Written by Linga V. Reddy, MD, PhD
Neurologist, First Choice Neurology
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) care continues to evolve at a remarkable pace. From earlier diagnosis and more precise imaging to high-efficacy therapies, immune reconstitution strategies, pregnancy planning, and emerging artificial intelligence tools, today’s clinicians are practicing in one of the most innovative eras in MS medicine.
To help bring these advances directly to Florida neurologists and advanced practice providers, the Florida Multiple Sclerosis Conference will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Omni Orlando Resort, 1500 Master Blvd., ChampionsGate, FL 33896. This one-day educational program offers the opportunity to earn 6.5 CME credits while learning from leading MS specialists across academic and community-based settings.
The Florida Multiple Sclerosis Conference is designed for general neurologists, community neurologists, MS specialists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of patients with Multiple Sclerosis and related demyelinating disorders.
Bridging Academic and Community MS Care in Florida
One of the most important goals of this conference is to strengthen the connection between academic MS centers and community neurology practices throughout Florida. Many patients with MS receive ongoing care close to home, often from general neurologists and APPs who manage complex diagnostic questions, therapy decisions, monitoring needs, relapses, progression, symptoms, and comorbidities.
This conference aims to provide practical, clinically relevant strategies that can be applied in community settings. Attendees will gain updated insights into how MS is diagnosed earlier, how imaging and biomarkers are being used more effectively, how treatment strategies are changing, and how clinicians can better recognize disease progression and optimize long-term patient outcomes.
Course Leadership and Steering Committee
The 2026 Florida Multiple Sclerosis Conference is led by Course Director Linga Vinay Reddy, MD, PhD, a neurologist with First Choice Neurology.
The Steering Committee includes respected leaders from major Florida institutions:
Torge Rempe, MD, PhD – University of Florida
John Ciotti, MD – University of South Florida
Leticia Tornes, MD, FAAN – University of Miami
Vanessa Marin Collazo, MD – Mayo Clinic
Daniel Jacobs, MD – University of Central Florida
Together, this group represents a collaborative effort to bring high-level MS education to clinicians across Florida.
Featured MS Topics and Presentations
The conference agenda will cover a broad range of clinically important MS and neuroimmunology topics, including:
Immunopathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis
Presented by Linga Vinay Reddy, MD, PhD, First Choice Neurology
Early Diagnosis of MS: Biomarkers and Imaging
Presented by John Ciotti, MD, University of South Florida
Treatment Strategies: Early High-Efficacy vs. Escalation
Presented by Elsa Rodriguez, MD, Cleveland Clinic
Progressive MS: Treatment Options
Presented by Torge Rempe, MD, PhD, UF Gainesville
Pregnancy, Family Planning, and MS
Presented by Mayra Montalvo, MD, UF Gainesville
Symptom Management in Multiple Sclerosis
Presented by Vanessa Marin Collazo, MD, Mayo Clinic
Progression Independent of Relapse
Presented by Matthew Baker, MD, Collier Neurologic Specialists
Immune Reconstitution in MS
Presented by Donald Negroski, MD, Negroski Neurology
HSCT and CAR-T in Multiple Sclerosis
Presented by Abu-Sayeef Mirza, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center
NMOSD and MOGAD
Presented by Aisha Elfasi, MD, University of South Florida
Bridging Academic and Community MS Care in Florida
Presented by Freddy Escobar, MD, OrlandoHealth, UF Gainesville
These topics reflect the changing landscape of MS care, where clinicians are increasingly focused on early intervention, individualized therapy, disease monitoring, and collaborative care models.
Why MS Education Matters Now
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system that can affect the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Although MS has historically been categorized into relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, and primary progressive forms, newer research suggests that disease biology may be more complex than traditional clinical labels alone can capture.
Clinicians are now paying closer attention to silent disease activity, brain volume loss, spinal cord involvement, cognitive changes, fatigue, disability accumulation, and progression independent of relapse activity. These changes have major implications for treatment selection, monitoring, and patient counseling.
In practice, this means clinicians must evaluate not only relapses and MRI lesion burden, but also subtle signs of progression, treatment response, safety risks, patient goals, reproductive planning, and quality-of-life concerns. The Florida Multiple Sclerosis Conference is designed to help medical professionals translate these evolving concepts into real-world patient care.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of MS Care
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most promising tools in MS research and clinical care. By integrating large datasets, advanced MRI analysis, biomarkers, clinical records, genetics, and environmental risk factors, AI may help clinicians identify disease patterns earlier and personalize treatment more effectively.
A 2025 Nature Medicine study used probabilistic machine learning to analyze approximately 8,000 patients, 118,000 visits, and more than 35,000 MRI scans, proposing a data-driven classification of MS disease evolution based on dimensions such as physical disability, brain damage, relapse activity, and subclinical disease activity. This type of AI-driven modeling may help move the field beyond rigid disease categories and toward a more dynamic understanding of MS progression.
AI is also improving MRI interpretation in MS. Advanced algorithms can support lesion segmentation, detection, volumetric analysis, and longitudinal monitoring of subtle changes in brain and spinal cord structures. These tools may help identify disease activity that is difficult to detect through routine visual assessment alone.
Other AI initiatives are focused on personalized prognosis and treatment response. The CLAIMS project, for example, is developing AI-based models that use biomarkers and patient-level data to help predict disease progression and treatment response in people with MS.
Researchers are also exploring “agentic AI” frameworks, such as MedCP, which may allow clinicians and researchers to perform multi-step analyses of real-world MS data more efficiently. These systems are being developed to help query complex datasets, incorporate clinical notes and radiology reports, and accelerate research workflows.
For patients, the long-term promise is more personalized MS care. AI may help clinicians predict how a patient’s disease is likely to evolve, identify who may benefit from early high-efficacy therapy, monitor treatment response more precisely, and prepare for more focused clinical consultations.
What Medical Professionals Can Expect to Gain
Attendees of the Florida Multiple Sclerosis Conference can expect clinically useful education that supports day-to-day practice. The program will address questions such as:
- How can biomarkers and imaging improve early MS diagnosis?
- When should clinicians consider early high-efficacy therapy instead of escalation?
- How should progressive MS be monitored and treated?
- What should neurologists know about pregnancy and family planning in MS?
- How can clinicians recognize progression independent of relapse?
- What is the emerging role of HSCT, CAR-T, and immune reconstitution in MS?
- How should NMOSD and MOGAD be differentiated from MS?
- How can academic and community providers collaborate more effectively across Florida?
By the end of the program, participants should be better equipped to apply emerging evidence, evaluate complex MS cases, and improve continuity of care for patients throughout Florida.
Attend the Florida Multiple Sclerosis Conference 2026
The Florida Multiple Sclerosis Conference 2026 will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Omni Orlando Resort in ChampionsGate, Florida. This one-day CME conference offers an important opportunity for neurologists, APPs, and healthcare professionals to learn from leading experts, discuss practical MS care strategies, and connect with colleagues across the state.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Time: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Omni Orlando Resort, 1500 Master Blvd., ChampionsGate, FL 33896
Audience: Neurologists, advanced practice providers, MS specialists, and medical professionals involved in MS care.
CME: Earn 6.5 CME Credits
Accreditation Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of The University of Central Florida College of Medicine and First Choice Neurology. The University of Central Florida College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation Statement: The University of Central Florida College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 6.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. To learn more about the Florida Multiple Sclerosis Conference, registration, and sponsorship, visit neuroevents.org.