NYU Langone Health’s Division of Neuromuscular Medicine provides outstanding patient care for a variety of neuromuscular diseases. The Division of Neuromuscular Medicine provides comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and support services to people who have neuromuscular disorders. Our faculty lead innovative research programs in areas including peripheral neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, chemotherapy-associated neuromuscular diseases, and COVID-19–related neuromuscular conditions. Applying the latest therapies in a positive and caring setting, our multidisciplinary team offers expertise in a wide range of common and rare neuromuscular disorders. Symptoms of neuromuscular disorders can include weakness, fatigue, pain, aches, spasms, slowness, cramps, and walking difficulties.

We also educate the next generation of neuromuscular disorders experts, with the ultimate mission of providing comprehensive care, improved quality of life, and a healthier tomorrow for people living with neuromuscular disorders. We recognize the importance of training future care providers through our specialized fellowships and other training programs in neuromuscular disorders.

Our Diagnostic Expertise

Our division has expertise in diagnosing and treating of wide spectrum of neuromuscular disorders which include the following:

• inflammatory neuropathies (Guillain Barré Syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or CIDP, multifocal motor neuropathy, or MMN)
• diabetic neuropathies
• idiopathic polyneuropathies
• autonomic neuropathies
• muscular dystrophies and myotonic dystrophy
• spinal muscular atrophies (SMA)
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
• disorders of neuromuscular junction (myasthenia gravis, Lambert Eaton myasthenic syndrome)
• inflammatory myopathies (polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion body myositis, or IBM)
• endocrine myopathies
• lyme disease related neuropathies
• peripheral nervous system vasculitis

Diagnosis and Treatment

In addition to providing routine diagnostic procedures, which are the first steps in diagnosing neuromuscular disorders, our clinical team also employs highly specialized and sophisticated laboratory testing and procedures. Neurologists in our division are experts in providing accurate diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases. We provide the following state-of-the-art diagnostic testing:

• blood testing for hereditary and acquired illnesses inclining genetic testing
• electromyography, single fiber electromyography, repetitive nerve stimulation study and nerve conduction studies
• skin biopsy for evaluation of nerve fibers in the skin
• ultrasonography of nerve and muscle
• MRI studies of the spine, peripheral nerves, and muscles
• spinal fluid analysis
• nerve and muscle biopsy
• autonomic reflex testing

New and more sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are constantly evaluated and implemented in the care of our patients. Once a neuromuscular disorder is diagnosed, treatment may include:

• drug therapy
• genetic counseling
• immunosuppressant therapy
• intravenous immunoglobulins
• plasmapheresis
• physical and occupational therapy
• physiotherapy
• surgical treatment
• pain management
• palliative care

A Multidisciplinary Team Approach

In order to provide the highest quality care for our patients, members in the Division of Neuromuscular Disorders works closely with other clinical departments and specialists in areas such as hematology, endocrinology, rheumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, neurosurgery, podiatry, and pain management. This multidisciplinary approach provides each patient with an individualized treatment plan.

Our Division Members

Members of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine include the following physicians:

Katrina A. Bernardo, MD
Jaydeep M. Bhatt, MD
Myrna I. Cardiel, MD
Kenneth Y. Chao, MD
Mary-Lynn Y. Chu, MD
Christina Drafta, MD
Anastasia Eswar, MD
Farng-Yang A. Foo, MD
Sina Khasani, MD
Nina Kim, MD
Kiril Kirpovski MD
Arielle M. Kurzweil, MD
Patrick Kwon, MD
Athena M. Lolis, MD
Ajay K. Misra, MD
Rajeev S. Motiwala, MD
Amanda B. Murphy, MD
Andreas N. Neophytides, MD
Perrin A. Pleninger, MD
Anna Shor, MD
Sujata P. Thawani, MD, MPH
Daniel M. Torres, MD
Yuxuan Jin, MD
Huiying Yu, MD
Elina Zakin,MD