Today Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) named UC Davis Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Neuromuscular Disease Clinic (UC Davis) our 15th Certified Duchenne Care Center, recognizing the team at UC Davis for their leadership in Duchenne care.

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. 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.”

-- Dr. Craig McDonald, professor and chair of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UC Davis

PPMD is pleased to award Dr. McDonald and his team at UC Davis:

"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.”

-- Kathi Kinnett, MSN, CNP, PPMD’s Senior Vice President of Clinical Care and co-director of Transforming Duchenne Care Initiative (TDCI)

PPMD 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.

About PPMD's Certified Duchenne Care Center Program

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.