Robert M. Pascuzzi

The Guest Editor of this issue of Seminars in Neurology on Myasthenia Gravis, Robert M. Pascuzzi, M.D., truly needs no introduction. He served as Editor in Chief of Seminars in Neurology from 1998 to 2002. His interest in myasthenia gravis dates back to his Neurology Residency at the University of Virginia under T.R. Johns. In 1982 he was instrumental in helping Dr. Johns put together an issue of Seminars in Neurology and wrote two manuscripts for that issue; one was entitled “Myasthenia gravis: treatment with long-term corticosteroids,” and the other was “Myasthenia gravis: the patient evaluation.” Dr. Johns had a passion for this disease, and shared that passion with Bob.

Bob did a Fellowship in neuromuscular disease at the University of Virginia with Larry Phillips and T.R. Johns. Bob returned to his alma mater, Indiana University, in 1985 and is presently the Interim Chair of Neurology in the Department of Neurology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He has been chosen Outstanding Professor in Clinical Medicine by 13 graduating classes, and has received the Golden Apple award from the Medical School Class of 1996 and the Medical School Class of 2003. He has also received the Distinguished Neurology Teaching Award from the American Neurological Association and a Teaching Excellence Recognition Award from the Indiana University Board of Trustees on several occasions. He is named in both America's Top Doctors and in Best Doctors in America.

Dr. Pascuzzi is a Director of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a member of the Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for Neurology, and a member of the Annual Meeting Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. He is Secretary of M/SAB of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, Chair of the Professional and Public Information Committee of the MAB of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, and on the Medical Advisory Board of the National Myasthenia Gravis Foundation. He has traveled extensively, providing lectures on neuromuscular diseases as well as a multitude of other topics in neurology. Some of his more popular lectures include “Horror Stories from the Crypt of Neuromuscular Disease,” “The Halloween of Neuromuscular Disease,” “The Neurology of Famous Musicians and Composers,” “Tales from the Scrapbook of Neuromuscular Disease,” and “Baseball, Mary Shelley and Tales of Weakness.”

Dr. Pascuzzi teaches the Sophomore neuroscience course, and the medical students at Indiana University frequently say they want to be Neurologists because neurology encompasses medicine, literature, sports, history, and suspense. At Freshman orientation the upperclassmen tell the Freshmen that they should never miss a lecture of Dr. Pascuzzi's, and the lecture hall is always packed, even those that take place at 8:00 AM. He is a legend in his own time. He is the master teacher and clinician. He is also a wonderful husband and father.

Several contributors to this issue of Seminars in Neurology on myasthenia gravis contributed to the 1982 issue as well. In addition, all of the contributors to this issue have made major contributions to the care of patients with myasthenia gravis. We are grateful to Bob and to all of them.