Our Team

Dr. Richard Bedlack grew up in a small town in central Connecticut. He went to college at William and Mary in Virginia, then back to Connecticut for an MD and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at UConn. Finally, he came to Duke where he completed his Medicine Internship, Neurology Residency, Neuromuscular Fellowship, and Masters in Clinical Research Science. He is currently Stewart, Hughes, and Wendt Distinguished Professor of ALS at Duke and Director of the Duke ALS Program. He has won awards for teaching and patient care, including best Neurology teacher at Duke, Health Care Hero, Strength Hope, and Caring Award, America’s Best Doctor, the American Academy of Neurology Patient Advocate of the Year, the Rasmussen ALS Patient Advocate of the Year, Forbes-Norris Award, and Hop-On-A-Cure AMP Award. He has received ALS research grants, participated in ALS clinical trials, and published more than 160 ALS articles. He is the leader of the international ALSUntangled program which utilizes social networking to investigate alternative and off-label treatment options for patients with ALS, and leader of the ALS Reversals program which attempts to understand why some people with ALS recover from it, and to make this happen more often. He lives in Durham, North Carolina with his wife Shelly, two mischievous cats, and a closet full of eye- catching blazers.

Dr. Xiaoyan Li is a specialist in neuromuscular medicine and research, with a focus on ALS.  After medical school at Taishan Medical College in, China, Dr. Li completed her residency in neurology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her neuromuscular fellowship at Duke University.  She is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Neurologist at Duke.  Neurology is being transformed by scientific advances and exciting new treatments are becoming available.  Dr. Li uses her expertise, both in clinical medicine and basic science, to help find effective treatments for this disease. She encourages and welcomes patients to participate in clinical research that will move us forward in finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure.  Her goal is to always make an accurate diagnosis and provide effective treatment.  However, treating every person with humanity is equally important to her.  She believes in listening carefully to people as they describe their symptoms and as they express concerns they may have.  For Dr. Li, listening and treating people with respect is key to the doctor-patient relationship.  Dr. Li lives in Chapel Hill, NC with her husband and 2 children.

Autumn has been a neuro-enthusiast since late childhood. As an undergraduate, she studied biochemistry on scholarship to Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, helped author grants and perform cognitive testing for clinical research in Alzheimer’s Disease in the Department of Neurology and Radiology at University of Tennessee, and worked in organic synthesis and computational chemistry at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute. She went on to get a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and a Master of Public Health from Touro University in California. After practicing internal medicine for a few years in an underserved area, she pursued additional neurology training through the Duke APP Neurology Residency and has been practicing at Duke since. She believes in providing patient-centered care and is hopeful a cure for ALS will be found within her lifetime. She enjoys spending time with family, friends, reading, and cycling to support ALS Research. Check out The NEALS 30th Anniversary Bike Ride!

Dr. Wissam Mansour is a pulmonologist, intensivist, and sleep medicine specialist with a dedicated focus on respiratory disorders associated with neuromuscular diseases. He earned his medical degree from the Lebanese University in Beirut before completing an internal medicine residency and a pulmonary/critical care fellowship at Northwell Health in New York. Dr. Mansour then pursued a fellowship in sleep medicine at Yale University in Connecticut. Currently, he is an assistant professor of medicine and neurology at Duke University, where his clinical and research efforts are devoted to improving respiratory care for individuals with neuromuscular disorders and chronic respiratory failure.

The role of respiratory therapy is to monitor each individual’s breathing abilities over the course of their illness with the goal of maintaining breathing function and maximizing comfort.

These services include:

• Evaluation of lung function via Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) measures to diagnose and treat respiratory impairment
• Determination of need for non-invasive respiratory equipment, such as Noninvasive Ventilation (NIV), Cough Assist devices, portable suction, ventilators and oxygen
• Education and recommendations about respiratory exercises, such as breath stacking and hyperinflation, with the goal of maintaining respiratory muscle strength
• Monitor and adjust settings on respiratory equipment
• Patient and family education about respiratory issues specific to ALS and motor neuron disease, such as ventilation decision making

Our team of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) collaborate with patients and families to maximize communication skills and swallowing safety. SLPs provide tailored evaluations and recommendations to address each individual’s specific speech and/or swallowing needs. 

Our services include: 

• Assessing and supporting changes in speech and communication with tools and strategies to enhance effective communication.
• Helping patients prepare for the future with options like voice banking, respiratory muscle strength training, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solutions.
• Evaluating swallow function and providing recommendations to promote comfort and reduce the risk of aspiration when eating or drinking.
• Offering education and guidance to help patients and families feel confident in managing changes with speech or swallowing.

