Caring for Children and Teens with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica, Optic Neuritis and Transverse Myelitis

In 2006, the National MS Society established a nationwide network of six Pediatric MS Centers of Excellence to provide diagnosis, comprehensive evaluation and care to children and teens under the age of 18 who have ADEM, MS, NMO, ON and TM.  The centers were selected on the basis of having multidisciplinary teams of adult and child specialists; ties to an adult MS center; staff to evaluate and address school and other psycho-social issues; support for families; and the ability to work collaboratively with other institutions in the network.  Approximately 60% of the children who are cared for at the pediatric MS centers have ADEM, NMO, ON or TM. 

The centers are working together to:
Improve evaluation and management strategies to enhance diagnosis and care of children with MS and other related disorders 
Develop resources for families, health care professionals and the public
Collect data that will enable large scale research initiatives 

Each Center Offers:

The latest in comprehensive care and treatment for children with these central nervous system demyelinating disorders, as well as the information and support their families need.
Evaluation and diagnosis involving both pediatric and adult neurologists
A team of professionals that offers:

Nursing services
Cognitive and psychological evaluation
Rehabilitation assessment (physical, occupational, speech and language)
Vision care
Neuroimaging (MRI)
Individual case management and social services to ensure proper care and support
Information and resources for patients and families
School support

Families now have National MS Society-supported resources for evaluation, diagnosis, medical care and support. Children with symptoms suggestive of any CNS demyelinating disorder will be evaluated at one of the centers.  A priority of this network is to provide comprehensive care to children with central nervous system demyelinating conditions, regardless of ability to pay. Financial assistance is also available for travel and accommodations according to need.

For information on the Pediatric MS Centers of Excellence or for programs and services available to your child and family call: 1-866-KIDS W MS (866-543-7967) or email: childhoodms@nmss.org.

Additional information can be found at: www.nationalMSsociety.org/pediatricms

The Centers: 

Center for Pediatric-Onset Demyelinating Disease at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham

CHB 314K
1600 7th Ave South
Birmingham, AL 35233
Center director: Jayne Ness, MD, PhD
Contact person: Sarah M. Dowdy, MPH 
Phone: (205) 996-7633
Web: www.uab.edu/cpodd/ 

UCSF Regional Pediatric MS Center
University of California, San Francisco

350 Parnassus Avenue, Suite 908
San Francisco, CA 94117
Project director: Emmanuelle Waubant, MD, PhD
Contact person: Janace Hart
Phone: (415) 353-3939
Web: www.ucsfhealth.org/pedsms 

Partners Pediatric MS Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children

Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care, Suite 6B
55 Fruit St.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA 02114
Center director: Tanuja Chitnis, MD
Contact person: Rose Fratarcangeli
Phone: (617) 726-2664
Web: partnersmscenter.org/pediatric

Mayo Clinic Pediatric MS Center
Rochester, MN

200 1st St. SW
Rochester, MN 55905
Center directors: Nancy L. Kuntz, MD & Moses Rodriguez, MD
Contacts: Paula Freitag, MSW
Phone: (507) 538-2555 or (507) 284-2111
Web: www.mayoclinic.org/pediatric-center 

Pediatric MS Center of the Jacobs Neurological Institute
State University of New York, Buffalo

219 Bryan St.
Buffalo, NY 14222
Center director: Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD
Contact person: Mary Karpinksi, MSW
Phone: (877) 878-7367
Email: PedMS@thejni.org
Web: www.pedms.com/ 

National Pediatric MS Center at Stony Brook University Hospital 

Department of Neurology, HSC-T12-020
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11784-8121
Center director: Lauren Krupp, MD
Contact person: Maria Milazzo, MS,CPNP
Phone: (631) 444-7802
Email: info@pediatricmscenter.org
Web: www.pediatricmscenter.org/