Clinic to focus on Lou Gehrig's disease

The University of Nevada School of Medicine and a national Lou Gehrig's disease organization have jointly opened a clinic in Southern Nevada to treat patients suffering from the devastating neuromuscular disorder.

Lou Gehrig's disease is named for the New York Yankees baseball player who died in 1941 from the disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

There is still no known cause or cure for ALS, which robs patients of their muscular functions. But clinics such as the one that was opened at the school's Patient Care Center, 1707 W. Charleston Blvd., provides under one roof all of the specialists needed by people diagnosed with ALS.

"The patients will get to see multiple specialists all in one day," said Dr. Swamy Venkatesh, director of the school's neuromuscular disorders program, who will head the clinic. "First the diagnosis will be made, then we'll set up examinations with specialists, and patients will also see rehabilitation specialists."

The clinic is likely also to become an important research center for Southern Nevada, Dr. Stephen Feig of UCLA's Children's Hospital said.

"No family facing ALS should have to fight the battle alone," Connie Bobo said at the dedication ceremonies Friday. Her husband, Perry, died from ALS in 1993. She was instrumental in getting the clinic started in Las Vegas.

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