Lois Insolia ALS Clinic
At the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine, one of the first multidisciplinary ALS clinics in the country, you will receive care from a team with extensive experience in diagnosis and treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
During your visits, you and your loved ones will meet with several members of the ALS team, and each will discuss your treatment and answer any questions including assessment, care planning, education, clinical trials and other healthcare needs.
The clinic uses a multidisciplinary approach to patient care that provides high-quality care that is convenient for families. This means you will be able to meet with each member of your care team as needed at every single visit, minimizing the need for multiple doctor visits. People with ALS who participate in a multidisciplinary clinic generally report a high level of satisfaction with their care, stay healthier and have improved health care outcomes.
What we offer
- Chicagoland’s first and largest multidisciplinary ALS Clinic, with the highest number of neurologists and dedicated pulmonologists. Multidisciplinary care that brings together an experienced team of neuromuscular specialists in one clinic to provide comprehensive support for you and your family.
- Access to enrollment in clinical trials and dedicated clinical trial coordinators.
- Access to no-cost, coordinated support and expertise from ALS Support Services coordinators from the Les Turner ALS Foundation.
Make an appointment
To make an appointment at the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic, please call 312.695.7950. The clinical nurse coordinator will make your appointment and discuss the schedule of your visit.
Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at the Les Turner ALS Center
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Lavin Family Pavilion
259 E. Erie St., 19th floor
Chicago, IL 60611
How to schedule follow-up clinic visits and communicate with your Lois Insolia ALS Clinic team
- You will visit with your Lois Insolia ALS Clinic multidisciplinary team approximately every three months. After your initial visit, you may be scheduled for a six-week follow-up visit.
- To schedule follow-up visits, stop by the registration desk as you are leaving, or call 312.695.7950.
- Please let the clinic team know if you require interpreter services prior to your visit.
- Your MyNM | Northwestern Medicine patient portal is a convenient way to manage your appointments, access your records, and communicate with your Lois Insolia ALS Clinic team in between your visits.
- Feel free to share your list of questions with your team members via the portal prior to your visit.
Planning for your visit
- We encourage you to bring a dedicated family member or friend to your visit, but we kindly ask that you limit the number of people visiting with you to 1-2 people.
- You will be asked to arrive to clinic an hour before your visit. We understand that traffic can be unpredictable at times in Chicago, so if you are running late, please call 312.695.7950 so that the team can be prepared and adjust your schedule accordingly.
- Please feel free to bring snacks and beverages to your appointment. A food court is located on the second floor of the Lavin Pavilion and other dining options can be found throughout the Northwestern Medicine campus and in the surrounding area. Other shopping amenities including pharmacies and banking. A full list of services can be found on the Northwestern Medicine website.
Getting to the clinic
- There are multiple transportation options available to serve you. If you need assistance planning for transportation to your clinic visit, consider talking with your Les Turner Foundation ALS Support Services Coordinator for help.
- Northwestern Medicine has maps and directions to the Lavin Family Pavilion. You may also download and print this detailed area map.
- We recommend parking at 259 East Erie (lot B); 321 East Ontario Road (lots C&D) or 222 East Huron (lot A). Once inside the Lavin Family Pavilion, follow signs for elevators that will take you to the 19th floor.
- Bring your parking ticket to your clinic visit and present it to a Les Turner ALS Foundation representative or clinic nurse for a complimentary voucher. Please note whether you have parked in the A, B, C, or D lot so that you receive the correct voucher. Do not allow Northwestern staff outside of clinic to validate your ticket as you will not receive free parking.
Dr. Senda Ajroud-Driss discusses how the multidisciplinary team at Northwestern Medicine works hand-in-hand with the Foundation’s Support Services team to provide the highest quality of care to people and families living with ALS.
Senda Ajroud-Driss, MD – Director of the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at the Les Turner ALS Center, Les Turner ALS Foundation/Herbert C. Wenske Professor in Neurology
Jonathan R. Brent, MD, PhD – Instructor of Neurology
John Coleman III, MD – Assistant Professor in Medicine-Pulmonary and Neurology
Colin K. Franz, MD, PhD – Assistant Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurology
Robert Kalb, MD – Director of the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine, Chief of Neuromuscular Medicine, Professor in Neurology
Erik P. Pioro, MD, PhD – Vice Chair of Translational Neurology, Professor in Neurology
Robert L. Sufit, MD – Professor in Neurology
Lisa F. Wolfe, MD – Professor in Medicine – Pulmonary and Neurology
Share this Page
About the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic
The Lois Insolia ALS Clinic at the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital was established in 1986 as one of the first such multidisciplinary ALS clinics in the country and the very first in Chicago with funds from the James V. Insolia Family Foundation and the Les Turner ALS Foundation.
Shortly after losing his wife, Lois, to ALS, James Insolia and his family attended a Les Turner ALS Foundation support group, led by Anne Lidsky. James was so moved with a deep sense of empathy for other families living with ALS, he knew he needed to find a way to help those who were suffering. So in 1986, in partnership with the Les Turner ALS Foundation, he established the Lois Insolia ALS Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, one of the first multidisciplinary clinics in the country and the first in Chicago.
Today, the renamed Lois Insolia ALS Clinic is a part of the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and provides a comprehensive, patient-centered system of care that serves as a model for ALS treatment around the world.
After James’ passing, his son, Greg, and his sister, Gia, have continued this legacy of support through the James, V. Insolia Family Foundation. Additionally, Greg and his wife, Rosemary, have been longtime active supporters of the Foundation. Since 1986, the Insolia family has contributed well over a million dollars to continue the legacy of Lois and to provide the highest level of care for people with ALS.
“My father felt strongly that a multidisciplinary patient clinic for those living with ALS was critical in the Chicagoland area,” Greg Insolia said. “It’s an honor to have helped establish and provide that resource for over 30 years through the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine while carrying on the memory of my mother. Our family looks forward to continuing this partnership for years to come.”
