APPS News

For this week’s “Spotlight” interview, we talk to Susannah White, PA-C, the newest member of our epilepsy and sleep team. White talks to us about how a love of the brain (as well as a hatred of writing research papers) led her to become a physician assistant focusing on neurology. She also talks about the pleasures of being able to help individuals with sleep apnea, how advanced practice providers are an integral part of the team at Duke, and hiking, baking and working toward her pilot’s license when she’s not at Duke.

Cosette Burian, PA-C, MMS, was first acquainted with the devastating effects of neuromuscular diseases as a child, when she saw her father develop progressive fatigue and muscle atrophy that refused to respond to treatment. Now, as our first physician assistant in our neuromuscular division, she’s helping patients with similar and other conditions.

Faced with treating a seemingly untreatable condition--dementia and memory loss--Michelle Sanfilippo, PA-C looks to connect with the people behind the symptoms. For this week’s “Spotlight” interview, Sanfilippo talks about how not all dementias are the same, and how small changes can make a big difference in the lives of her patients and their families. She also shares what she’s learned from her patients and how her experience as a Stephen Minister complements her clinical work with her patients.