Myositis Patients and Families Come First: Introducing Dr. Salman Bhai

MSU is excited to announce a new collaboration with Dr. Salman Bhai, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Faculty Member at the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM) at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.  Dr. Bhai is on a mission to ”help change how myositis is diagnosed, treated, and managed” and this is reflective of the projects MSU and Dr. Bhai will be collaborating on – education talks with patients about myositis and upcoming treatments and trials, collaboration on patient-centric research projects, grant applications, and gathering patient input on how to improve patient care.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Bhai

Dr. Bhai will be seeing patients at both UT Southwestern (UTSW) and the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM). To make an appointment please call the Neuromuscular Clinic at 214-345-4611

Get to know Dr. Salman Bhai

We posed some questions to Dr. Bhai to give you more insight into his vision.  Welcome Dr. Bhai!

Why did you decide to study Myositis?

I’ve always gravitated towards patients who have muscle disorders, and I understand the toll functional limitations take on patients. The resolve of myositis patients and their caregivers inspires me to work with these patients and to help find solutions to these terrible conditions. I’m saddened by the disparities and gaps in care myositis patients face based on where they live or their socioeconomic status. Quality care should be available to all. Yet, this also motivates and drives me to help change how myositis is diagnosed, treated, and managed. Despite advances in understanding muscle diseases, clinicians still use crude measures to measure muscle health—literally pushing and pulling on muscles and some basic labs. The myositis field needs more refined, advanced tools for diagnosis and treatment.

Why did you decide to practice at UT Southwest?

I was born and raised in Dallas, and was always impressed by the world-class clinical care and research efforts at UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). There are multiple health systems, such as Texas Health, within and beyond the Dallas metroplex that provide excellent clinical care. I’m fortunate to work at the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM), which is a collaboration between UTSW and Texas Health. The unique expertise at IEEM and UTSW allow me to study myositis from a perspective that hasn’t been fully explored. Outside of the academic benefits, I’m happy to be back in Dallas to serve patients and the community here.

What is your approach to patient-centered care?

For me, patients and their families always come first—providing compassionate, world-class care is my priority. I understand how physically, emotionally, and psychologically burdensome myositis can be to patients and their families, and my goal is to address not just the disease process, but also the person and the caregivers. The process of getting a correct diagnosis and treatment through medications and physical therapy should be more streamlined with the limitations of muscle weakness, immunosuppression, and COVID19 in mind. My goal is to develop a comprehensive, personalized therapy plan with patients and their caregivers to uniquely address individual needs. It’s truly a privilege for me to get to know my patients and their families on a personal level.

Why did you decide to partner with MSU?

I’m impressed by MSU’s energy and patient-centered approach. MSU truly cares for myositis patients to address gaps in knowledge and services. By focusing on patients’ experiences with myositis, I’ve found that the organization does an excellent job empowering patients and their caregivers to understand and seek the care they deserve. Importantly, it is a source of reliable information and resources devoted to improving the lives of myositis patients and their caregivers. My values align with those of MSU. The treatment and experience of myositis patients needs to improve, and I think MSU is leading the way forward.

Anything else myositis patients and caregivers should know about you?

Your struggle with myositis doesn’t start and end at the doctor’s office, and neither should your care. I believe that treatment for and recovery from myositis requires a team-based approach that addresses you as a person. My goal is to provide my time, knowledge, and care in a way that respects your time, limitations, and goals. Outside of clinical work, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, which includes two kids and a dog, and exercising.

I understand how physically, emotionally, and psychologically burdensome myositis can be to patients and their families, and my goal is to address not just the disease process, but also the person and the caregivers. – Salman Bhai, M.D.

Below are more references resources, including Dr. Bhai’s bio and links to UTSW, IEEM.

About Salman Bhai, M.D.

Dr. Salman Bhai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Faculty Member at the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM) at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. He earned his B.S. in mathematics at Duke University and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School, where he earned multiple research grants. He completed his internship, neurology residency, and neuromuscular fellowship at Harvard: internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and residency and fellowship in a joint program between Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is grateful for the unique neuromuscular mentorship, training under several neuromuscular experts including Drs. Anthony Amato and Steven Greenberg (Brigham and Women’s Hospital) and Drs. William David, Amanda Guidon, and Reza Seyedsadjadi (Massachusetts General Hospital), amongst several others.

Dr. Bhai specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of neuromuscular disorders. He specifically focuses on patients with inflammatory and metabolic myopathies as well as those with immune checkpoint inhibitor complications.

His research focuses on understanding how muscles communicate with other organ systems, particularly when muscle is inflamed, like in myositis. The goal of his research is to better understand, diagnose, and treat patients with myositis. This will be achieved through exercise and muscle physiology studies of myositis patients by analyzing biospecimens for molecular perturbations. He also will offer clinical trials for myositis patients.

Dr. Bhai is dedicated to helping patients and their families understand and navigate difficult conditions by providing world-class clinical care.

Dr. Bhai’s Bio and Contact information is available at https://profiles.utsouthwestern.edu/profile/83540/salman-bhai.html.

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) Research Approach

Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine  (IEEM) Research Approach