5 New Neuropathy Centers in U.S.

[Guest guest]

U-M CENTER OPENING DRAWS LARGE TURNOUT

More than 350 people attended the official opening March 9 of The

Neuropathy Center at the University of Michigan. The Center is one

of five recently established by The Neuropathy Association (TNA) at

leading university medical centers.

" We were actually stunned by the turnout, " said Dr. Eva Feldman,

N. DeJung Professor of Neurology, University of Michigan

School of Medicine. " It only emphasizes to us even more how

important the Center will be to the patient and academic communities. "

More than 200 patients joined 150 private neurologists and interested

faculty at the symposium devoted to neuropathy. Speakers included:

Teener, M.D., clinical associate professor of neurology and

director of the U-M Neuromuscular Program, who spoke on progress in

treating peripheral neuropathy pain; Albers, M.D., Ph.D.,

professor of neurology and director of the U-M Electromyography

Laboratory, who spoke on inflammatory neuropathies and gave a moving

historical perspective on the development of treatment since the

1970s; and , M.D., M.S., associate professor of

neurology at the U-M and director of the Neurology Electrodiagnostic

and Autonomic Laboratory at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, who

discussed the impact of today's obesity epidemic on the current and

future state of peripheral neuropathy. The dean of the U-M Medical

School, Dr. S. Lichter, offered congratulatory remarks.

" This is an encouraging start for our new Center and close

collaboration with the University of Michigan School Of Medicine, "

said Dr. G. , Executive Director of The Neuropathy

Association. " Working with this prestigious institution and leaders

in neuropathy such as Dr. Feldman bode well for our efforts to raise

awareness and understanding of this illness. "

The U-M Neuropathy Center joins with TNA-affiliated centers at

Cornell University, the University of California at San Francisco

(UC-SF), the University of Florida and a fourth location yet to be

announced. These are the nucleus of what TNA expects to be a

national network of centers that coordinate efforts to increase

neuropathy awareness and research funding.

(From The Neuropathy Association)