Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Update: Overview of Clinical Management, Therapeutic Strategies, and Research Trends
- Continuing Education
Start Today Register and begin immediately.
Advance your expertise in MS care and neuroimmunology. Explore cutting-edge diagnostics, evolving therapeutics, and symptom management strategies to deliver personalized, evidence-based care to diverse patient populations.
- 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:
6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™
6.00 ANCC contact hours
6.00 Risk Management Credits
6.00 MOC ABIM Credits
View All
On This Page
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 1 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
- Summarize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment initiation to achieve the “no evidence of disease activity” (NEDA) status among patients with MS.
- Become familiar with the classes of disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS, including the recently approved high efficacy treatments.
- Develop a thorough understanding of the latest data on the efficacy, safety, and dosing/administration of currently approved DMTs to develop optimal individualized treatment strategies for patients with MS.
- Evaluate potential benefits of emerging therapies in delaying disability, slowing disease progression, and improving long-term outcomes in MS.
- Describe the different special populations and treatment algorithms that are relevant to these groups (pediatric patients, older adults, women of reproductive potential actively pursuing pregnancy).
- Identify the current state of knowledge and recommendations for patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic, including registries, immune responses, vaccination caveats, and other treatment considerations.
- Recognize and develop effective treatment algorithms for symptom management in MS patients.
- Discuss the current research trends in neuro-immunology, specifically around the issues of outcome predictors, biomarkers, novel neuroimaging techniques, microbiota, and genetic markers.
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.
Participant Types
Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Other, Physician Assistants, Primary Care Physicians, Specialty Physicians, Social Worker, and Clinician-Scientists.
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Outline
Module 1: Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis (Session 1: Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Differential Diagnosis - Chair Maria Houtchens)
CHRISTOPHER SEVERSON
Module 2: MS Subtypes and Classification (Session 1: Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Differential Diagnosis - Chair: Maria Houtchens)
Jonathan Zurawski
Module 3: MS Differential Diagnosis (Session 1: Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Differential Diagnosis - Chair: Maria Houtchens)
Shamik Bhattacharyya
Module 4: NMO & MOGAD (Session 1: Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Differential Diagnosis - Chair: Maria Houtchens)
Michael Levy
Module 5: MS – Therapeutic Update (Session 2: Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Maria Houtchens
Module 6: Developmental Therapies (Session 2: Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Gauruv Bose
Module 7: Recognition & Management of MS Symptoms (Session 2: Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Lynn Stazzone
Module 8: Tackling Neurology Below the Belt (Session 2: Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Tamara Kaplan
Module 9: MRI in Multiple Sclerosis (Session 3: Ancillary Assessment Tools and Techniques in Multiple Sclerosis - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Rohit Bakshi
Module 10: New MRI Research Techniques (Session 3: Ancillary Assessment Tools and Techniques in Multiple Sclerosis - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Eric Klawiter
Module 11: PET Evaluation of Microglial Activation (Session 3: Ancillary Assessment Tools and Techniques in Multiple Sclerosis - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Tarun Singhal
Module 12: Neuro-ophthalmologic Assessment & Outcomes (Session 3: Ancillary Assessment Tools and Techniques in Multiple Sclerosis - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Kristin Galetta
Module 13: Biomarkers & Precision Medicine in MS (Session 3: Ancillary Assessment Tools and Techniques in Multiple Sclerosis - Chair: Rob Bakshi)
Tanuja Chitnis
Module 14: Pediatric MS & Related Disorders (Session 4: Special Populations and Considerations - Chair: Tanuja Chitnis)
Tanuja Chitnis
Module 15: Pregnancy and MS (Session 4: Special Populations and Considerations - Chair: Tanuja Chitnis)
Maria Houtchens
Module 16: The Microbiome and Diet in MS (Session 4: Special Populations and Considerations - Chair: Tanuja Chitnis)
Laura Cox
Module 17: Health Disparities in MS (Session 4: Special Populations and Considerations - Chair: Tanuja Chitnis)
Farrah Mateen
Module 18: COVID-19 and MS (Session 4: Special Populations and Considerations - Chair: Tanuja Chitnis)
Sarah Conway
Module 19: Telemedicine for those with MS (Session 4: Special Populations and Considerations - Chair: Tanuja Chitnis)
Marcelo Matiello
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
Interested in learning more about this program? Sign up for details.
Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment.
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) | $180.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $120.00 |
| Industry | $350.00 |
| PA | $120.00 |
| Resident/Fellow | $120.00 |
| Social Worker | $120.00 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $120.00 |
Medical Students with confirmation of student status: $50. Please email mseducation@bwh.harvard.edu for more information.
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Harvard Medical School is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. This activity is approved for 6.00 contact hours, of which 1.50 is eligible for pharmacology credit. Contact hours are awarded commensurate with participation and completion of the online evaluation and attendance attestation. We suggest claiming your hours within 30 days of the activity date, after this time, the attendance attestation will still be required to claim your hours.
This activity was reviewed by Kimberly Whalen, RN, MS, CCRN, HMS Lead Nurse Planner, who has no relationships to disclose.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for 6.00 credits of Risk Management Study. Please check your individual state licensing board requirements before claiming these credits.
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 6.00 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC points.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.