Changing the course of MS care

Five years ago, Hoag set out to build something Orange County needed: a comprehensive destination for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), bringing together advanced treatment, research and support in one place. Today, Hoag’s Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Program has earned recognition from the National MS Society as a Center for Comprehensive MS Care, a distinction that reflects the program’s commitment to providing coordinated, specialized care for people living with MS. “For Hoag to meet all of the criteria and stand alongside the most elite hospitals is something we're incredibly proud of,” says Dr. Yasir Jassam, the Janet Curci Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology at Hoag’s Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute. MS is often diagnosed in young adults and can affect vision, mobility, cognition and many aspects of daily life. While there is currently no cure, advances in diagnosis and treatment are helping people manage the disease and improve long-term outcomes. Hoag’s program brings together the expertise patients need, including a fellowship-trained MS specialist, an active research portfolio, advanced imaging technologies and coordinated access to specialists across neurology, rehabilitation, and more. Beyond medical treatment, Hoag’s program is designed to care for the whole person. Through the donor-supported Hope Center, patients can participate in free monthly sessions that include yoga, counseling and peer support, helping them build community and navigate life with MS beyond the clinic. “MS touches nearly every facet of a person’s life, from relationships and employment to mental health and financial well-being,” says Dr. Jassam. “It truly takes a village. A doctor may only see a patient every few months, so addressing the whole person requires a coordinated team of specialists and support.” That same commitment to changing the future of MS care is driving Hoag’s research. Dr. Jassam and his team are leading Hoag’s PREDOMS project. An abbreviation for Prior Risk and Early Detection of Multiple Sclerosis, the project is an effort to identify in patients MS years before symptoms appear. Philanthropic funding for this project was provided by 12 Hoag Innovators, a group of philanthropists, entrepreneurs and community leaders dedicated to advancing innovation at Hoag. By combining a statistical risk model with blood-based biomarkers, including protein, antibody and genetic signals, the team hopes to identify people at higher risk early enough to change the course of the disease. Emerging research suggests that treating MS at its earliest detectable stages may lead to significantly better long-term outcomes. In just five years, Hoag has grown its MS Program into a nationally recognized destination for comprehensive care, giving patients access to the advanced medicine, research and support they need to live well. “People contending with MS need a compass,” Dr. Jassam says. “This designation is our way of saying, we are that compass.” Learn more about Hoag’s Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Program.