The ALS Treatment Center at The University of Kansas Medical Center

Our Team

Omar Jawdat, M.D. Director, ALS Treatment Center Dr. Jawdat is Board Certified in Neurology and his clinical practice is focused on General Neurology, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and other Neuromuscular Disorders.  He evaluates and treats patients at the motor neuron disease clinic in which referrals for newly suspected ALS patients takes place. In addition to evaluating and treating neuromuscular patients, Dr. Jawdat has a neuromuscular pathology interest as he performs and interprets nerve and muscle biopsies. He is involved in teaching clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular medicine fellows and he has a special interest in neuromuscular clinical research.

Jeffrey Statland, M.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology Dr. Statland is an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center with both clinical and research training in neuromuscular diseases. His primary research interest is in FSHD, one of the most prevalent adult muscular dystrophies. Recent advances in our understanding of the genetic mechanism behind FSHD have led to the identification of potential therapeutic targets, resulting in a pressing need to develop sensitive, disease-relevant outcome measures for clinical trials. Development of outcomes measures was recognized as a priority at a number of international FSHD meetings and workshops.

Richard J. Barohn, M.D. Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurology Dr. Richard Barohn was awarded his medical degree in 1980 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, and completed a medicine internship at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio prior to serving as General Medical Officer for the United States Air Force. He then completed a neurology residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center, and then completed a neuromuscular fellowship at Ohio State University. He served on the faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio from 1989 to 1993. Dr. Barohn then joined the faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas in 1993, and in 2001 became the chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Michael Czervinske, R.R.T.-N.P.S. Respiratory Therapy Michael is a registered respiratory therapist with neonatal and pediatric credentials and 33 years of experience, including 12 years of experience with pediatric neuromuscular disorders. He is the principal editor of a textbook and the author of the chapter on pediatric neuromuscular disorders. Professor Czervinske currently serves as the Director of Clinical Education with the Respiratory Care Program at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He has also been with the ALS clinic since it began in 2001.

Jason Rucker, P.T. Physical Therapy A graduate of the University of Kansas Medical Center’s physical therapy program, Jason Rucker has practiced physical therapy in the Kansas City metropolitan area since 2002 with clinical experience ranging from acute and intensive care to skilled nursing and acute inpatient rehabilitation. As a faculty clinical instructor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, his teaching responsibilities encompass musculoskeletal and neurologic physical therapy, focusing on orthopedic surgical conditions, fracture care and management, treatment of rheumatic diseases, orthotic and prosthetics and neurological care and rehabilitation. He currently provides physical therapy services for the University of Kansas Medical Center’s ALS and Silver City health clinics.

Carla Sabus, P.T. Physical Therapy Carla Sabus is a physical therapist with the ALS clinic and an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Carla received a bachelor of science degree from Briarcliff College, a master of science degree in physical therapy from Des Moines University and a doctoral degree in education from the University of Kansas. She joined the University of Kansas hospital as a staff physical therapist in 1995 as an inpatient physical therapist in the rehabilitation, neurology, trauma, oncology, pediatric and burn units. She transitioned to the academic department of KUMC in 2004. Carla provides her educational materials for the patients and caretakers of the ALS clinic on her blog, http://csabusblog.wordpress.com/.

Mary Jane Youngstrom, M.S., O.T.R., F.A.O.T.A. Occupational Therapy Mary Jane Youngstrom has been the occupational therapist on the ALS clinic team since its inception. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy and from the University of South Florida with a master’s degree in business management with a focus on health care. Her background has included clinical as well as management positions, and most recently she has held faculty positions in the occupational therapy education departments at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Rockhurst University.

Lindsey Biggs Heidrick M.A., C.C.P-S.L.P. Speech Pathology Lindsey Heidrick is the speech language pathologist with the ALS clinic as well as a clinical instructor in the Department of Hearing and Speech at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Lindsey received her bachelor of science degree in communication sciences and disorders with a secondary major in gerontology from Kansas State University in 2002. She received her master’s degree in speech and swallowing difficulties that result from degenerative neurological diseases from the University of Kansas in 2004.

Susan Whitacre, M.S., R.D., L.D. Dietetics Susan Whitacre graduated from Kansas State University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and exercise science. She completed her master’s in dietetics at the University of Kansas in 2000. She has worked as the dietitian at the ALS clinic since 2009. She also works for Northcare Hospice, which specializes in taking care of patients with ALS at the end of their lives. She has spoken at numerous national meetings on nutrition in ALS patients.

Dave Burkett, L.S.C.S.W. Social Work A native of Kansas, David received both his bachelor of arts degree and his master’s in social work at the University of Kansas. He is a licensed specialist clinical social worker in the state of Kansas, and a licensed social worker in the state of Missouri. He is also a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, the National Association of Social Workers and a board-certified diplomat. David has been a clinical social worker for the department of neurology, joining the ALS clinic team in May 2004, and has offered social work case management and counseling services for patients and family members since that time.

Juliet Pierce, R.N. The ALS Association Treatment Center Liaison Juliet completed undergraduate work at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and the Juilliard School of Music in New York. She received her nursing degree from Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing in Montclair, N.J. For the past 22 years, Juliet has specialized in multi-disciplinary nursing, including the specialties of emergency/trauma, operating room and critical care.