Drexel University College of Medicine

Dr. Terry Heiman-Patterson is section chief of neuromuscular disorders at Drexel University College of Medicine. She is also medical director of the MDA/ALS Center of Hope at Drexel University College of Medicine, and co-founder and president of the board of the ALS Hope Foundation.

Dr. Heiman-Patterson served as co-director of the Hahnemann ALS Center from 1984-1988. In 1996, after completing eight years as an attending neurologist at Thomas Jefferson University, Heiman-Patterson returned to Hahnemann, now Drexel University College of Medicine.

Awards and Honors:

• "Best Doctors in America" (2008 and 2009)

In The News

• A Little Device That's Trying to Read Your Thoughts
  The New York Times (April 2, 2012)

Dr. Heiman-Patterson is committed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research and has received over 12 clinical and basic research grants for ALS. She has been funded by the ALS Association for projects that examine the role of glutamate in the transgenic mouse model of ALS. She also has maintained an active clinical trials program and has been the principal investigator on multiple clinical trials including a Phase III CNTF trial, a previous Phase III BDNF trial, the Sanofi Trials of SR76544a, and a Phase II BDNF trial along with many expanded access and open label programs.

Beyond drug trials, Dr. Heiman-Patterson has worked on modalities that are now available and can improve survival and quality of life in patients including studies of noninvasive ventilators (bipap). She has published over 40 papers, abstracts, and chapters on ALS and related motor neuron disorders.

Dr. Heiman-Patterson is professor and vice chairman in the Department of Neurology at Drexel University College of Medicine.

• Neurology

• ALS - multidisciplinary
• ALS - nutrition
• ALS - occupational therapy
• ALS - physical therapy
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Neuromuscular disease
• Physical therapy

• Neurology - Albany Medical College, NY

• MDA Clinical - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
• MDA Research - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA