Meet Dr. Tseng

Dr. Brian Tseng has been gearing up to push the frontiers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy research and clinical care for some time. His mentors in medicine, however, "encouraged me not to go down this path, telling me I couldn't do anything for these boys, and it was a dead-end career."

His mentors have been proved wrong. Dr. Tseng is now the director of the Jett Program for Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders, a collaboration between the Pembroke-based Jett Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. This is the first program in the Northeast devoted to an often-overlooked genetic disorder that causes boys to lose muscle function and independence. People with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have a life expectancy of about 20 years.

"I am thrilled to be part of this wonderful community of clinicians and families that has been created through the collaboration between the Jett Foundation and MassGeneral Hospital for Children," said Dr. Tseng. "Although people consider me the expert, I learn as much from my patients and families as they do from me. I bring to this work an open mind, a compassionate heart and a fierce determination to do everything I can to keep my patients healthy and their families hopeful.

"The standard of care in 2008 is not good enough, so we need to push it further," said Dr. Tseng. "What motivates all of us involved with this program is the belief that these kids and young people deserve better. They deserve care that will keep them healthier, more mobile and more independent far longer than anyone ever thought possible. They deserve to have long futures. And they deserve to have the hope of a cure some day."

Click here to see Dr. Tseng's profile on the Mass General Hospital for Children website.

Jett Foundation    1-877-FLY-JETT    FAX 781-826-9523    jettfoundation@aol.com