Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Designates UC Davis, a Certified Duchenne Care Center

HACKENSACK, N.J., April 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- UC Davis Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Neuromuscular Research Center (UC Davis) became the 15th clinic named a Certified Duchenne Care Center by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne). PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center Program supports standardized, comprehensive care, and services for all people living with Duchenne, and began certifying qualifying centers in March 2014. PPMD has a long history with the team at UC Davis and is excited to reward the clinic with this certification recognizing their leadership in Duchenne care.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting approximately one in every 5,000 boys.

Led by Craig McDonald, MD and Associate Research Director, Erik Henricson, MPH, UC Davis is actively involved in many vital research endeavors designed to improve the lives of people with neuromuscular diseases. Their research program focuses on understanding the causes of diseases and their secondary conditions, improving preventative care, and developing better therapies using state of the art technologies and innovative approaches to the study of disease. 

"We are honored for UC Davis to receive designation as a PPMD Certified Duchenne Care Center," said Dr. Craig McDonald, professor and chair of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UC Davis.  "It speaks to the quality of care we provide in all disciplines, including neuromuscular disease, rehabilitation, pulmonary medicine, cardiology, orthopedic surgery, and many others.  Our Neuromuscular Disease Research program is internationally recognized and our contributions to clinical endpoint development and the translation of recent discoveries in precision-genetic therapeutics into clinical trials for patients are particularly noteworthy.  Along with our development of novel treatment strategies and multidisciplinary approaches to improving the quality of life in children and adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, this certification as a CDCC makes UC Davis a true national center of excellence for the care of patients with Duchenne and other neuromuscular diseases."

Kathi Kinnett, MSN, CNP, PPMD's Senior Vice President of Clinical Care and co-director of Transforming Duchenne Care Initiative (TDCI), is pleased to award Dr. McDonald and his team at UC Davis. Kinnett says, "UC Davis has historically been a center widely acclaimed for their extraordinary neuromuscular research programs.  PPMD is thrilled to now recognize their provision of care and services, and include them in our growing network of Certified Duchenne Care Centers, providing access to optimal comprehensive Duchenne care to our northern California families."

Kinnett says that PPMD receives numerous requests from centers wanting to be considered for certification. "When PPMD launched our certification program in 2014, we had no idea that the Duchenne community would respond so positively. Families have come to rely on our certification as an indication that these centers are the best of the best. We will continue to certify more centers across the country throughout 2017, recognizing teams of physicians for their leadership in Duchenne care, which in turn will enable families to make the best choice for the care of their child."

In 2014, PPMD launched the Certified Duchenne Care Center Program as part of its robust Transforming Duchenne Care Initiative (TDCI). PPMD will continue to award qualified centers the title of Certified Duchenne Care Center in an effort to ensure centers maintain the highest standards in clinical and sub-specialty services, rapidly apply new evidence-based knowledge, minimize heterogeneity in clinical research outcomes, and comply with standards in clinical care that were established by the CDC Care Considerations. As part of its ongoing mission to end Duchenne, PPMD continues to insist that all people with Duchenne receive comprehensive care.

To learn more about PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center Program, visit PPMD's website. Click here to learn more about the history of PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center Program and to access PPMD's first published article on the program.

About Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne is a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is the largest most comprehensive nonprofit organization in the United States focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy—our mission is to end Duchenne.

We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of people affected by Duchenne and in research that will benefit future generations. We advocate in Washington, DC, and have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. We demand optimal care, and we strengthen, unite and educate the global Duchenne community.

Everything we do—and everything we have done since our founding in 1994—helps people with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until every person has a treatment to end Duchenne. Go to www.ParentProjectMD.org for more information or to learn how you can support our efforts and help families affected by Duchenne. Follow PPMD on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. 

SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

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http://www.parentprojectmd.org