Deborah F. Gelinas

Dr. Deborah F. Gelinas is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine specializing in neuromuscular disorders with particular expertise in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Her clinical practice is based at the UNC Hospitals Neurology Clinic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Dr. Gelinas received her medical degree from New York Medical College (1980-1984) following undergraduate studies at McGill University (1974-1978). She completed her residency at Letterman Army Medical Center (1984-1988) and is board certified in both Neurology-Neurology (1989) and Neurology-Neuromuscular Medicine (2011).

Her research focuses on critical aspects of ALS management including respiratory function assessment, bulbar dysfunction evaluation, and therapeutic interventions. Dr. Gelinas has made significant contributions to clinical guideline development through her work with the Northeastern ALS (NEALS) Consortium, particularly in establishing standardized approaches for assessing bulbar symptoms in ALS patients. Her research spans immunological aspects of ALS, respiratory monitoring protocols, and evaluation of potential therapeutic agents like creatine and immunoglobulins.

Dr. Gelinas has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on ALS and neuromuscular disorders, with her most recent work focusing on treatment protocols for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and refining assessment methods for bulbar dysfunction. Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on translating research findings into practical clinical applications that improve patient care.

As an academic clinician, Dr. Gelinas contributes to medical education at UNC while maintaining an active clinical practice focused on providing specialized care for patients with complex neuromuscular conditions, with particular attention to quality of life considerations and evidence-based management approaches.