SRNA hosted an Ask the Expert podcast, a special edition in collaboration with CDC, entitled "Talking With Your Child About a Difficult Diagnosis." We were joined by pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Lana Harder. Dr. Harder discussed strategies for talking to your child about the diagnostic tests that are used at the onset of a rare neuroimmune disorder and how they may be invasive or painful. She explained transition of care as a child grows older and closer to adulthood and how to ensure your ch...
Jul 26, 2021•54 min•Season 9Ep. 8
SRNA hosted an Ask the Expert podcast entitled, "Transverse Myelitis: Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines" with medical experts Dr. Ram Narayan and Dr. Elena Grebenciucova. The experts began by explaining what transverse myelitis is, signs and symptoms, and how the diagnosis is made. They discussed acute treatments and how they decide which treatments to use for each patient. Finally, the experts talked about rehabilitation and what someone should do if they experience decompensation.
Jun 22, 2021•56 min•Season 9Ep. 7
SRNA hosted an Ask the Expert podcast, in collaboration with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on "CDC and the Role of Public Health in Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), Part 2." We were joined by Dr. Janell Routh of CDC, Dr. Ben Greenberg of UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Emily Spence Davizon of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The experts discuss whether an outbreak of AFM cases is expected in 2021, along with the potential causes of AFM, and how an outbreak...
May 31, 2021•58 min•Season 9Ep. 6
SRNA hosted an Ask the Expert podcast, in collaboration with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on "CDC and the Role of Public Health in Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)." We were joined by Dr. Janell Routh of CDC, Dr. Ben Greenberg of UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Emily Spence Davizon of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The experts discuss the process of how AFM cases are diagnosed, reported to public health agencies, sent to CDC, and classified. They describ...
May 20, 2021•47 min•Season 9Ep. 5
SRNA hosted this Ask the Expert Podcast on "Behavioral and Psychological Changes in Demyelinating Conditions, Part 2" with experts Dr. Cindy Wang, Dr. Alison Wilkinson-Smith, and Densie Maddox, RN, BSN, MSCN. The experts provide information on what kinds of psychological and behavioral changes may occur in people with rare neuroimmune disorders and other demyelinating conditions. They explain how psychology and psychiatry play a role in developing treatment plans and which treatments are most ef...
Apr 21, 2021•55 min•Season 9Ep. 4
Dr. Sarah Hopkins and Sarah Stoney, MSW, LSW joined SRNA’s Rebecca Whitney for this Ask the Expert podcast, in collaboration with Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The topic is, “My child was just diagnosed with AFM. What do I need to know?” Dr. Hopkins begins by explaining the acute treatments typically administered after an AFM diagnosis and what families should expect during this time. She and Sarah Stoney discuss the importance of the care team in supporting the family during both the acute...
Mar 16, 2021•58 min•Season 9Ep. 3
For this episode of our Ask the Expert Podcast Series: Research Edition, Rebecca Whitney is joined by Dr. Lana Harder to discuss her "Study on Pediatric Teleneuropsychology." Dr. Harder begins by explaining what neuropsychology is and what a neuropsychology assessment involves. She then talks about the purpose of the study and how telehealth differs from in-person appointments. She relays the findings from the study and the reasons why studying telehealth is important. Finally, Dr. Harder discus...
Mar 02, 2021•21 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Dr. Michael Levy joined SRNA for an episode of our Ask the Expert Podcast Series: Research Edition, entitled “Dr. Michael Levy’s Research at The NMO Clinic and Research Laboratory at Mass General.” During the podcast, Dr. Levy discusses a project his lab is coordinating to track the experiences of people with rare neuroimmune disorders who have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine. He then talks about research he is conducting on genetics and transverse myelitis. Dr. Levy explains the animal models that ar...
Feb 19, 2021•18 min•Season 9Ep. 1
SRNA is joined by Amanda Aaron, OTD and Deb Nikkila, MOT, OTR/L for an Ask the Expert podcast on "How to Manage Visual Issues." The experts describe the purpose of low vision rehabilitation and the resources available for people experiencing visual issues. They respond to questions regarding symptoms such as eye pain, darkened vision, color issues, and more. Deb and Amanda discuss assistive technology for people who are vision impaired, and they talk about driving and transportation. Finally, th...
