Chief
Michael Benatar, MD, PhD 

Faculty     

Research Faculty

Fellow 

  • Alejandro Tobon, MD

Clinical Staff

Patient information

  • What are Neuromuscular Disorders?
  • Resources
 

Neuromuscular Disorders Division

Our team of doctors and other health professionals provide expert help for all aspects of diagnosis, treatment and management of complex neuromuscular diseases. Our mission is to advance research into the cause and cure of neuromuscular diseases and provide the highest level of care for patients. The division has a significant clinical and basic research program in the areas of ALS, neuromuscular diseases, mitochondrial diseases, and molecular genetics. All of these clinical programs are also teaching programs provident the best medical training for the next generation of medical students, residents, and fellows.

Services

The Neuromuscular Division provides the following services:

  • Neuromuscular Histology Laboratory: Under the direction of Dr. Robert T .Shebert, the Muscle & Nerve Biopsy Center works in conjunction with the Histology Laboratory at the National Parkinson Foundation. The muscle biopsy is a specialized procedure recommended by a physician with experience in neuromuscular diseases, carefully choosing a site, so that the muscle chosen for biopsy would give the most valuable information regarding muscle diseases.  Nerve biopsies are done less often, with the possibilities of specific diagnoses in advance, instead of an open-ended search.  The center performs 200 procedures annually.  Bimonthly conferences are held to review specimens and for quality control. 
  • EMG Laboratory: Under director Dr. Ram Ayyar and associate director Dr. Khema Sharma, electromyography provides diagnostic information by measuring the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. It is an excellent tool to evaluate muscle diseases (such as muscular dystrophy) or nerve disorder (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or peripheral neuropathies). EMG and nerve conduction studies are often done together to give more complete information.
  • Kessenich Family MDA ALS Center: Under the direction of Dr. Ashok Verma, the multi-disciplinary clinic provides all the expertise needed to care for ALS patients from the time of diagnosis through the course of the disease. The multi-disciplinary ALS team comprises of nurse director Ginna Gonzalez, MSN, ARNP, Maria Palomeque, RN, BSN, physical therapist, occupational therapist, respiratory therapist, speech therapist, nutritionist, medical social worker, and clinical psychologist. The University of Miami/Multi-disciplinary comprehensive ALS clinic is located at the St Catherine Rehabilitation Center in North Miami Beach. For more information about the center go to www.miami-als.org
  • Post Polio clinic: The Post Polio clinic under the direction of Dr. Khema Sharma provides multidisciplinary care to patients and their families. The group of specialists educates polio survivors on special medical needs and tips on how to cope and continue to live independently.
  • MDA Pediatric and Adult Clinics: Supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Association Dr. Ashok Verma and Dr. Khema Sharma of the Miller School of Medicine offer an interdisciplinary team approach toward initial diagnosis and follow up care for pediatric and adult patients with neuromuscular disorder. Dr. Lisa Baumback provides genetic counseling at the MDA clinic. The health care intervention is designed to assist individuals in maintaining the highest possible quality of life.
  • Neuropathy Clinic: The Neuropathy clinic is an outpatient clinic under the direction of Dr. Khema Sharma, which focuses the management of on all aspects of neuropathies.
  • Molecular Bionergetics - Click here to go to Molecular Bionergetics page.

Neuromuscular Medicine Training program

The neuromuscular fellowship program is accredited by the ACGME. We accept two fellows per year for a 1 – 2 year neuromuscular fellowship. The neuromuscular fellows receive extensive training in clinical, electrophysiological, nerve and muscle pathology, and clinical and laboratory research pertaining to neuromuscular disorders.

Faculty Clinical Research Focus:

  • Ashok Verma, MD, DM – Clinical trials in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Khema R. Sharma, MD – Electrophysiology and clinical trials in neuromuscular diseases
  • Carlos Moraes, PhD – Mitochondrial basic science research
  • Antonio Barrientos, PhD – Mitochondrial basic science research

Publications:

  • Walter G. Bradley, editor of Neurology in Clinical Practice, 5th Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2008.
  • Ashok Verma, Editor of the Year Book of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Elsevier-Mosby, 2007.

Awards

  • Forbes Norris ALS Award presented to Walter G. Bradley at the International ALS Symposium, Yokohama, Japan, 2006.
  • Association of Indian Neurologist of America (AINA) Life time achievement award presented to Dr. Walter G. Bradley by the American Academy of Neurology, Chicago, 2008.