Dr. John N. Ratchford

Elias Sotirchos, M.D., specializes in the diagnosis, management and treatment of neuroimmunological disorders that involve the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). His research focuses on developing and validating novel imaging and blood-based biomarkers of these conditions, and clinical trials of experimental therapeutic agents. Dr. Sotirchos earned his medical degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and subsequently completed his internship and neurology residency training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He then pursued advanced clinical and research training in neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins as a National MS Society Sylvia Lawry Fellow. Dr. Sotirchos is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica. His top areas of expertise are Optic Neuritis, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis Optica, and Transverse Myelitis.

Neurologist Scott Newsome specializes in the care of patients with neuroimmunological and neuroinflammatory disorders of the central nervous system. He works within the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and has special interest in evaluating and treating patients with multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica and stiff person syndrome. After completing fellowship training, Dr. Newsome joined the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis and Transverse Myelitis Centers, and he is the director of the Johns Hopkins Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center and the Stiff Person Syndrome Center. He is also director of the Johns Hopkins Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infectious Disease Fellowship Program and co-director of the Multiple Sclerosis Experimental Therapeutics Program. Dr. Newsome received his medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, with honors. During his neurology residency, he was awarded the Golden Apple Outstanding Resident Teaching Award, and later was chosen to be chief resident. He subsequently completed a fellowship in neuroimmunology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital with the support of a Sylvia Lawry Physician Fellowship Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Identifying and testing novel therapies and therapeutic strategies for multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological disorders is Dr. Newsome’s main research focus. Other research endeavors include validating the use of new quantitative clinical outcome measures and imaging techniques in multiple sclerosis and identifying risk factors of disease onset and severity, response to treatment and long-term outcomes in neuroimmunological disorders. An adviser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and a member of the Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence, Dr. Newsome has also served as president of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers. Dr. Newsome is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica. His top areas of expertise are Stiff Person Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Transverse Myelitis, and Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS).

Brenda Banwell is the director of the Department of Pediatrics, as well as pediatrician-in-chief and co-director of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, where she helps manage the hospital’s many clinical and research centers. Dr. Banwell is a renowned expert in the research and treatment of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neuroimmune disorders. She specializes in and studies the use of neuroimaging to assess the clinical and cognitive impact of the conditions, as well as the function of the immune system in children with these disorders. She also created a standardized clinical care algorithm and clinical database in order to evaluate the clinical impact of MS. Dr. Banwell has published more than 250 manuscripts in high-impact journals, along with over 25 book chapters. In addition, she has over 200 national and international invited lectureships and visiting professorships. An advocate for pediatric multiple sclerosis needs and research, Dr. Banwell serves as chair of the International Medical and Scientific Board of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, and the Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody–Associated Disease (MOGAD) International Research Consortium. She is also chair of the pediatric committee of the National Institutes of Health NeuroNEXT program, which conducts studies on treatments for neurological diseases through academic, private, and industry collaborations. Dr. Banwell currently serves as past-chair of the International Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Study Group, Dr. Banwell earned her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario. She later completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of Western Ontario-Children's Hospital of Western Ontario and a second residency in pediatric neurology at University of Toronto – The Hospital for Sick Children. Her residencies were followed by a fellowship in neuromuscular research at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Banwell is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica. Her top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), CACH Syndrome, Optic Neuritis, and Transverse Myelitis.