Our Center
The Stony Brook Neuromuscular Disease and Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence - An ALS Association Certified Center provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for patients of all ages with neuromuscular disorders. It is not always clear what causes neuromuscular diseases, although genetics, environment and immune system dysregulation are thought to play a role. Symptoms such as muscle cramps, weakness, muscle wasting, numbness and difficulty moving can be frightening, but we are here to help.
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Stony Brook Neuromuscular Disease and |
We are experts in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), neuropathy, myopathy, myasthenia gravis, myositis, muscular dystorphy and more. You and your family are welcome to come see us for advice, a second opinion, diagnosis, or ongoing care. Our goal is to provide best-in-class care while alleviating your symptoms, increasing your mobility, and improving your quality of life. We will do so in an environment of compassion and mutual respect.
The Stony Brook Difference
Led by Director Dr. Simona Treidler, our ALS program was certified as the 34th Center of Excellence in the country in 2009, by the ALS Association. This distinction recognizes our collaborative approach and our ability to provide the highest quality care for people with ALS and their families.
Within a span of a 3.5-hour visit, our ALS patients see each member of our multidisciplinary team, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, speech pathologists, and dieticians. Being a patient at the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence - An ALS Association Certified Center allows you to see physicians from multiple specialties. Patients in Suffolk County do not have to go to Manhattan -- we can provide exceptional care right here on Long Island. Our multidisciplinary approach increases the outcome of successful therapy and ensures that patients receive support in all aspects of their conditions. Unlike many other ALS providers, we are equipped to provide long-term care and we offer biopsy (sampling and analysis) of nerve, muscle, and skin cells. Our advanced technology helps us to make a definitive diagnosis and then create individualized treatment plans.
Education is part of our mission, and we offer frequent support groups and facilitated meetings for patients and families. We understand that ALS affects patients in a variety of ways, and we encourage open discussion and question and answer sessions that include the entire family. We always have counselors and social workers available to talk about anything from financial concerns to sexual problems. Our physicians often speak at local chapter meetings of disease foundations, such as the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America or the ALS Association.
To make an appointment, call (631) 444-2599.