Neuromuscular Medicine and Clinical Neuromuscular Pathology Fellowship

Vera Fridman, MD:

Dr. Vera Fridman is an Associate Professor in the Neuromuscular Section at the University of Colorado’s (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus, where she also directs the Neuromuscular fellowship program and serves as the clinical director of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association Center of Excellence. Dr. Fridman completed her Neurology Residency at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Neuromuscular Disease Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospitals, and a Clinical Research Fellowship in Hereditary Neuropathy at Queen Square, University of Iowa, and University of Rochester Hospitals and Clinics. Dr. Fridman's research focuses on natural history and translational studies in peripheral neuropathy. She has a specific interest in the potential role of sphingolipid pathway alterations as drivers of diabetic neuropathy.

Dianna Quan, MD:

Dr. Dianna Quan received her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.  She completed neurology residency and fellowship training in neuromuscular disorders and electrodiagnosis at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  She is Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Director of the University of Colorado Hospital Electromyography Laboratory.  She served as Program Director for the University of Colorado Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship Program for 20 years before stepping down to head the University of Colorado Neuromuscular Section.  Her research interests include transthyretin amyloidosis, myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myotonic dystrophy, fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, and critical illness neuromyopathy.  She is a longtime fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Neurological Association, and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM).  She served as President of AANEM and the American Neuromuscular Foundation from 2023-2024 and remains active on the board of directors of both organizations.

Stacy Dixon, MD, PhD:

Stacy Dixon, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Neurology.  She is the director of neuromuscular education for the neurology residency program and is co-director of the multidisciplinary MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) Care Center.  She completed her MD and PhD in Pharmacology at Indiana University.  She then completed her neurology residency, serving as chief resident in her final year, and neuromuscular fellowship at the University of Colorado.  She joined the neurology faculty of the University of Colorado in 2017.  She has a co-appointment at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC).

Varun Sreenivasan, MBBS:

Varun Sreenivasan MBBS is an Assistant Professor of Neurology. He serves as the program director for the Clinical Neuromuscular Pathology fellowship and is the Director of the Neuromuscular Pathology laboratory. He finished his medical school training at Kilpauk Medical College in Chennai, India, after which he went on to complete his neurology residency at the University of Mississippi. Following this, he finished neuromuscular medicine and clinical neuromuscular pathology fellowships at the Washington University at Saint Louis. Dr. Sreenivasan divides his time between patient care, clinical research, teaching and interpreting muscle and nerve biopsies. His interests lie in muscle disorders, including autoimmune myositis, congenital myopathies and muscular dystrophies, with a focus on pediatric to adult transition for patients affected with genetic muscle disorders.

Laura Foster, MD:

Dr. Laura Foster is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado. She is dedicated to helping patients navigate serious illness, with a particular focus on those living with ALS and the neurologic complications of cancer treatment. She earned her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine and completed her internship and neurology residency at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Foster pursued advanced training in Neuromuscular Medicine at the combined Brigham and Women's Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School program, followed by a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine through Brigham and Women's, Massachusetts General, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her work is grounded in a compassionate, patient-centered approach to complex neurologic care.

Thomas Ragole, MD:

Dr. Thomas Ragole is a neurohospitalist and neuromuscular neurologist. In addition to his work on the general neurology and consultative inpatient services, he directs the inpatient neuromuscular consult and EMG program. He has specialized expertise in single-fiber electromyography and neuromuscular ultrasound.

His research focuses on autoimmune neuromuscular disorders, including myasthenia gravis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and Guillain-Barré syndrome. He leads a broad portfolio of clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies exploring treatment strategies, disease mechanisms, and clinical outcomes.

Dr. Ragole is also a dedicated educator, actively involved in training medical students, neurology residents, and fellows across multiple subspecialties. He has received several teaching awards in recognition of his contributions to medical education.

Grace Anya Venezia, MD:

Grace Anya Venezia, MD will be joining as an Assistant Professor of Neurology in November 2025.  Dr. Venezia attended college at Washington University in St. Louis and medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine. She went on to complete neurology residency at University of Pennsylvania, followed by neuromuscular fellowship at University of Colorado. 

She sees patients with neuromuscular disorders including dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, myotonic dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie Tooth disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, CIDP, and myasthenia gravis.

Michele Yang, MD:   

Michele Yang, MD, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the Children's Hospital of Colorado. She completed her pediatrics residency and child neurology fellowship at the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, EMG fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and neuromuscular fellowship at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  She is co-director of the Neuromuscular Clinic, co-director of the multidisciplinary Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease clinic, co-director of the Complex Drugs Program, and Director of the pediatric Electromyography Laboratory. She is the site PI for multiple clinical trials in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and myasthenia gravis.

