Andrew R. Pachner, MD

The Multiple Sclerosis Center here at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center subscribes to the "Comprehensive Care" model. This means that our team addresses the needs of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in a holistic way, attending to their unique medical, social, vocational and emotional needs, as well as the needs of their families.

One very important facet of Comprehensive Care is that it embraces a philosophy of empowerment: our patients are actively involved in all aspects of their treatment and act as a consultant to their care team. We work together to provide the best treatment, incorporating the cutting-edge research and education of the health care team with the personal needs and expertise of the patient.

My goal is to make multiple sclerosis as minimally intrusive as possible in my patients’ lives. This involves helping my patients with their current symptoms and concerns. It also means taking the long view to help them decrease the likelihood of future MS attacks, to treat MS disability, and to avoid adverse effects that can come with the long-term use of some MS drugs.

The most rewarding part of my work is knowing that I am helping MS patients by providing them with excellent care and by engaging in cutting-edge research.