Swathy Chandrashekhar, MD

Dr. Swathy Chandrashekhar is a neurologist who provides comprehensive, compassionate care for patients with complex neuromuscular disorders. She is particularly interested in myositis (conditions in which the immune system attacks the muscles); autoimmune neuropathies (conditions in which the immune system attacks the nerves), such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); myasthenic syndromes (conditions in which muscles become weak and easily fatigued), such as myasthenia gravis; and genetic diseases, such as muscular dystrophies (in which there is progressive loss of muscle mass) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a condition that damages peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness). She performs electromyography and nerve conduction studies to diagnose nerve and muscle disorders, and she has advanced training in conducting and analyzing muscle biopsies.

Chandrashekhar has published and presented research on ALS as well as on genetic and immune-related neuropathy. She has been an investigator on clinical trials to evaluate promising treatments for various neuromuscular disorders. She also has a keen interest in medical education and is passionate about training the next generation of neurologists and neuromuscular specialists. She received several awards for teaching excellence during her training. Before joining UCSF, she served as associate fellowship director for the University of Kansas.

Chandrashekhar earned her medical degree at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. She completed a residency in neurology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and a fellowship in neuromuscular medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center.