Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO, United States
Country
United States
Institution
Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
Education summary
University of Chicago School of Medicine, MD/PhD
Neurology Residency, Washington University School of Medicine
Neuromuscular Fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine
Career summary
I am a Professor of Neurology and Head of the Neuromuscular Section at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. I received my MD and PhD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, followed by a Neurology Residency and Neuromuscular Fellowship at Washington University. During my post-doctoral fellowship, I began to study the molecular pathogenesis of hereditary inclusion body myopathies and now have an active clinical and basic science research programme focused on genetics, protein aggregate myopathies, inclusion body myositis and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. My research has delineated the molecular mechanism of VCP associated inclusion body myopathy and identified the genetic cause of LGMDD1. I have received a number of honours, including the Derek Denny-Brown Young Neurological Scholar Award from the American Neurological Association and the Daniel and Jephta Drachman Family Award, Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology. I have served as member of the WMS Local Organising Committee and co-hosted the WMS meeting in 2023. I have a strong commitment to the training of future neuromuscular clinicians and myologists. I was awarded a K24 mid-career investigator award to mentor residents, fellows, junior faculty and early stage scientists in patient-oriented research.
What is the personal or professional achievement you’re most proud of?
I take great pride in several sustained initiatives that Dr. Alfano and I launched at the 2023 WMS meeting. One standout programme is our innovative "Legacy Tokens" initiative, which enables us to give back meaningfully to our host communities. Now in its third year, this program has contributed over £20,000 to local causes selected by organising committees.
We also established caregiver grants to remove financial barriers that prevent WMS members from attending our meetings due to dependent care responsibilities. Additionally, we introduced professional photo sessions during the annual meeting, providing early career researchers and clinicians with high-quality photos for their online profiles and presentations.
Why did you first join the WMS?
I first attended the WMS meeting in 2007 when it was held in Sicily, Italy. That meeting proved transformative, introducing me to researchers and colleagues who remain key collaborators to this day. My ongoing commitment to WMS stems from witnessing the organisation's continuous evolution and the positive changes that consistently strengthen the society.
What is your goal in joining the Executive Board?
My goal in joining the executive board centers on three core commitments that align with the society's mission. First, I am dedicated to advancing excellent science and clinical care, ensuring our organisation maintains the highest standards of research and practice in our field. Second, I have a strong commitment to supporting junior colleagues by actively working to remove barriers that hinder their success. This includes addressing financial, logistical, and systemic obstacles that prevent emerging researchers and clinicians from fully participating in our scientific community. Finally, I am passionate about elevating voices that are traditionally underrepresented or marginalised due to geographic, economic, or institutional constraints. I believe diverse perspectives strengthen our science and that the board has a responsibility to create inclusive platforms where all members can contribute meaningfully to our collective knowledge.
These priorities reflect my belief that a thriving scientific society must not only pursue rigorous research but also cultivate an environment where all members can flourish and contribute to advancing our field.
