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Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence

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About the VA Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) created the VA Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence (MSCoE) in 2003. The Centers help people understand multiple sclerosis (MS), with a focus on how MS affects Veterans. There are two MSCoE coordinating Centers in VA, MSCoE-East and MSCoE-West. The Centers support a network of MS Regional Specialty Programs (MS RSPs) that deliver MS care to Veterans nationwide. MSCoE works with Veterans, families, doctors, and health care groups to help Veterans with MS live better lives. 

Mission

  • Make health care for Veterans with MS better and more consistent across the country.
  • Reach all Veterans needing MS care with a coordinated network of VA MS providers.
  • Provide training, resources and opportunities to Veterans, caregivers, and VA providers. 

Functional Cores

MSCoE is organized around three main work areas:

1. Clinical Care and Informatics

  • Build and train a VA network of MS healthcare providers on the latest in MS care
  • Make sure Veterans can access MS medicines, and that medications are used the right way
  • Give advice on MS care to help other VA healthcare providers care for Veterans with MS
  • Use new computer tools to improve MS health care

2. Research and Development

  • Conduct many types of MS research that improves understanding and care for Veterans
  • Share findings through papers, talks, and reports
  • Connect Veterans to MS research studies
  • Train the next group of MS research scientists

3. Education and Training

  • Create a national program of MS education for providers, Veterans, and families
  • Teach fellows, residents, and medical students about MS
  • Run VA fellowship training programs to help doctors become experts in MS care
  • Connect Veterans and families to VA MS resources, Veteran service groups, and national MS organizations

MSCoE is here to help Veterans with MS live their best lives. 

MSCoE Directors

MSCoE National Director

Mitchell T. Wallin, MD, MPH
Neurologist, Washington DC VAMC; Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Georgetown University; Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Washington, DC

MSCoE East Director

Anza Memon, MD
Director MS Center, Detroit VAMC; Director Neurophysiology Laboratory, Detroit VAMC; Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology, Wayne State University; Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

MSCoE West Director

Ileana Howard, MD
Physiatrist, VA Puget Sound HCS; Associate Director of Neurology for ALS, VHA; Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA

MSCoE West Co-Director

Rebecca Spain, MD, MSPH, FAAN
Neurologist, VA Portland HCS; Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR

Annual Reports

MSCoE activities are supervised by the National Neurology Program Executive Director and Neurology Clinical Programs Executive Director, through annual assessments by the Government Accountability Office and VHA Neurology Centers Advisory Subcommittee, and by an independent review every five years. Our annual reports outline program accomplishments in the areas of administration, clinical care, informatics, research, and education. 

Additional Information

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