMOSD education podcast series
ABCs of NMOSD brings together the latest information and research about all things NMOSD, from diagnosis and treatment to quality of life and what it’s like to live with NMOSD.
Throughout the series, we invite medical experts and researchers, to share the latest up-to-date research and clinical knowledge with us, answer questions about the diagnostic process, biomarkers, new therapies, relapses, and managing symptoms such as pain and fatigue. We will have conversations with individuals who have been diagnosed with NMOSD, their caregivers, and allied health professionals to learn from their experiences. Listeners will also learn about how to advocate for themselves at school and at work, learn where to find help and support, how to navigate health insurance, and how to work with a team of medical experts. We hope this series will positively impact those living with NMOSD and help our community be better self-advocates.
This education series is made possible through a patient education grant from VielaBio.*
February 24 at 1 pm EST
I have NMOSD. Now what?
Dr. Michael Levy, an expert in rare neuroimmune disorders, gives a presentation entitled “I have NMOSD. Now what?”, the first podcast in a ten-part series called ABC’s of NMOSD. Dr. Levy defines neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and explains the history of the disease. He discusses potential causes and diagnostic criteria. Finally, Dr. Levy discusses acute treatments, short-term expectations after diagnosis, and preventative treatments. A transcript of this podcast can be found here.
April 2 at 12 pm EST
Choosing a Long-Term Treatment Option NMOSD
Drs. Benjamin Greenberg, Brian G. Weinshenker, and Stacey Clardy join the second episode of ABCs of NMOSD, entitled “Choosing a Long-Term Treatment Option.” The podcast begins with an overview of the most common treatments of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and their side effects. The experts discuss the three new treatments that have been recently developed, and they discuss the differences between each treatment. They talk about factors to consider when choosing a treatment option, reasons why a person might switch treatments, and insurance implications. Finally, the experts discuss pediatric considerations for treatment, how to find research studies and trials, and supplementary treatments for NMOSD in addition to medication.
Michael Levy, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Research Director of the Division of Neuroimmunology & Neuroinfectious Disease. He completed the MD/PhD program at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX) with a focus on neuroscience. Dr. Levy completed his Johns Hopkins internship in the Osler Medicine program, residency in the Johns Hopkins Neurology program and a fellowship in Neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins University. In 2009, Dr. Levy was appointed to the faculty as Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins where he started the Neuromyelitis Optica Clinic and Research Laboratory and in 2019 he moved to the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School to develop the research program in neuroimmunology.
Clinically, Dr. Levy specializes in taking care of patients with rare neuroimmunological diseases including neuromyelitis optica, transverse myelitis, MOG antibody disease, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and optic neuritis. In addition to neuroimmunology clinics, Dr. Levy has a special interest in patients with superficial siderosis of the central nervous system. Dr. Levy is the principal investigator on several clinical studies and drug trials for all of these conditions.
In the laboratory, Dr. Levy’s research focuses on the development of animal models of neuromyelitis optica and transverse myelitis with the goal of tolerization as a sustainable long term treatment.
