Omar H. Jawdat, MD

Professional Background

Omar Jawdat, M.D., is an associate professor of neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

He is the associate program director for Neuromuscular Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. In this role, he helps plan the didactic learning schedule for the fellows and actively participates in teaching the fellows at the clinic and bedside, in the electromyography (EMG) lab and neuromuscular pathology conference, and with interactive lectures.

Dr. Jawdat is interested in the research, diagnosis, treatment and management of all neuromuscular conditions, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Myopathy, Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis and Peripheral Neuropathy, among other neuromuscular conditions.

As the director of the ALS Center of Excellence at The University of Kansas Health System, Dr. Jawdat secures yearly grants from the National ALS Association and the Mid America chapter of the ALS Association to support the operation of the ALS multidisciplinary clinic. The center involves multiple subspecialties, including four ALS physicians, an ALS clinic nurse coordinator, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutrition, social work and a local ALS chapter care services specialist. He also coordinates the wide spectrum of disciplines in this clinic with the other ALS physicians.

Dr. Jawdat performs and interprets nerve and muscle biopsies. As part of his practice, he performs and interprets nerve conduction studies and electromyography, intra-operative neurophysiological monitoring and neuromuscular ultrasound.

He completed both his postgraduate neurology specialty training and his postgraduate neuromuscular medicine training at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Jawdat is fellowship trained in neuromuscular pathology interpretation.

Certified in neurology and neuromuscular medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Jawdat is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, Northeast ALS Consortium, Western ALS Group, Muscle Study Group and Peripheral Nerve Society. He sits on the scientific medical advisory boards of the ALS Association and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.

• MD, Univ. of Baghdad
• Residency, Neurology, The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas
• Clinical Fellowship, Neuromuscular Medicine, The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas

• KS License, Kansas Board of Healing Arts
• Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
• Neuromuscular Medicine, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

• Scientific Advisory Board of the ALS Association, Advising, counseling, organizing, 2017 - Present
• American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Member, 2014 - Present
• Muscle Study Group, Member, 2014 - Present
• Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Member, 2014 - Present
• Northeastern ALS Study Group, Member, 2014 - Present
• Peripheral Nerve Society, Member, 2014 - Present
• Westerns ALS Study Group, Member, 2014 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Jawdat's current research focuses on motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He also participates in a wide variety of federally funded neuromuscular research and industry sponsored studies.

• Van den Berg LH, Sorensen E, Gronseth G, Macklin EA, Andrews J, Baloh RH, Benatar M, Berry JD, Chio A, Corcia P, Genge A, Gubitz AK, Lomen-Hoerth C, McDermott CJ, Pioro EP, Rosenfeld J, Silani V, Turner MR, Weber M, Brooks BR, Miller RG, Mitsomoto H, Airlie House ALS Clinical Trials Guidelines Group. 2019. Revised Airlie House consensus guidelines for design and implementation of ALS clinical trials. Neurology, 92 (14), e1610-e1623
• Ramadharry G, Morrow J, Hudgens S, Skorupinska I, Gwathmey K, Currence M, Herbelin L, Jawdat O, Pasnloor M, McVey A, Barohn RJ, Burns TM, Dimachkie MM, Amato AA, Hanna MG, Machado PM. 2019. Investigation of the psychometric properties of the inclusion body myositis functional rating scale with Rasch analysis. Muscle Nerve, 60 (2), 161-168
• Hamasaki A, Jacobson RD, Distad BJ, Weiss MD, Statland J, Jawdat O, Glenn MD, Herbelin L, Barohn RJ, Pasnoor M, Gallagher GW, Carmelo-Piragua S, Feldman E, Dimachkie MM. 2019. Amyloid myopathy as an inclusion body myositis mimic. Muscle Nerve
• Varon M, Pasnoor M, Winden T, Hunt S, Jawdat O, Farmakidis C, Jabari D, Glenn M, Statland J, Barohn R, Dimachkie M. 2019. Retrospective assessment of MG-ADL score. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis, 20(3), 142-163
• Varon M, Pasnoor M, Jabari D, Farmakidis C, Jawdat O, Glenn M, Statland J, Barohn R, Dimachkie M. 2019. Rituximab for treatment of CIDP. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis, 20(3), 142-163
• Varon M, Jawdat O, Pasnoor M, Farmakidis C, Jabari D, Glenn M, Statland J, Barohn M, Dimachkie M. 2019. Slow gait impairment with abrupt decompensation. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis, 20(3), 142-163
• Shirilla D, Pasnoor M, Dimachkie M, Jawdat O, Farmakidis C, Barohn R, Glenn M, Jabari D. 2019. A case of lipomatosis and proximal weakness. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis, 20(3), 142-163
• Pesala S, Statland J, Dimachkie M, Barohn R, Pasnoor M, Glenn M, Farmakidis C, Jawdat O, Jabari D. 2019. Phenotypic variability of siblings with weakness. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis, 20(3), 142-163
• Pesala S, Dimachkie M, Rivner M, Mei L, Jawdat O, Jabari D, Glenn M, Farmakidis C, Barohn R, Pasnoor M. 2019. Clinical features of LRP4+ myasthenia patients. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis, 20(3), 142-163
• Ortiz-Guerrero G, Dimachkie MM, Barohn RJ, Herbelin L, Jawdat O, Glenn M, Statland JM, Farmakidis C, Pasnoor M. 2018. Timing of decremental response in RNS, 58