University of Florida now a Tourette Center of Excellence with SE Consortium

The University of Florida Health Center for Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration has been named a Tourette syndrome center of excellence along with four other centers in the Southeastern United States. The five Tourette centers come together to form the Southeast Consortium which is one of 10 centers named Centers of Excellence by the Tourette Syndrome Association.

In an article from the UF College of Medicine, Dr. Irene Malaty, medical director of our Tourette Clinic said, ““It was a highly competitive process and we were proud to be among the first designated as excellent for Tourette and tic care.”

Also from the article:

Heather Simpson, OTR/L, an occupational therapist at UF Health, will be the coordinator for the entire Southeastern region of the U.S. The consortium includes Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, University of Alabama in Birmingham and the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in St. Petersburg. Each location will be recognized as a center of excellence, and patient care, education and research will be available at all centers.

“Children and adults suffering from Tourette and tic disorders are underserved in the medical community, and the medical community is undereducated,” Simpson said. “We are trying to reach out and educate families, educate communities and educate children about this disorder.”

Also, the UF Health Center for Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration will be featured on the monthly CNN International program “Vital Signs” hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The October episode will focus on Deep Brain Stimulation, specifically a new type of DBS being researched for use in patients with Tourette syndrome. The episode will premiere at 5:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, October 15, then air six more times in October. We will link to the episode as soon as it is available on the CNN Website.