Physical therapy provides many services and options for people diagnosed with ALS and other motor neuron disorders. ALS and motor neuron disorders have the tendency to change one’s physical status over time and affect individuals in different ways. Our philosophy is to tailor our interventions to meet your specific needs with the goal of optimizing your independence. Some people who attend our clinic live nearby, but many people are not from the local area. Physical therapy provides direct services and consultation to provide you with information and education on a variety of areas that may affect your lifestyle. As we have contact with many people diagnosed with ALS, we hope to offer you, and your local healthcare providers, information on how to best meet your needs wherever you live.

Interventions may include the following:

• Exercise programs with an emphasis on safety, joint protection and energy conservation.
• Education on outpatient, home health and aquatic (pool) physical therapy services
• Education and recommendation for equipment that facilitates independence and enhances quality of life at home and in the community. This may include braces to keep you walking, walkers for stability, power equipment (wheelchairs) to allow access to areas within and outside of your home and a variety of other devices for safety and independence at home (patient lift devices, bathroom equipment, etc.)
• Specific problem solving to address mobility issues including negotiation of stairs, transfers off the floor and into the car, as well as bed mobility.
• Caregiver and family education on how to assist an individual with mobility related issues. Consideration for safety and avoidance of injury is emphasized.

The role of the Occupational Therapist is to work with individuals to maintain their ability to participate in their everyday activities. Tasks such as eating, bathing, dressing, writing, working, and using the computer can become challenging over time. The goal of the Occupational Therapist is to provide evaluation, assistance, and education that enables individuals to maintain some level of independence while performing these daily tasks effectively and safely.

Interventions provided may include:

• Assessment and treatment of functional activities (daily living activities, homemaking, functional cognition, community re-entry, and use of assistive devices.
• Assessment and instruction in adaptive equipment.
• Driving Evaluations: Visual acuity, visual-perceptual skills, memory/cognitive skills, reaction time, physical functioning, understanding of traffic signs and road regulations.
• Assist in developing home exercise programs to preserve upper extremity function
• Upper Extremity Splinting/Orthoses evaluation and fabrication.

The Dietitian’s role on the ALS interdisciplinary team is to help the patients maintain and/or achieve good nutritional status throughout the disease process. Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining the quality of life.

Services provided by our Dietitian include:

• Completes a full nutrition assessment during the first visit
• Evaluation of weight at each clinic visit to encourage weight maintenance and monitor weight loss or gain
• Assessment of nutritional intake, as well as the swallowing issues that may affect intake
• Education regarding nutritional supplements and diet modifications
• Provides tips and recipes for maintaining good nutrition
• Education and diet recommendations for individuals with feeding tubes

Medical social workers have a Master’s degree in the field of social work and have specialized training and experience focusing on health-related issues and their impact on physical, emotional, social, and spiritual functioning. Social work provides screening, assessment, and intervention to patients and their families, empowering them to deal with the stresses that accompany a diagnosis of ALS.

Services provided by our clinical social worker include:

• Psychosocial Assessments of Patients
• Patient and Family Education
• Advance Care Planning Consultation
• Community Resource Referrals
• Home Health and Hospice Care Coordination
• Health Insurance, Social Security & Disability Benefit Guidance and Advocacy

Our dedicated Duke ALS Research Coordinators play a critical role in advancing the understanding and treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). With a commitment to enhancing patient care and actively participating in groundbreaking research, our coordinators are skilled professionals who serve as vital links between the clinical team and the research community.

Our Research Coordinators are responsible for overseeing clinical trials, managing patient recruitment, and ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines. They possess a deep understanding of ALS and its complexities, allowing them to provide valuable support to both patients and investigators. By fostering open communication, they ensure that participants are fully informed about study protocols and their rights, all while offering compassionate guidance throughout the research process.

The Duke ALS Research program offers a variety of research opportunities for patients at various stages of their disease. Research opportunities range from biorepositories, observational and interventional studies, as well as expanded access programs (EAPs) for those that do not qualify for traditional randomized controlled trials.

With a focus on building relationships, our Research Coordinators collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to collect, analyze, and interpret data that contribute to innovative ALS therapies. Their passion for research and unwavering dedication to patient welfare inspires hope and drives progress in the fight against ALS.

A certified ATP has demonstrated competence in analyzing the needs of consumers with disabilities, assisting in the selection of appropriate assistive technology for the consumer’s needs, and providing training in the use of the device.

Services provided by our ATP from Stalls Medical include:

• Wheelchair seating and mobility evaluations
• Mobility equipment maintenance and repair
• Equipment education and training
• Resource referral regarding accessible transportation

The ALS United NC Care Services representative is dedicated to supporting individuals and families navigating the challenges of ALS. This representative provides personalized guidance, education, and resources, both in clinical settings and within the community, to enhance quality of life and ensure no one faces ALS alone.

Services provided by the ALS United NC Care Services Representative:

• Personalized education for patients and families
• Emotional support to help with coping and adjustment
• Guidance on accessing community resources 
• Information on ALS United NC programs and support services
• Advocate for patients and families ensuring they are heard