Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Differential Diagnosis
- Continuing Education

- Online; Self-Paced
This course is offered on demand and participants progress through the materials at their own pace.
Continuing Education Credits
Earn up to:
1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
1.25 ANCC contact hours
1.25 Risk Management Study credits
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Overview
The multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuroimmunology field enjoyed a recent explosion of effective therapeutic options that are used to manage patients with this chronic and previously frequently disabling condition. While there is no cure for MS, disease modifying treatments (DMTs) reduce clinical and radiographic disease activity and delay MS progression to neurologic disability. However, with the increase in therapeutic options comes complexity of choices, and a true opportunity to practice personalized medicine, selecting the most appropriate, effective, and safe treatment choice for the patients. The need to initiate, stop or change DMTs depends on patients’ previous treatments, disease stability or progression, family planning needs, age, gender, and availability of therapies within their health insurance coverage. Special populations, such as children, older adults, and women in the reproductive planning phases of their lives have additional treatment considerations. Managing MS symptoms is important aspect of comprehensive MS care, as is non-pharmacologic approach to rehabilitation improvement of the overall quality of life. The research efforts in basic and clinical neuroimmunology have expanded our understanding of MS pathogenesis. Recent important contributions have focused on the effects of genetic predisposition and the microbiota on disease onset and progression, and the novel neuroimaging techniques and biomarker predictors of disease outcomes.
This CME program accredited by Harvard Medical School will present the most up-to-date clinical and research information relevant to health care providers who treat patients with multiple sclerosis. Through this initiative, participants will advance their knowledge and competence to provide excellent clinical care to patients with MS and will thoroughly improve their understanding of the recent and important research trends and results in this rapidly developing field.
This course contains four sessions. Learners have the option of registering for the full course or registering for the four sessions individually.
Full Course:
Session information:
Session 1: Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Differential Diagnosis
Session 2: Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics
Session 3: Ancillary Assessment Tools and Techniques in MS
Session 4: Multiple Sclerosis: Special Populations and Considerations
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the clinical manifestations and implications of MS diagnosis.
- Identify the defining characteristics of multiple sclerosis.
- Define fundamental MS subtypes commonly encountered in clinical practice and recognize the spectrum of MS disease presentation.
- Identify key clinical and pathological features of various MS subtypes.
- Discuss how autoimmune encephalitis can be distinguished from multiple sclerosis.
- Review the definitions of NMO and MOG and how to make the diagnosis.
- Identify the pathophysiology of these diseases.
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Outline
Module 0: Session 1 - Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Differential Diagnosis
Module 1: Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis
CHRISTOPHER SEVERSON
Module 2: MS Subtypes and Classification
Jonathan Zurawski
Module 3: MS Differential Diagnosis
Shamik Bhattacharyya
Module 4: NMO & MOGAD
Michael Levy
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

Maria Houtchens, MD, MSc
Course Director
- Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
- Neurologist, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Eric Klawiter, MD, MSc
Course Director
- Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
- Associate Neurologist, Massachusetts General Hospital

Tanuja Chitnis, MD, MA, FAAN
Course Director
- Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
- Cindy Larsen Chugg Distinguished Chair in Neurology & Senior Neurologist, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Rohit Bakshi, MD
Shamik Bhattacharyya, MD
Gauruv Bose, MD
Sarah Conway, MD
Laura Cox, PhD
Kristin Galetta, MD
Tamara Kaplan, MD
Michael Levy, MD
Farrah Mateen, MD
Marcelo Matiello, MD
Christopher Severson, MD
Tarun Singhal, MD
Lynn Stazzone, NP
Jonathan Zurawski, MD
Request Information
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Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
At the end of the registration process, a $5 processing fee will be added to your registration. Because online course materials can be accessed immediately, refunds are not permitted.
Learners have the option of registering for the full course (all four sessions) or purchasing individual sessions.
Role | Standard Price |
---|---|
Physician (MD/DO) | $45.00 |
Nurse (RN/APRN) | $30.00 |
Industry | $88.00 |
PA | $30.00 |
Resident/Fellow | $30.00 |
Social Worker | $30.00 |
Allied Health Professional / Other | $30.00 |
Medical Students with confirmation of student status: $13. Please email mseducation@bwh.harvard.edu for more information.