Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center Update in Multiple Sclerosis 2026

The 18th Annual Mellen Center MS Symposium brings together treatment advances and practical approaches to living with multiple sclerosis. Led by Devon Conway, MD, MS, the Cleveland Clinic program includes a keynote by Jiwon Oh, MD, PhD, on BTK inhibitors, alongside sessions on progression, hormones, infection risk, and related neuroimmunologic disorders. Clinical and rehabilitation themes connect disease-modifying therapy with mobility, fatigue, cognition, psychological support, and everyday function. Held on June 26, 2026, at the InterContinental Hotel and Conference Center in Cleveland, with livestream participation, the update is relevant to neurology, nursing, rehabilitation, and other professionals involved in long-term MS care.

Learning Objectives

• Describe updates in the use of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies such as BTK inhibitors and how to manage infection risks.
• Summarize recent updates in the treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder and autoimmune encephalitis.
• Describe the latest approaches and models of rehabilitation for MS patients.
• Describe the mechanisms that contribute to MS disability progression and the influence of hormones on the disease.
• Discuss interdisciplinary strategies for managing fatigue, heat intolerance, and spasticity in MS patients.
• Describe the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in medicine, highlighting its impact on diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.
• Outline the considerations in topics such as wheelchair use, targeted psychological care and vaccinations for patients with MS.

The original live activity listed up to six AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and six ANCC contact hours; these do not accompany the store files. The topics below retain the listing’s sequence and do not independently confirm recording coverage of every live breakout.

Topics

• Choosing First-Line Therapy in AQP4+ NMOSD – Practical Insights on New FDA-Approved Monoclonal Antibodies

• Men with MS – Strategies for Engagement, Coping, and Quality-of-Life Support

• Older Adult MS – Interdisciplinary Strategies for Psychosocial Care, DMT Transition, and Goal-Oriented Rehabilitation

• Multiple Sclerosis and Social Determinants – Practical Tactics to Minimize Loss to Follow Up and Enhance Equity

• Multiple Sclerosis Vaccination Strategies – Timing, Prioritization, and Live Virus Pitfalls

• Integrating AI-Driven Insights in Multiple Sclerosis

• Multiple Sclerosis DMTs – Infection Risk Profiles and Practical Prevention Strategies

• Multiple Sclerosis Case Studies – Managing Infection Risk with DMTs

• Multiple Sclerosis Progression – Early Recognition and Monitoring Strategies

• Multiple Sclerosis Hormone Modulation – Clinical Insights From Puberty to Menopause

• BTK Inhibitors in Multiple Sclerosis – Integrating Phase 3 Trial Evidence to Address Progressive Disease

• Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Strategies – Key Takeaways on Tele-Exercise, Cognitive Training, and Fatigue Programs

• Autoimmune Encephalitis – Practical Strategies for Diagnosis, Antibody Testing, and Treatment Sequencing

• Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Fatigue – Evidence-Based Pacing Strategies Every Rehab Clinician Should Know

• Multiple Sclerosis Wheelchair Evaluation – Best Practices for Proactive Five-Year Coverage Planning

• Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Triad – Interdisciplinary Strategies for Fatigue, Heat Intolerance, and Spasticity Management

Faculty

• Justin Abbatemarco, MD
• Saira Afzal, MD
• Moein Amin, MD, MS
• Jennifer Basalla, MSN, AGNP, APRN-CNP
• Francois Bethoux, MD
• Danielle Brown, MA, CCC-SLP
• Alise Carlson, MD, MSc
• Alyssa DeCarlo, MS, OTR/L, MSCS, CSRS, LSVT
• Robert Fox, MD
• Shauna Gales, PA-C
• Katherine Havard Coiro, MD
• Kellie Keim, PT, DPT
• Amy Kunchok, MD
• Brianne Markley, PhD
• Kaitlyn Palmer, MD
• Amjad Samara, MD
• Jennifer Sedlak, APRN, CNP
• Brent Sokola, PharmD, MS, BCPS
• Kaitlin Sparks, PT, DPT, NCS
• Amy Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP
• Grace Tworek, PsyD
• Hilary Young, PA-C