Rahman Pourmand, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Director of the Neuromuscular Disease Center at Stony Brook University Medical Center, receives his award as “Physician of the Year” from the Metro New York Chapter of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) during the MGFA annual awards luncheon. Also pictured are, from left, Denise Sampson, D.P.M., Chair of the MGFA Metro New York Chapter, and Debbie Thompsen, Vice Chair of the Chapter.
STONY BROOK, N.Y., November 15, 2006 – Rahman Pourmand, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Director of the Neuromuscular Disease Center at Stony Brook University Medical Center, has been named “Physician of the Year” by the Metro New York Chapter of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA). Dr. Pourmand received the honor at an awards luncheon on October 22 at the Holiday Inn in Plainview.
Myasthenia gravis is a highly misdiagnosed neuromuscular, autoimmune disease in which communication between nerve and muscle is impaired, causing weakness. The disease affects approximately two out of every 100,000 in the United States and can occur at any age. The most common symptoms, alone or in combination are: weak arms or breathing muscles, and manifestations such as droopy eyelids, double vision, difficulty in speech, swallowing, and smiling and generalized fatigue. The cause of the disease is unknown and there is no cure.
The MGFA Metro New York Chapter, one of 31 chapters around the nation, recognized Dr. Pourmand for his continuous involvement in the chapter, clinical work at SBUMC with myasthenia gravis patients, and his instrumental role in starting a support group in Suffolk County, active since 2003. The MGFA is the only volunteer health agency dedicated solely to the fight against myasthenia gravis.
“We want to create more awareness of myasthenia gravis both locally and nationally,” said Dr. Pourmand. “I am grateful for the recognition, and through the work of the MGFA, diagnoses and treatments for various forms of the disease have markedly improved,” said Dr. Pourmand, who indicated that patients he has treated at SBUMC for the neuromuscular disease have benefited from these advancements.
Dr. Pourmand’s practice at SBUMC is focused on neuromuscular disorders, and he is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease. He is also Director of the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Comprehensive Care Clinic at SBUMC and instructs residents and medical students in neurology.
Dr. Pourmand resides in Stony Brook. He is a board certified in Neurology, Electromyography, Electroencephalography, and Clinical Neurophysiology. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society.
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