Jeffrey Dewey, MD, is a neurologist at Yale Medicine specializing in neuromuscular medicine. He treats patients with diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Dr. Dewey received his medical school training at Boston University School of Medicine before joining the faculty at Yale. He was drawn to neuromuscular medicine during his training because of the rational thinking required to arrive at treatments. “The nervous system has sort of a roadmap, especially in the peripheral nervous system, so it’s a lot of trying to figure out through logic, asking the right questions, and looking at the right things,” he says.
In addition, Dr. Dewey believes that neurology helps us better understand how humans experience the world. “It helps us understand how we perceive things in the brain, but it’s also involved in helping us move, talk, and complete other actions,” he says.
While many neuromuscular conditions don’t have a cure, Dr. Dewey’s main goal when meeting with patients is to provide reassurance, support, and to treat symptoms as best as possible. “I think the key is to give people an answer to their questions, and also to say, ‘No matter what happens, we'll help you get through this—wherever it's headed,’” he says.
In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Dewey is an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine.
