Michael A. Lopez

MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I am most thankful for the skills I have learned that allow me to help take care of children with neuromuscular diseases. I’ve had the honor to work as a physician scientist answering questions that might make an impact on treating the most devastating of those diseases. In the course of my daily work, I learn the outstanding questions that patients and their families face and provide hope through the promise of research.

HOW DREXEL HELPED: Drexel taught me how to think critically and approach difficult problems, and how to use those skills in everyday work. As a physician scientist, I rely on analytical reasoning and technical skills that were acquired in my studies at Drexel. I received my first exposure to research through the co-op program where my interest in childhood- onset neuromuscular diseases began.

MY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: The field of pediatric neuromuscular medicine is undergoing revolutionary advances in treatments that are improving and extending lives. New technologies, such as anti-sense oligonucleotides and gene therapies, are making their way through the pipeline. As a physician scientist, my goal is to be a part of the teams that are bringing these types of new treatments to fruition.