Objectives:

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner should be able to:

• Describe basic aspects of ALS clinical features, epidemiology, prognosis
• Explain disease-directed (2) and symptomatic (many) treatments
• Discuss unique aspect of advance care planning in ALS
• Describe unique psychosocial issues in ALS
• Identify barriers to hospice entry in ALS

Bio:

Dr.Neha Kramer is a palliative neurologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL, USA. She completed her Neurology residency, Vascular Neurology fellowship and Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Since then, she has been practicing at Rush, with dual appointments in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Neurology. She has developed a Neuropalliative clinic, where she treats persons living with ALS, Parkinson’s Disease and related disorders, dementia, muscular dystrophy and complex neuropathic pain. She also works in the Advanced Interdisciplinary Movement Disorders Supportive Care Clinic, the inpatient hospice service and the inpatient palliative care consult service.

Neha is passionate about educating providers of both specialties on the provision of Neuropalliative care. She is the founding Co-Chair of the Education Committee for the International Neuropalliative Care Society. She is also Co-Director of the Education in Palliative and End of Life Care (EPEC)-Neurology curriculum and Train the Trainer conference, Co-Director of the first International Neuropalliative Care Certificate Course,  and past founding Co-Chair of the Neuropalliative Special Interest Group for the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Outside of work, Neha enjoys meditation and dance parties with her toddler.