Dec 14, 2020•52 min•Season 8Ep. 9
SRNA partnered with The MOG Project to host this Ask the Expert podcast on "MOG Antibody Disease: Adult and Pediatric Presentations" with Dr. Leslie Benson and Dr. Michael Levy. The experts begin by defining MOG antibody disease and describing the different presentations for adult and pediatric individuals. They discuss the long-term effects and management of the disease. Finally, Dr. Benson and Dr. Levy provide the acute and preventative treatments for MOGAD.
Oct 19, 2020•54 min•Season 8Ep. 8
SRNA is joined by Dr. Cynthia Wang and Dr. Lana Harder for an Ask the Expert podcast on "Behavioral and Psychological Changes in Demyelinating Conditions." The experts begin by discussing various psychological effects that people diagnosed with rare neuroimmune disorders may experience, including PTSD, anxiety, stress, and depression. They also talk about behavioral changes that may occur, such as mood swings, changes in personality, and fatigue. Psychological and behavioral challenges of pediat...
Aug 13, 2020•53 min•Season 8Ep. 7
SRNA is joined by Dr. Benjamin Greenberg and Dr. Michael Levy for an Ask the Expert podcast: "Latest Updates on COVID-19 and Rare Neuroimmune Disorders." The experts begin by discussing risk factors for individuals diagnosed with rare neuroimmune disorders contracting COVID-19 and having severe cases of COVID-19 if infected. Treatment and potential vaccination options are discussed, as well as the possible effect of immunosuppressant medication on individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. The experts...
May 13, 2020•58 min•Season 8Ep. 6
SRNA is joined by Ana M. Hernandez, MS, CBIS and Lana Harder, PhD, ABPP for an Ask the Expert podcast on "Helping Children and Families Manage and Cope with Stress During COVID-19." The podcast begins with the experts giving stress management techniques for adults and children experiencing stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The experts discuss homeschooling and parenting, how to manage family dynamics, and ways to practice self-care.
Apr 09, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 8Ep. 5
SRNA is joined by Dr. Kyle Blackburn and Dr. Cynthia Wang for a podcast on "Neuroimmune System 101: A primer on how the nervous and immune systems work together." The podcast begins with an overview of the nervous and immune systems and how they relate in the context of rare neuroimmune disorders. The experts discuss COVID-19 (coronavirus) in relation to the immune systems of people with rare neuroimmune disorders. They then answer questions on different ways in which the immune system is activa...
Mar 19, 2020•49 min•Season 8Ep. 4
SRNA is joined by Dr. Michael Bradshaw and Dr. Rohini Samudralwar for a podcast on "What is neurosarcoidosis?" The experts discuss the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and potential causes of neurosarcoidosis. They talk about the relationship between neurosarcoidosis and the other rare neuroimmune disorders, as well as predispositions for the disorder. Acute treatments, long-term symptoms, and prognosis are discussed. Finally, the experts respond to several questions from the SRNA community....
Feb 19, 2020•1 hr•Season 8Ep. 3
Dr. Olwen Murphy and Dr. Ram Narayan join SRNA for a podcast on "Newly Diagnosed with a Rare Neuroimmune Disorder: What You Need to Know." The experts begin by discussing early symptoms of a rare neuroimmune disorder and what kind of medical care a person should seek if they are experiencing these symptoms. The experts then describe the process of diagnosing these disorders and what tests should be conducted. Acute treatments, rehabilitation, and next steps are discussed. The experts discuss pro...
Feb 11, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 8Ep. 2
SRNA is joined by Dr. Philippines Cabahug and Dr. Jacqueline A. Nicholas for a podcast on "Everything You Need to Know About Spasticity and How It's Treated . ” The experts define spasticity and tone, and they discuss the causes of spasticity. Treatment options are discussed, as well as differences between individual treatment goals. The experts describe the benefit of spasticity and the timeline for when spasticity may appear after diagnosis.
