Semmes Murphey receives designation as ALS Certified Treatment Center for Excellence

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – July 1, 2025 − The ALS Clinic of the Mid-South, a subsidiary of Semmes Murphey Clinic, received designation by the ALS Association as a Certified Treatment Center for Excellence, affirming that the institute meets the highest quality of care in the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In addition to the designation, Semmes Murphey’s ALS clinic will receive a grant from the ALS Association for $25,000 for the next three years. The grant will directly support the clinic’s efforts to provide a complex continuum of care for people living with ALS and to assist families and caregivers in addressing the everyday challenges associated with ALS.

Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence must meet rigorous eligibility criteria. Recognition is based on adherence to program standards, clinical expertise, collaboration with the ALS Association and ongoing ALS-specific, Institutional Review Board-approved research. This designation ensures people living with ALS and their families receive the highest level of care and support.

“There are thousands of Americans living with ALS, and that number is expected to grow by more than 10% over the next five years,” said Dr. Tulio Bertorini, a neurologist and neuromuscular disease specialist at Semmes Murphey and medical director of The ALS Clinic of the Mid-South. “Our team is dedicated to providing long-term, quality care to support these patients and their families so they can continue to pursue the activities that make their lives fulfilling. We are proud to have met the requirements for becoming a Certified Treatment Center of Excellence and are thankful for continued support from the ALS Association in helping provide the very best care for people living with ALS in Tennessee and surrounding states.”

ALS, also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive motor neuron disease that gradually diminishes the patient's ability to walk, talk, swallow and breathe. With no known cause or cure, ALS typically leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. The ALS Association partners with physicians and clinics across the United States to ensure people living with ALS have access to specialized care as outlined in the American Academy of Neurology’s practice parameters for ALS management.

“The care that people receive here is a model for other parts of the country, and I’m proud that we are able to recognize the ALS Clinic of the Mid-South for its outstanding multidisciplinary approach to treating people with this devastating disease,” said Heran Sisay, managing director, care services of the ALS Association.

Semmes Murphey’s multidisciplinary care model, under the leadership of Dr. Bertorini, brings together a team of specially trained health care professionals to collaborate and provide the most comprehensive treatment plan for people living with ALS. Research shows that this model of care helps people with ALS achieve a better quality of life and prolongs life in many cases.

About Semmes Murphey Clinic

Semmes Murphey Clinic’s mission is to deliver care for people suffering from neurological illnesses while advancing the field of neuroscience. Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of brain and spine conditions, its team of physicians and health care professionals are exemplary leaders in advancing the field of neurosurgery, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, interventional pain management, physical therapy, and neuropsychology. Serving patients in Memphis, Tennessee, and beyond since 1912, Semmes Murphey has gained and maintained a respected reputation among peers within the medical community in the United States and globally. For more information or to request an appointment, please visit semmes-murphey.com.

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