“Strides in Autoimmune Encephalitis”: An Autoimmune Encephalitis Assembly
On behalf of University Hospitals Neurological Institute, Hashimoto's Encephalopathy/SREAT & Seronegative Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance (HESA), Encephalitis411, and the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance (AEA), we cordially invite you to our upcoming assembly: “Strides in Autoimmune Encephalitis.” This assembly is an all-day event focusing on pediatric and adult autoimmune encephalitis (AE) for clinicians, caregivers, and the survivors impacted.
Speakers include Dr. Hesham Abboud from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Dr. Eoin Flanagan, Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Alise Carlson, Cleveland Clinic, who will share the latest developments in autoimmune encephalitis. Additionally, a patient and her caregiver will speak about their real-life experience navigating the AE journey. Education in AE is vital to diagnose patients more quickly, limiting the duration and possibly extent of damage to cognitive and physical impairment. The assembly aims to provide an opportunity for multidisciplinary learning and collaboration as well as an opportunity to build connections for participants, including physicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, and other impacted guests.
Date / Time: Saturday, October 26, 2024 | 9 am — 5 pm
Location
Wolstein Research Building (in-person only)
1st Floor, Main Auditorium
2103 Cornell Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106
Event Registration Fee: $25
Meals
Lunch and snacks are included in registration. You will be able to select if you need a vegetarian or gluten-free meal during registration. Please email Julie.Kensil@UHhospitals.org with any questions.
Hotel Registration
Courtyard Cleveland University Circle
2021 Cornell Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Speakers
Hesham Abboud, MD, PhD is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Program at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and a staff neurologist at the Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center. He is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Dr. Abboud earned his medical degree from Alexandria University in Egypt where he also completed an internship and a residency in Neurology and Psychiatry. He obtained Masters and Doctorate degrees in Neurology from Alexandria University before joining the Cleveland clinic where he completed a residency in adult neurology, a clinical fellowship in movement disorders and neuromodulation, and a clinical fellowship in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology. He received special training in neuromyelitis optica and autoimmune neurology at Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Abboud founded the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Program at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center including dedicated Neuromyelitis Optica and Autoimmune encephalitis Clinics.
In 2021, he was the lead author of the Best Practice Recommendations for management of autoimmune encephalitis published by the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance Clinicians Network. His research focuses on therapeutic and diagnostic approaches to autoimmune encephalitis, NMO, and autoimmune movement disorders.
Alise Carlson, MD MSc is a staff neurologist at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. She is an assistant professor of Neurology at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.
Dr. Alise Carlson attended medical school at the University of Minnesota and completed her Neurology residency training at the Cleveland Clinic in June 2021. She then completed a two-year subspecialty fellowship at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research in June 2023, during which time she also completed a master's degree in clinical research through Case Western Reserve University. She joined the Mellen Center staff in July 2023. Dr. Carlson currently cares for patients with multiple sclerosis, MOGAD, NMOSD, autoimmune encephalitis, and other neuroinflammatory conditions. Her clinical and research interests include family planning / management of pregnancy in patients with neuroinflammatory disorders, access to neurological care, and clinical outcomes measures.
In 2024, she was co-lead author on an article entitled "Review of longitudinal management of autoimmune encephalitis, potential biomarkers, and novel therapeutics".
Mellen Center Cleveland Clinic
Eoin P. Flanagan, MB, B.Ch., is a neurologist who conducts research in transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, paraneoplastic and other autoimmune neurological disorders of the central nervous system. He has additional research interests in multiple sclerosis and spinal cord sarcoidosis.
Dr. Flanagan studies the clinical, imaging patterns and antibody associations of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases of the spinal cord (myelitis) and their mimics. He is also interested in autoimmune disorders of the brain (encephalitis), optic nerve (optic neuritis) and related disorders (multiple sclerosis).
The goal of Dr. Flanagan's research is to allow physicians to diagnose underlying causes of spinal cord disease more quickly and accurately. Early accurate diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord disease reduces disability and complications from delay in diagnosis or incorrect treatments.
