Medical student selected to present findings of MS research at national forum

Maxon Bassett presents his poster on MS misdiagnosis.

Maxon Bassett, a third-year medical student, has known for a long time that he wanted to do something in neurology. A recent research project and his poster presentation at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) gave him a new perspective.  

“My exposure to neurologic diseases prior to this project had always been more focused on the surgical aspect of patient care,” he said, “and I saw this project as a great way to get exposure to the clinical aspect of neurologic disease.”  

Last summer, Bassett looked at the incidence and causes of the misdiagnosis of MS in the patient population of William Kilgo, M.D., a neurologist with USA Health, director of the neurology residency program and assistant professor of neurology at Whiddon College of Medicine, who specializes in MS treatment.  

“This was the largest project in terms of patient numbers that has been completed nationally to the best of our knowledge,” Kilgo said.  

A retrospective chart review of new patients over a four-year period yielded data on the initial diagnosis, final diagnosis, patient demographics and treatment plans of each patient.   

“We found that the misdiagnosis rates were very similar to those at other academic centers,” Bassett said. “The academic centers that we were comparing to have very different patient populations than what we see in Mobile, as well as different access to healthcare, so it was very positive to see the misdiagnosis rates were consistent.”   

They also noted, he said, that most misdiagnosis occurred when a patient was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when they had another disease.  

He presented the findings in his poster titled, “Incidence and Causes of Multiple Sclerosis Misdiagnosis in an Academic Center Serving a Diverse Patient Population” at the ACTRIMS annual forum in February in West Palm Beach, Florida.  

“Presenting my research was an invaluable experience,” Bassett said. “It was a fantastic opportunity to not only meet people in the field, but also to get exposure to other forms of research. It is great as a student to have the privilege of presenting, especially at such a large conference.”  

He continues to work on projects involving neurology and neurologic surgery and hopes to present his findings at conferences and publish them in academic journals.    

Founded in 1995, ACTRIMS is a community of leaders from the United States and Canada who are dedicated to the treatment and research in MS and other demyelinating diseases. ACTRIMS focuses on knowledge dissemination, education, and collaboration among disciplines.   

Its annual forum allows experienced and newer clinicians and researchers to exchange information, debate current issues, and discuss advances related to basic research and clinical issues.