Richard Baron, M.D.
Richard J. Barohn, M.D. joined the University of Missouri as executive vice chancellor for health affairs in May 2020. As EVC, he oversees the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy that affirms MU as a nationally recognized leader in patient care, education, and research. Dr. Barohn leads the University of Missouri Health Care system, a mid-size, comprehensive health care network where he encourages the use of artificial intelligence, telehealth technologies, and other cutting-edge opportunities to improve health care delivery. He is the executive director for the University of Missouri’s largest initiative called NextGen Precision Health.
Barohn is a professor in the Department of Neurology. His practice focuses on caring for patients with neurological and neuromuscular diseases such as myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, and ALS. He holds a medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and completed his residency at the Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Medical Center and a fellowship in neuromuscular diseases at The Ohio State University. He has completed over 100 clinical trials, published more than 350 peer-reviewed articles, and continues to lead basic, patient-centered clinical and population health research.
Emmanuel Daon, M.D., FACS
Born near Paris, France in 1966, Dr. Daon emigrated to the United States of America in 1983. After graduating from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1993, he completed a general surgery residency in Kansas City and a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Dr. Daon has been in practice since 2001, and his principal interests include resident education and cardiothoracic robotic and minimally invasive surgery. He is the founding director of the cardiovascular and thoracic surgery residency program at the University of Kansas Medical Center, an ACGME accredited program. He has served on the medical advisory committee for the Myasthenia Gravis Association of the heartland since 2009.
He is board-certified in cardiothoracic surgery and licensed in the states of Missouri and Kansas. He is a member of the Society of thoracic surgeons, where he serves on the task force for innovative learning and education. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and of the American College of chest physicians. He serves as a journal reviewer for the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. He has published at the national level and has delivered invited presentations both locally and internationally. Currently, Dr. Daon is the principal investigator of an FDA pivotal trial evaluating the effectiveness of trans catheter mitral valve replacement therapy.
He is an active member of the University of Kansas Health system cardiovascular service line committee and serves as chairperson for the University of Kansas Health system robotics and advanced minimally invasive surgery committee. Dr. Daon was honorably discharged from the United States Naval Reserve Medical Corps in 2004 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Mazen M. Dimachkie, M.D., FAAN, FANA
Mazen M. Dimachkie, MD, is ABPN board-certified in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, and Neuromuscular Medicine and holds a UCNS certificate in Clinical Neuromuscular Pathology. He is a fellow of both the American Academy of Neurology and of the American Neurological Association. After being on faculty at the UT-Houston Neurology Department 1995-2007, he was recruited to lead the prolific neuromuscular Section, now Division at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City (KUMC). He is currently Professor of Neurology, director of the Neuromuscular Division at the KUMC, and director of the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship. He is also Executive Vice Chairman of the Neurology Department & Vice Chairman for Research Programs. As the director of KUMC Neuromuscular Research, he manages one of the busiest neuromuscular clinical trials units in North America. He leads and participates in a wide variety of federally funded neuromuscular research studies and industry-sponsored studies, nationally and internationally. He is a frequently invited lecturer in the fields of inflammatory muscle disorders, Pompe disease, myasthenia gravis, LEMS, ALS, neuropathies, and other neuromuscular topics. He has authored or co-authored 200 full-length published articles, more than 300 meeting abstracts, and 28 book chapters.
Constantine Farmakidis, M.D.
Constantine Farmakidis, MD, joined the faculty of the University of Kansas Medical Center in September 2017. Prior to that he was at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City for six years which was his first position after completing fellowship training. At KU, Farmakidis sees patients with a broad spectrum of neuromuscular conditions including those with myasthenia gravis. He particularly enjoys working with MG patients, no less, because there are many treatments to offer and many patients have good outcomes.
Vernita Hairston, M.D.
Dr. Hairston received her BA in biochemistry at Harvard University and medical doctorate degree at the University of Maryland. After her residency at Case Western Reserve, she completed a clinical neuromuscular fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and another in neuro-rehabilitation at the University of Maryland. She is currently a neurologist at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Hairston is a past recipient of the MGA Stackhouse Award.
Ghazala Hayat, M.D.
Ghazala Hayat, M.D. graduated from King Edward Medical College in Pakistan in 1977 and finished her neurology residency at the Medical College of Virginia in 1985. The following year she pursued a fellowship in neuromuscular diseases and electrodiagnostic medicine at the same institution. Dr. Hayat is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has Clinical Neurophysiology certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Dr. Hayat is Professor in Neurology at St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO. She is the director of Neuromuscular Service and the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory. Dr. Hayat is director of the ALS clinic, which is the only ALSA-certified center in the area. Dr. Hayat is the Director of Clinical Quality Improvement at Saint Louis University, School of Medicine. Her interests include peripheral neuropathies, compressive neuropathies, neuromuscular junction disorders and electrodiagnostic studies. She has published on various topics in her area of expertise.
She has served on the Education, Workshop and Laboratory Accreditation committees of the American Association of Neuromuscular Disorders and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. She has been an examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is a fellow of American Academy of Neurologists, American Association of Neuromuscular Disorders and Electrodiagnostic Medicine and American Neurological Association. She has been nominated America's Best Doctors 2007 through 2022.
Omar Jawdat, M.D.
Dr. Jawdat is a neurologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Baghdad and conducted his residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He sees patients in the KUMC clinic.
Eric May, M.D.
Dr. Eric May is an anesthesiologist at St. Luke's Anesthesia Services at Saint Luke’s Hospital – Kansas City. He obtained his medical degree from Creighton University and conducted his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. May was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis in 1995.
Mamatha Pasnoor, M.D., FAAN
Dr. Mamatha Pasnoor is a neurologist and professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Pasnoor is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with sub-certifications in neuromuscular medicine and neurophysiology. She completed a fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from Osmania Medical College and completed her residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Pasnoor provides compassionate care of neurology and neuromuscular patients.
Fred V. Plapp, M.D.
Dr. Plapp is the Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Kansas University Medical Center where he serves as medical director of laboratory medicine and vice chair for clinical affairs. Dr. Plapp co-founded ClinLab Navigator, LLC and created ClinLabNavigator.com, a comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals containing more than 900 laboratory test interpretations and guidelines.
Michael Schwartzman, D.O.
Michael Schwartzman, DO is a neurologist on staff at Saint Luke’s Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute in Kansas City, MO. Dr. Schwartzman specializes in neuromuscular disease and is currently directing MG clinics at 2 locations in the Kansas City area. He is Assistant Clinical Professor at UMKC School of Medicine. Dr. Schwartzman completed his neurology residency at the University of Minnesota and EMG Neuromuscular Disease Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. He is a past recipient of the MGA Stackhouse Award.
Katelyn Steele, PharmD, CGP
Katelyn Steele is the Manager of Pharmacy Operations for Landmark Health, a provider group that delivers in-home medical care to chronically ill populations. Katelyn received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kansas in 2014 and went on to complete a Community Practice Residency with the University of Kansas and Balls Food Stores. She is a board-certified geriatric pharmacist.
Medical Advisory Committee
Physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals join the MGA Medical Advisory Committee because they believe in the mission of the MGA. The committee complements both the staff and the board of directors' effectiveness by bringing unique knowledge, skills, credibility, and recommendations, serving as trusted ambassadors for the association.