Director, Hereditary Neuropathy Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Founding Chair & Professor, Department of Neurology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Dr. Thomas has cared for people with CMT and engaged in CMT research for over 30 years. He believes that an inter-professional, patient-centered approach is essential to help people with chronic illnesses live well despite their illness or disability. His past CMT research focused on histological studies in CMT1B. He is US lead investigator on 2 clinical trials of CMT. In collaboration with European colleagues he identified the gene mutation responsible for DI CMT C & characterized its cell biology.
He serves as Founding Chair & Professor in the Department of Neurology at Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine, and as Clinical Affiliate Professor in the Department of Professional Psychology & Family Therapy at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. At Hackensack University Medical Center he is the Chair of the Neuroscience Institute and Founding Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center and the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation Center of Excellence. Previously he was a tenured Professor of Neurology, Adjunct Professor of Physical Therapy, and Associate Professor of Molecular Virology at St. Louis University in Missouri. There he directed the National MS Society Multiple Sclerosis Center, the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation Center of Excellence, and the Clinical Research Unit of the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and served as Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Service and the Regional MS Center of Excellence at the St. Louis VA Medical Center, where he also founded the Pain Rehabilitation Service. He is board certified in spinal cord medicine, neurology, and neural repair and rehabilitation. He completed his residency at Case Western Reserve University and post-doctoral training at Columbia University & McGill University. He has graduate degrees in microbiology, psychology, molecular biology & health outcomes research from University of Bonn, McGill University & St. Louis University, respectively. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine and serves on other editorial boards.