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Multiple Sclerosis — Comprehensive Care Center

Mission Statement

To provide expert ability to diagnose and treat Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a patient-first environment. We promise our patients expertise in the latest and cutting-edge information about MS and MS research.

The Stony Brook Difference

The Stony Brook Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Comprehensive Care Center was the first center of its kind on Long Island. Started in 1990 by Dr. Patricia K. Coyle, an internationally recognized expert in MS, the Center has about 1,700 patient visits a year. It is comprised of a team of individuals with extensive experience in MS.

This team focuses on patient care, education, and MS research:

Patricia K. Coyle, MD, the Director, is a recognized expert in nervous system immune-mediated and infectious disorders. She has been involved since medical school with patient care and research focused on MS.

Lauren Krupp, MD, the Co-Director, is a recognized expert in fatigue and cognitive issues, as well as Pediatric MS. She sees adult patients in the MS Center.

Patricia Melville, NP, is certified in MS Care, and as the Center's nurse practitioner provides rapid care and assessment, and assures a readily available communications contact.

Ruth Mahnken, RN, is the Center's ambulatory care and research nurse, with a long experience with MS.

These care team members are supported by additional staff including fellows, neuropsychologists, social service experts, rehabilitation specialists, and physicians with expertise in Neuro-Ophthalmology, Neuro-ENT, Neuro-Urology and Sexual Dysfunctions.

The Stony Brook MS Comprehensive Care Center sees patients not only from Long island, but from all parts of the United States as well as from countries around the world.

Patients have access to expert opinions for initial diagnosis and second opinions, current assessment, recommendations on best care, treatment for acute relapses, and treatment for bothersome MS symptoms. They have access to the state-of-the-art facilities at Stony Brook University Medical Center, which include the most advanced neuroimaging. They may elect to participate in one of many ongoing cutting-edge clinical research trials for MS that are being conducted at Stony Brook.

Services

Below is a sampling of our services.

Support Services

  • Diagnosis

  • Second opinion

  • Best treatment strategy


Primary Services

  • Informational brochures and pamphlets

  • Ongoing patient education seminars

  • Ongoing support group sponsorship

  • Cognitive assessments

  • Neuro-Ophthalmologic assessments (including OCT)

  • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy

  • Specific counseling

  • Bladder scan assessment for urinary symptoms

  • Spasticity clinic assessments; baclofen pump therapy

  • Infusion services

  • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) clinic

  • Flu vaccinations and intramuscular injections


State-of-the-art Imaging

  • 1.5T and 3T MRI machines

  • Vascular assessments (venous and arterial systems)

  • MR Spectroscopy

  • MRI research techniques (atrophy measurements; functional MRI; magnetization transfer imaging; diffusion tensor/tractography imaging)


Research Services

  • Screening for eligibility for MS research studies


Physicians

Supporting Specialists

  • Patricia Melville, NP

  • Ruth M. Mahnken, RN

We offer our patients tomorrow's treatments today through our many clinical trials. Our patients may elect to participate in ongoing, cutting-edge, clinical research trials that are being conducted at our institution. Participation in a clinical trial can provide patients with access to new research treatments before they are widely available. Click on the following website links to access more information on the current clinical trials offered at Stony Brook University Medical Center:

Office of Clinical Trials:


General Clinical Research Center (GCRC):