MS Community Mourns Loss of Devoted Researcher

The entire staff at MSAA is greatly saddened to learn of the recent death of Dr. John F. Kurtzke, a highly accomplished expert in the field of multiple sclerosis research. Dr. Kurtzke was a neuroepidemiologist (a doctor who specializes in researching the development and treatment of neurological diseases) and Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University. He is best known by the MS community for his work in creating the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale, a vital evaluative tool used by neurologists to determine a patient’s physical status and level of ability. This scale is critical in evaluating disease progression over time, as well as determining the effectiveness of approved and experimental treatments for MS. According to the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), he began his career in the mid-1950s, held several notable positions, wrote more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, and won numerous awards. Dr. Kurtzke will be terribly missed by the entire MS community. For more information on his work, please see this recent news article published by the CMSC.