BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Beginning January 5, 2026, SRNA is bringing all five of our podcast series together into a single, unified podcast channel called “SRNA Soundwaves.” This means that all episodes of "Ask the Expert, ABCs of MOGAD, ABCs of NMOSD, ADEM Academy, and Community Meets Clinic" - past and present - will now be found in one feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast streaming platforms.

What this means for you: If you are already subscribed to our "Ask the Expert" series, you will automatically be subscribed to "SRNA Soundwaves" once the merge happens on January 5th. If you are subscribed to "ABCs of MOGAD, ABCs of NMOSD, ADEM Academy, or Community Meets Clinic," make sure to subscribe to "Ask the Expert," which will be renamed “SRNA Soundwaves” on January 5th, to continue to get new episodes in your feed. You can subscribe here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/srna-ask-the-expert/

We hope this change helps our community navigate our educational content more easily and enjoy a smoother, more organized podcast experience. If you have questions about the upcoming change, please email: podcast@wearesrna.org

In part six of the “Ask the Expert, Research Edition” mini-series, “Parenting is Hard,” Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Barbara Babcock, a family therapist from the UK's National Health Service, to discuss the role of siblings in families with a child diagnosed with a rare neuroimmune disorder. Barbara shared findings from her research on how siblings provide crucial support to parents and the positive impacts this has on family dynamics [00:04:31]. They explored the concept of parentification and the importance of assigning age-appropriate tasks to siblings [00:25:10]. Barbara also provided advice on fostering healthy sibling relationships and the significance of open communication [00:35:34].

At the end of this mini-series, we will host a Q&A episode where Barbara will answer questions from the community. To submit your question, please visit https://srna.ngo/submit

Barbara Babcock works as a Family Therapist in a child and adolescent mental health outpatient unit in the United Kingdom's National Health Service. In her private practice, she works with individuals and couples who are navigating challenging health issues and wish to get their lives back. She obtained her Master of Science in Family Therapy from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King's College London. Barbara also has a Master of Arts in Coaching Psychology/Psychological Coaching and her dissertation research focused on the impact that a systemic approach to coaching has on the wellbeing of adults who have a rare neuroimmune disorder and their primary caregivers. Previously, she was Chair of the Transverse Myelitis Society, from 2013 to 2016, and led their Family Weekend from 2015 to 2019, an event to support families who have a child/adolescent with a rare neuroimmune disorder to discover their potential through challenging outdoor activities. She had transverse myelitis in 2008 and is originally from Pennsylvania, USA. You can contact her at barbara@returntowellness.co.uk and her website is www.returntowellness.co.uk

00:00 Introduction

00:28 Meet Barbara Babcock

02:08 Theme Four: Support from Siblings

04:31 Siblings' Characteristics and Their Impact

06:57 Voluntary Help from Siblings

25:10 Parentification: Understanding the Concept

36:34 Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships

39:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the SRNA "Ask the Expert" podcast moderated by Dr. GG deFiebre, Dr. Kyle Blackburn and Dr. Benjamin Greenberg discussed the need for updated diagnostic criteria for myelitis. Dr. Blackburn explained the term myelitis and the importance of precise terminologies for accurate diagnoses and research [00:05:10]. Dr. Greenberg elaborated on the advancements in testing and understanding of associated disorders like NMOSD and MOGAD since 2002 [00:11:10]. Both experts stated that the shift from "transverse myelitis" to "myelitis" will aid future research, treatments, and patient care [00:17:27]. They reassured patients that these changes would essentially refine their care but not alter it dramatically [00:23:40]. They encouraged patients to stay informed and communicate with their healthcare providers about these updates [00:28:58].

Kyle Blackburn, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He specializes in neuroimmunology and has clinical interests in antibody-mediated neurologic disorders, including autoimmune encephalitis, epilepsy, and ataxias; neurologic complications of cancers, including paraneoplastic disorders and checkpoint inhibitor/CAR T-cell toxicity; and demyelinating disorders, including sarcoidosis, neuromyelitis optica, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-associated disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Dr. Blackburn earned his medical degree at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He performed his residency in adult neurology at UT Southwestern, serving his final year as Chief Resident, and stayed to complete a fellowship in neuroimmunology, during which he earned the James T. Lubin Clinician Scientist Award from the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA). He joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020.

Benjamin M. Greenberg, M.D., M.H.S. is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children’s Medical Center.

Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago’s Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor’s degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation’s first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.

Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children’s Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.

00:00 Introduction

00:58 Overview of Myelitis and Diagnostic Criteria

02:57 Historical Context and Importance of Updated Criteria

05:10 Challenges with Current Terminology

11:10 Changes in Understanding and Diagnostic Approaches

17:27 Implications for Patients and Clinical Practice

23:40 Impact on Research and Future Directions

28:58 Patient Advocacy

31:17 Conclusion