Introducing Dr. Richard Wlodarski, NorthShore ALS Clinic Director

Richard Ted Wlodarski, MD, ALS Clinic Director, NorthShore University Health System

ALS United Illinois partnered with NorthShore University Health System in 2016 to establish the first suburban multidisciplinary ALS clinic in the Chicagoland area. Dr. Richard Wlodarski joined Dr. Octavia Kincaid and the team in 2021, and he has stepped into the role of Clinic Director this fall. By way of introduction, we asked Dr. Wlodarski to tell us a little bit about himself.

Where did you complete your medical training?

I graduated medical school at the University of Illinois in Chicago and completed neurology residency, clinical neurophysiology, and neuromuscular medicine fellowships at the University of Chicago.

What got you interested in neurology, and in neuromuscular disease in particular?

Neurology had always interested me since as far back as high school. I am fascinated by its complexity and the relative mystery of it compared to the other organ systems. Neuromuscular medicine in particular, drew me in as it is a very “hands-on” field that requires great skill to fully master. It is a field that also has great potential for future effective disease-modifying therapies to help patients with the significant morbidity often caused by this group of diseases. I am excited to see the new developments in this field during my lifetime.

What is your approach to patient care?

Of course, every patient is different and patient care should be individualized. Some of the major goals to patient care is maximizing quality of life, educating patients on their very complex conditions, and coming up with clear and accurate diagnoses whenever possible.

What are your goals for the NorthShore ALS clinic and team?

My primary goal for the NorthShore ALS clinic is to continue to provide exceptional care for this devastating and incurable disease. Of course, easing patient, family, and caregiver burden and fears regarding the many complications of ALS will always be part of this mission. Finally, I would like this clinic to be involved in research to further the ultimate goal of developing effective treatments for ALS that may perhaps lead to one day finding a cure.