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CMSC 2026

MS in Underserved Populations: Understanding Needs and Improving Outcomes

Moderator/Chair: Jacqueline Faulkner Rosenthal , MD
Multiple sclerosis outcomes are influenced by far more than disease biology alone. Social determinants of health—including access to care, insurance coverage, transportation, employment, education, social support, and health system design—play a critical role in shaping when MS is diagnosed, how treatments are initiated and maintained, and how individuals experience living with the disease over time. This 3-hour CME symposium will explore how social and structural factors intersect with MS care across the continuum, from diagnosis through long-term management. Through perspectives from neuroimmunology, infusion nursing, and lived patient experience, participants will examine real-world challenges that affect treatment continuity, patient engagement, and quality of life. Emphasis will be placed on practical, team-based strategies that clinicians and MS centers can implement to better identify social needs, support patients, and optimize outcomes in everyday practice. Level of Information: Basic, IntermediateMultiple sclerosis outcomes are influenced by far more than disease biology alone. Social determinants of health—including access to care, insurance coverage, transportation, employment, education, social support, and health system design—play a critical role in shaping when MS is diagnosed, how treatments are initiated and maintained, and how individuals experience living with the disease over time. This 3-hour CME symposium will explore how social and structural factors intersect with MS care across the continuum, from diagnosis through long-term management. Through perspectives from neuroimmunology, infusion nursing, and lived patient experience, participants will examine real-world challenges that affect treatment continuity, patient engagement, and quality of life. Emphasis will be placed on practical, team-based strategies that clinicians and MS centers can implement to better identify social needs, support patients, and optimize outcomes in everyday practice. Level of Information: Basic, Intermediate

Presentations in This Session

Welcome, Session Overview, and Framing Social Determinants in MS

Speaker/s: Jacqueline Faulkner Rosenthal, MD

Social Determinants and MS Diagnosis & Disease Course

Speaker/s: Annette M. Howard, MD

Infusion Centers at the Front Line: Real-World Barriers and Patient Support

Speaker/s: Carol Coleman, CPhT

Research, Data Gaps, and System-Level Solutions in MS Care

Speaker/s: Mima Akinsanya, DO

The Patient Voice: Living With MS Beyond the Clinic Walls

Speaker/s: Nana Opong-Owusu, MPH