The Neuromuscular Team: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

photo of Michael H. Rivner, MD

Michael H. Rivner, MD

  • Charbonnier Professor Emeritus of Neurology
  • Director, ALS clinic, EMG lab and Neuromuscular program

706-721-2681

Dr. Rivner has over 30 years of experience treating patients with neuromuscular diseases.  He is board certified in Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology and Electrodiagnostic medicine.  He graduated Emory University Medical school in 1978 and did his Neurology residency and Neuromuscular fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia.  Dr Rivner joined the faculty of Augusta University in 1983.  He currently is a Charbonnier Professor Emeritus of Neurology.  He is the director of the ALS clinic, EMG lab and Neuromuscular program. 

photo of Ben Barnes, MD

Ben Barnes, MD

  • Assistant Professor

Dr. Barnes received his BA and MD degrees from the University of Kentucky and completed his residency training in Neurology at the same institution in 2019. He did a fellowship in Neuromuscular disease at Duke University and joined the Augusta University Faculty in July 2020. He is board certified in Neurology. His clinical interests include neuromuscular disease and EMG, and his primary research interest is in motor neuron disease.  He is the Associate Director of the ALS clinic at AU. 

Eric Vitriol, PhD

Dr. Vitriol received his B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and did his postdoctoral training at Emory University. He joined the Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at Augusta University in February 2021. