The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode, Krissy Dilger of SRNA spoke with Dr. Elena Grebenciucova, an assistant professor of neurology and neurological infections at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, leading its Transverse Myelitis Center, a designated Center of Excellence in Rare Neuroimmune Disorders. She described Northwestern’s multidisciplinary clinic for transverse myelitis, NMOSD, MOGAD, neurosarcoidosis, and related autoimmune conditions, including collaboration with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and specialists such as pain management, neuro-urology, rehabilitation, and neurosurgery, with an emphasis on faster access to care [04:08]. Dr. Grebenciucova outlined research and clinical trial efforts, including studies on transverse myelitis natural history, optic neuritis therapies, plasma exchange timing, and CAR T-cell strategies [08:36]. View the medical profile of Dr. Grebenciucova:

https://www.nm.org/doctors/1467708305/elena-grebenciucova-md

Elena Grebenciucova, MD completed neurology residency at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Grebenciucova has been interested in autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system, including rare neuroimmune disorders, since medical school. After residency, she completed a neuroimmunology Fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Brenda Banwell and Joseph Berger at the Perelman School of Medicine of The University of Pennsylvania. Currently she is an assistant professor of Neurology (MS/Neuroimmunology) and neurological infections at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, and she runs the Transverse Myelitis Center there. Dr. Grebenciucova sees patients with rare autoimmune conditions including NMOSD, MOGAD, transverse myelitis, and autoimmune encephalitis.

00:00 Series Introduction

00:52 Meet Dr. Elena Grebenciucova

01:38 Her Path to Neuroimmunology

04:08 Northwestern TM Clinic Overview

08:36 Research and Clinical Trials

11:16 How to Access the Clinic

12:46 Multidisciplinary Care Team

15:32 Self Care and Lifestyle

18:55 Why Choose Northwestern

21:45 Hope for the Future

23:17 Closing