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ALS Clinic
The VCU Health ALS clinic and research program is the largest of its kind in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As an ALS Association Center of Excellence, we work hard to deliver hope to patients with motor neuron diseases. Bringing together highly-trained doctors from different medical specialties, we ensure you’ll have all the support you need to live your best life.
Hear what makes us special
Find complete ALS treatment
Our team provides high-quality care and support to patients with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), with special expertise in:
- Clinical psychology
- Genetic counseling
- Neurology
- Nurse navigation
- Nutrition
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Psychiatry
- Research
- Respiratory therapy
- Social work
- Speech therapy
Think of us as your “home base” as you learn to live with your condition. Beyond disease-specific treatments and symptom management, you can also expect assistance with all the logistics, like making sure you get the equipment you need and setting up additional therapies.
Gain access to ALS clinical trials
As a Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS) site, ALL ALS Consortium site and ALS Association Center of Excellence, we provide clinical trial opportunities to all patients regardless of diagnosis and severity or duration of their disease. We’re supported not only by the ALS Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, but also the Harper's Hope Fund for ALS and the VCU Fund for ALS and Neuromuscular Disorders.
Clinical Trials
ALS/MND Natural History Consortium - Active and enrolling
The FDA-funded ALS/MND Natural History Consortium is conducting a natural history study at 10 academic centers in the United States. Over 2,000 people living with ALS are currently enrolled in this study with nearly 300 patients enrolled at VCU.
Learn more about the ALS/MND Natural History Consortium
Primary Lateral Sclerosis Natural History Study - Active, not currently enrolling
VCU is participating in the Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) Natural History Study. This study will study the disease progression of patients with PLS.
Learn more about the PLS Natural History Study
Healey Platform Trial - Active, not currently enrolling
VCU is participating in the Healey Platform Trial.
Learn more about the Healey Platform Trial
Pridopidine Expanded Access Program - Active and enrolling
Learn more about the Pridopidine Expanded Access Program
ALL ALS Consortium - Active and enrolling
VCU is one of the 34 NIH-funded sites of the Access for ALL in ALS Consortium. It will operationalize the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (ACT for ALS) Public Private Partnership.
Discover support groups
Our caregiver support group meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 3-4 p.m. via zoom.
Our longstanding ALS clinic support group meets the 4th Thursday of each month from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom.
If you would like to be included in the monthly invitations, please send an email to our clinic social worker, Anne Shields at margaret.shields@vcuhealth.org.
Learn how we provide rapid diagnosis for all
We’re proud to lead research that’s helping us understand the racial disparities around delayed diagnosis of ALS. This work has been presented twice at the NEALS Annual Meeting and is also published. But most importantly, the insights we’ve gained have resulted in the creation of our Rapid Access ALS Program.
A first of its kind in the nation, this pilot program gives immediate access to an ALS expert and same day electrodiagnostic testing for any patient in the region believed to have ALS. Because faster diagnosis results in faster access to life-changing treatments and better clinical outcomes.
To be considered for the program, patients should be screened with the thinkALS tool.
Hear how we’re making a difference
And advocating for faster diagnosis
Participate in important environmental research
As part of our ongoing research, our team has also explored ALS clusters or “hot spots” across Virginia.
And we’re still working to deepen our understanding of possible environmental risk factors with a team of scientists including Dr. Laxmikant Deshpande, Dr. Gregory Walsh and Dr. Matthew Halquist.
If you are a patient interested in participating in clinical research, please email: neuromuscular_research@vcuhealth.org.
Meet our team
Kelly Gwathmey, MD, ALS Clinic Director, Chair Neuromuscular Medicine Division; Associate Professor, Dept. of Neurology
Qihua Fan, MD, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurology
David Rothman, PhD, LCP, Clinical Psychologist
Lauren Mahoney, MD, Psychiatrist
Amanda Butler, DPT, Physical Therapist
Michelle Gebhardt, Nurse Navigator
Lauren Prosser, MSN, RN, PCCN, Nurse Navigator
Rebecca Rhodes, Registered Dietitian
Kendall Rodier, Genetic Counselor
Kiera Berggren, Speech Language Pathologist
Ashley Moneymaker, Occupational Therapist
Anne Shields, Social Worker
Demetrius Carter, Clinical Research Coordinator
Adriana Clegg, Clinical Research Coordinator
Brianna Schibley-Laird, Clinical Research Coordinator
Bridget Wilkins, Clinical Research Coordinator
Quyen Duong, Program Manager and Respiratory Therapist
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We are committed to creating a community that recognizes and embraces diverse backgrounds, identities and lived experiences.