The University of Nebraska Medical Center furthered its commitment to improving the care of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with the hiring of Rana Zabad, M.D., the first fellowship-trained MS neurologist to practice in the state of Nebraska.
Dr. Zabad will serve as assistant professor and director of the multiple sclerosis program in the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences.
Dr Zabad’s leadership will build upon UNMC’s already successful MS clinic. Established in 1997, the clinic has contributed to national research and advances in MS; however, in the past, many patients have been referred to other national centers of excellence.
"Though our neurologists are appropriately trained and qualified to treat patients with MS, the challenging aspects of diagnosis and complex choices of treatments make Dr. Zabad critical to providing an advanced standard of care," said Pierre Fayad, M.D., Reynolds Centennial Professor and chairman of neurological sciences.
The recruitment of a faculty member of Dr. Zabad’s caliber and training follows the department’s dedication to build a nationally-recognized neurological sciences center of excellence, Dr. Fayad said.
Such a program is Dr. Zabad’s dream.
"One day I hope that when people talk about the MS center at UNMC, that they see it as a comprehensive model for MS care," she said.
Hailing from Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. Zabad sees the need for MS patients to receive better quality of life care.
"It is my vision to provide people with MS a better life at all stages of the disease," she said. "It is true that there is no proven therapy for certain types of MS, nevertheless, we can still improve patients’ quality of life."
Dr. Zabad previously worked in an MS clinic in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, conducting clinical trials with MS patients. She is eager to contribute to UNMC’s discoveries about MS.
"There are a lot of potential opportunities for research here," she said. "I have a special interest in Vitamin D and how it contributes to the pathogenesis of MS.
"I’m also interested in studying other demyelinating diseases and would like to develop a relationship with pediatric neurologists to establish a program for pediatric demyelinating diseases."
With specially-trained nurse practitioners, physician assistants, case managers, physical and occupational therapists and social workers behind Dr. Zabad, patients with MS will have the advantage of a multidisciplinary team of professionals.
"I am very glad to be working with them. They are very dedicated people," Dr. Zabad said, "and I am thankful to Dr. Fayad for giving me the opportunity to establish a world-class program here at UNMC."
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through their commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics, biomedical technology and ophthalmology. UNMC’s research funding from external sources now exceeds $82 million annually and has resulted in the creation of more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs in the state. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 513 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.