Ahmed Zayed Obeidat, MD, PhD works with adults in diagnosing, treating and managing Multiple Sclerosis and Immune Disorders of the Central Nervous System. He received his medical degree with honors from the Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2008. He then joined the graduate program in neuroscience and physiology at Wright State University (WSU) in Dayton, Ohio where he received a PhD in Neuroscience and Physiology in 2013. He completed his neurology residency at the University of Cincinnati in 2017 as well as fellowship training in Demyelinating Diseases and Neuroimmunology, also from the University of Cincinnati, in 2018.
Ian Rossman, MD, PhD is a pediatric neurologist at Akron Children’s and earned his medical degree from Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ. He completed a pediatric residency at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, a pediatric neurology residency at Cleveland Clinic and a fellowship in neuroimmunology (multiple sclerosis) at Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Rossman has clinical interests in pediatric neuroinflammatory diseases, leukodystrophies and neuromuscular disease and research interests in pediatric neuroinflammatory diseases and clinical trials. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with specialization in child neurology.
Rajeet Shrestha, MD completed his general psychiatry residency at MetroHealth Medical Center, and Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He provides care to patients with neuropsychiatric issues and is involved in teaching residents and fellows at University Hospitals. Dr. Shrestha also engages in teaching medical students at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Jill Winegardner, PhD is a clinical neuropsychologist specializing in rehabilitation. She is Director of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Associate Professor in the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. From 2010-2018, she was Lead Psychologist at the world-renowned Oliver Zangwill Centre for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation in England. She has provided teaching and consultation in neuropsychological rehabilitation in countries including Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, Russia, India, and Singapore. She is widely published, including co-editing Neuropsychological Rehabilitation: The International Handbook. In 2015, Dr. Winegardner was honored by the British Psychological Society with the Practitioner of the Year Award. In 2023, she was a co-founder of the Saugatuck Institute for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, which launched its inaugural event for clinical training in neuropsychological rehab in June.
Agenda
9:00 a.m. Welcome remarks and introduction
Dr. Hesham Abboud, CWRU/University Hospitals
9:05 – 9:30 a.m. Autoimmune encephalitis and neuronal antibody overview
Dr. Eoin Flanagan, Mayo Clinic
9:35 – 10:00 a.m. Clinical trials in autoimmune encephalitis
Dr. Hesham Abboud, University Hospitals/CWRU
10:05 – 10:30 a.m. Seronegative autoimmune encephalitis and Hashimoto’s encephalopathy
Dr. Ahmed Obeidat, Medical College of Wisconsin
10:35 – 11:00 a.m. Pediatric autoimmune encephalitis
Dr. Ian Rossman, Akron Children's Hospital
11:05 – 11:30 a.m. Q&A Panel
11:35 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Visit booth and lunch
12:35 – 1:00 p.m. Autoimmune encephalitis outcomes and long-term management
Dr. Alise Carlson, Cleveland Clinic
1:05 – 1:30 p.m. The role of psychiatry in autoimmune encephalitis
Dr. Rajeet Shrestha, University Hospitals/CWRU
1:35 – 2:00 p.m. Neuropsychological rehabilitation for autoimmune encephalitis
Dr. Jill Winegardner, University Hospitals/CWRU
2:05 – 2:30 p.m. Living with AE: a patient and caregiver journey
Maddy Boehme and Heidi Boehme
2:35 – 3:00 p.m. Q&A Panel
3:05 – 3:30 p.m. Coffee break
3:35 – 4:15 p.m. A unique perspective of AE
Becky Dennis, Encephalitis411
Susan Foley, HESA
Meg Poe, AE Alliance
4:20 – 4:30 p.m. A word from the headline sponsor
Bob Given
4:35 – 5:00 p.m. Future outlook
Dr. Hesham Abboud, University Hospitals/CWRU
Adjourn
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. AE Insights Social
All presenters and attendees invited to share AE insights in an informal social hour
Sponsors
Headline Sponsor: Mr. Bob Given
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