Jan 30, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 8Ep. 1
SRNA is joined by Dr. Amanda Henderson and Dr. Elias Sotirchos for a podcast on "Optic Neuritis: When is just ON and when does it mean more?" The medical experts begin by explaining what optic neuritis is, the symptoms, and how it is diagnosed. Treatments, both acute and ongoing, are discussed, as well as circumstances surrounding relapses. The medical experts then discuss ON in the context of other diagnoses such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, MOG antibody-associated disease, and mu...
Dec 12, 2019•54 min•Season 7Ep. 18
SRNA is joined by medical experts Dr. Carlos Pardo and Dr. Bardia Nourbakhsh for a podcast on Fatigue and Rare Neuroimmune Disorders. The experts begin by describing the different causes and types of fatigue. They then discuss treatment options for people experiencing fatigue, both medicated and natural. How to manage the everyday effects of fatigue - whether it's at work, school, home, etc. - is discussed, and the experts give their perspectives on how to talk to one's healthcare providers abou...
Dec 05, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Season 7Ep. 17
The Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA) is joined by Priya Duggal, PhD, MPH to discuss the Genetic Study of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) being conducted at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Duggal discusses the eligibility of participants for the study, the process for how to enroll, and what to expect as a participant. She also discusses what researchers are hoping to learn about the genetic aspect of AFM and how it will inform the way AFM is treated. Finally, Dr. Duggal describes the processes she use...
Nov 14, 2019•39 min
The TMA is joined by Dr. Jonathan Cheng from Children’s Medical Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center and Dr. Mitch Seruya Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The surgeons discuss nerve transfers and how they are used for individuals with AFM. They talk about risks of surgery as well as the post-surgery recovery process. Dr. Cheng and Dr. Seruya also discuss the role of insurance in covering nerve transfer surgery, and they talk about upcoming research publications.
Aug 13, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 7Ep. 15
The TMA is pleased to be joined by surgeons Dr. Amy Moore from Washington University School of Medicine and Dr. Dan Zlotolow from The Shriners Hospital for Children Philadelphia and Greenville, The Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center, and The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The doctors discuss the purpose of nerve transfers in patients with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) and what the surgery entails. They discuss what qualifications they look for in a candidate for nerve transfer. Dr. M...
Aug 09, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 7Ep. 14
The TMA is joined by Dr. Eoin Flanagan, Associate Professor of Neurology and Consultant in the departments of Neurology and Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). Dr. Flanagan defines different imaging techniques and discusses how imaging is used to diagnose rare neuroimmune disorders. He discusses what imaging results can tell us about prognosis and the likelihood of developing multiple sclerosis. He provides guidelines for how often to get new MRIs after an infla...
Aug 08, 2019•48 min•Season 7Ep. 13
The TMA is joined by Dr. Nicholas L. Zalewski from Mayo Clinic and Dr. Olwen Murphy from Johns Hopkins University to help our listeners better understand spinal cord strokes and other vascular myelopathies. Definitions of spinal cord stroke and vascular myelopathy were given. The experts explained the similarities and differences of spinal cord stroke and transverse myelitis. Signs and symptoms of spinal cord stroke were discussed, as well as diagnostic criteria and treatment. The experts also d...
Jul 24, 2019•59 min•Season 7Ep. 12
The TMA is joined by Dr. Janell Routh and Dr. Manisha Patel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as Dr. Benjamin Greenberg from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, to discuss the role of CDC in Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) surveillance. The history of the CDC’s response to AFM is discussed. The medical experts explain the difference between polio and AFM. The experts also give a detailed explanation for the current state of reporting of AFM to CDC. A new cons...
Jul 24, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Managing Neuropathic Pain and Paresthesia
Jun 19, 2019•59 min•Season 7Ep. 10
The latest episode of the Ask the Expert Podcast Series
Jun 19, 2019•59 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Quality of Life: Adaptive Driving
May 24, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Managing Pediatric Urological Issues
May 22, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Parent's Perspective on AFM
May 16, 2019•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 6
