For our last Feature Friday of the year we would like to welcome our readers to Dr. Nathan McGraw. Dr. McGraw was a keynote panelist at our 2021 Annual Meeting and is currently our partnering physician at St. Luke's Hospital where we have another MGA clinic. The clinic takes place on the second Wednesday of the month (mornings only) at St. Luke's on the Country Club Plaza. Dr. McGraw has been a wonderful asset to our organization and we look forward to continue working with him in 2023.
Meet Dr. Nathan McGraw:
What is your name? Where are you from?
My name is Nathan McGraw. I grew up in Kansas and currently live in Kansas City.
What is your role in the MG community?
I am a neuromuscular specialist working at St. Luke’s Neurology. I completed my medical school training at KU Medical Center then completed Neurology Residency at the University of Minnesota. I then returned to KU for my neuromuscular fellowship.
Can you describe your role? What you do, your approach to medicine/patients, what you do for MG patients and also outside of MG patients?
I treat MG patients as well as a number of other neuromuscular conditions in my clinic. I like to take a patient-centered approach to my treatment of MG; each patient is unique and therefore each treatment regimen must be individualized. I offer a number of diagnostic studies to confirm the diagnosis of MG as well as treatment options to help manage the disorder.
What are your favorite aspects of being a healthcare provider?
I enjoy working with patients in both diagnosis and treatment. Oftentimes when patients present to my clinic they have undergone a number of diagnostic tests, sometimes without a clear answer. Being able to help them identify what is causing their symptoms often helps give closure and peace of mind. Even more satisfying is helping patients find a treatment regimen that will best improve their quality of life and mitigate their symptoms as effectively as possible.
What do you like to do outside of being a healthcare provider? Hobbies/interests?
I enjoy running and recently completed a marathon in June 2022.
How long have you been involved with the MGA?
I have an MGA sponsored clinic that started toward the beginning of the year in 2022.
What drove you to support the MGA community?
I had experience working with the MGA during my fellowship at KU. I find the MGA to be a wonderful resource to both physicians and patients. The amount of information and support the MGA is able to give to patients is invaluable.
What have you learned as a result of being involved with the MGA? Has myasthenia gravis, the MGA, and/or MG patients impacted your own life?
I appreciate the amount of support and resources the MGA is able to provide patients. The patients that I see who are involved with the MGA are always well informed about their MG and able to participate in the conversation about treatment options. I find it very rewarding to work with MG patients on treating their disorder as often times we are able to see a good outcome.
As a healthcare provider, what is the biggest need in the MG community as you see it?
I feel the greatest need is increased awareness of the general public as well as health care providers and patients with MG. This is a treatable disorder, and the earlier treatment can be initiated the sooner patients can start mitigating the impact this disorder has on their life; early treatment starts with early recognition.
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