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UF Health Jacksonville MS program receives national honor

The UF Health Jacksonville Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Program includes: bottom row, from left, Heather Barksdale, DPT, physical therapist; Scott Silliman, MD, director; Kalina Sanders, MD, associate director; Kelly O’Brien, ARNP; top row, from left, Adrienne DeBerry, PharmD; Catrina Graham, PharmD; Adam Chaifetz, DC, program coordinator; and Crystal Adams, MSW, neurology social services director. Christina Hampton, DPT, physical therapist, is not pictured.

The UF Health Jacksonville Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Program has been recognized as a Center for Comprehensive MS Care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The center is now just one of seven in the state to be recognized by the organization and the only one north of Orlando.

"This is an honor for UF Health Jacksonville and just as importantly singles out the dedicated caregivers who work together to find solutions for patients dealing with a very complicated disease," said Scott Silliman, MD, a UF Health neurologist. "Taking care of patients with MS is a true team effort. This designation is based on our track record of providing high-quality interdisciplinary and inter-professional care to patients with MS."

The society’s designation is granted to health centers demonstrating highly coordinated multidisciplinary care spanning medical, rehabilitative, nutrition and mental health services for MS patients. The designation reflects the varied and often complex issues related to living with MS, which is a chronic disease.

"This is a monumental accomplishment for our institution," said Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. "With such a large population of MS patients in our community and the surrounding area, we feel it is our duty to find a way to give them not only excellent care but also hope."

Part of UF Health Jacksonville’s Neuroscience Institute, the Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Program employs a team approach that focuses on the total care of the patient with MS, allowing specialists across multiple fields to collaboratively develop a comprehensive plan of care tailored to each patient's individual needs. The program also offers the benefits of an academic health center, with the latest MS treatments and an active research program, allowing some patients the ability to enroll in clinical trials.

"The care our MS program provides is outstanding and it’s primarily due to the physicians, nurses and other caregivers who work every day to find solutions to help the patient," said Russ Armistead, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville. "This recognition by the national society is well-earned, and on behalf of UF Health Jacksonville I offer my thanks."

Multiple sclerosis is an auto-immune disease affecting the central nervous system, disrupting vision, balance and muscle coordination, and impairing thinking and memory. Patients with MS require specialized attention to their medical, social and psychological needs that are best met within a comprehensive center.

The UF Health Neuroscience Institute includes a nationally recognized interdisciplinary team of University of Florida neurologists and neurosurgeons. By participating in numerous national and international research projects and investing in the most sophisticated technology available, the institute offers state-of-the-art diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative neurologic services.

"It has been one of the true highlights of my career to see this program grow and mature," said Silliman. "We are now following more than 700 patients with MS, some of whom travel from as far as southern Alabama, the western Florida Panhandle, southern Georgia and central Florida to see us."

Featured Faculty

Scott L. Silliman, MD

Scott L. Silliman, MD

Professor
Medical Director, Comprehensive Stroke Program; Program Director, Vascular Neurology Fellowship