Melissa Wright, MD, PhD:

Melissa Wright, MD/PhD is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the section of Neurology.  Dr. Wright graduated from the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Colorado with her MD and a PhD in Neuroscience.  She completed Pediatric Neurology residency through the University of Colorado at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  She went on to complete a Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis.  Dr. Wright sees patients and performs EMGs at Children’s Hospital Colorado and has a special interest in congenital myopathies and congenital muscular dystrophies.

Monika Krzesniak-Swinarska, MD:

Dr. Monika Krzesniak-Swinarska is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Department of Neurology at University of Colorado School of Medicine Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado, USA. 

She previously worked at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  At UNM, she was a Pediatric and Adult MDA Clinic Director and EMG Lab Director.

In 1992 Dr. Swinarska received her medical degree from the Medical University of Gdansk in Poland. She went on to complete her Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in 2002. In 2016, she completed the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. 

Dr. Krzesniak-Swinarska is board-certified in Neuromuscular Medicine, Electrodiagnostic Medicine (scored in the top 10%), Neuromuscular Ultrasound and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

She has served as a Board Member of the IFCN Society of Neuromuscular Imaging (former ISPNI & ISNMI) since September 2019 and as a Board Member of the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) since November 2023.  

She received AANEM’s Ernest Johnson Outstanding Educator Award in 2023.

Debra O'Reilly, PA-C:

Debra O'Reilly, PA-C is a Physician Assistant and Senior Instructor in the Neuromuscular Clinic at the University of Colorado Hospital.  Debra specializes in neuromuscular disorders including Muscular Dystrophy and other hereditary myopathies, Myositis, Myasthenia Gravis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, and other acquired neuropathies.  She is active in the Muscular Dystrophy Association and ALS multi-disciplinary care clinics.  Debra also assists in the coordination of Advanced Practice Provider student/fellow educational opportunities and clinical rotations.

Marrisa Lafreniere, MS, CGC:

I am a board-certified genetic counselor who graduated from University of Colorado Anschutz. I joined the faculty of the University of Colorado Neurology Department upon completing my rare disease/Neurology fellowship. I help patients understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic disease, specifically for neurologic and neurodegenerative disorders. I remain passionate about providing education to patients and their families about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources and research. My role for the department also includes counseling to promote informed choices and adaptation to the risk or condition amongst patients. My research interests are with movement and neuromuscular disorders. I have presented several research posters focused on various neuromuscular disorders including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, I have presented several educational neuromuscular presentations for patients and their families. My commitment to education goes beyond clinic, and I am also involved with the education of neurology residents and fellows, and genetic counseling students by providing formal didactic lectures and clinical training.

Allison Wheeler, MS, CGC:

Allison Wheeler, MS, CGC is a certified genetic counselor in Neurology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Allison supports pediatric patients and their families with neurogenetic conditions. She graduated from the UCSF Genetic Counseling Program, during which she also completed the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related (LEND) Disabilities program through UC Davis as the first genetics trainee. She also completed the Neurology/Rare Disease Genetic Counselor Fellowship at the University of Colorado with training in both pediatric and adult neurology with a special focus on neuromuscular disorders. As a disabled and queer genetic counselor, she is invested in the lived experience of individuals and how this impacts their care. Her clinical and research interests span the personal utility of genetic testing, community-based models prioritizing access to genetics services, and family-centered and interdisciplinary care for individuals with neurogenetic conditions.

Yael Kacie Weinstein, MS, CGC:

I am a board-certified genetic counselor and proud to be a part of the University of Colorado’s Department of Neurology. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and completed my Master of Science in Human Genetics at Sarah Lawrence College, where my thesis focused on Adolescent Attitudes Towards Genetic Testing for Adult-Onset Conditions. Before relocating to Denver, I spent several years practicing in Oregon at the Center for Genetics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine. There, I gained extensive experience working in a high-risk clinical setting and developed a deep appreciation for the complexity and uniqueness of each patient’s case.

I am passionate about patient care and inspired by the rapid advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of neurological conditions. My goal is to help patients, and their families navigate the genetic testing process with clarity and compassion. I work closely with individuals to explore the underlying causes of their conditions, assess personal and familial risks, and connect them with meaningful resources and support.

Melissa Gibbons, MS, CGC:

Is an Associate Professor of Genetics and Pediatrics. Melissa recevied her BS from Simmons University and her MS in Genetic Counseling from Univeristy of North Carolina Greensboro. She has been a genetic counselor at Children’s Hospital Colorado since 2007 and within the Neurology department since 2009. She is the Spinal Muscular Newborn Screen Coordinator for Colorado and Wyoming and a member of the CureSMA medical advisory committee. Her interest are in Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Conditions, educating families about their genetic risk and advocating for the rare disease population.

Nicole Little, MPAP: