Jon Durrani, DO, Neurologist
“We are ordering [the GeneSight test] because we’re seeing such a positive effect for the patients.”

I believe that using data to treat the patient is one of the most paramount things.

My name is Dr. John Durrani. I am an attending neurologist at the Dayton Center for Neurologic Disorders as well as the Medical Director of Neurology at Clinton Memorial Hospital as well as the Medical Director of Neurology at Highland District Hospital.

We use MRIs to help diagnose multiple sclerosis. We use lumbar punctures to look at the CSF around the brain and the spinal cord. We use CT scans; we use angiograms. Having GeneSight to look at a patient’s DNA to see the exact backbone of how they are, how they respond to medication, is an invaluable tool.

I had first heard of the GeneSight test from a patient of mine, actually he had had it done on both himself but also his children as well and it made a huge difference in their lives. My philosophy in treating patients is looking at the entire patient. My questions always, whenever I see a disease process or something that is happening with the patient, I always want to know why, what is the reason behind why they are experiencing what they are experiencing.

And I think being able to look at the entire patient from both the neurologic standpoint but then also we look at the psychiatric standpoint and also then all the other body systems together we can see how the entire disease process is affecting them as a person.

And I think that really helps tailor their care to them because not only are we treating the neurologic issues if there is any other underlying issue that needed to be treated we can get them to the appropriate specialist or back to their family doctor, whatever the case may be, to ensure that the whole picture is taken care of.

I order the GeneSight test when I feel it’s medically appropriate for the patient. Now, generally speaking, there are many times where we order it because the patient is having side effects, we’re doing it in the work up to insure it’s not a medication effect causing what they are experiencing; we’re changing their therapy; we’re adding to their therapy.

So ordering this test allows us to provide precision tailored medicines for the patient which allows us then to reduce the risk of side effects and reduce the time that it takes to get the patient feeling better.

So more often than not we are ordering it because we have seen such a positive effect on the patient.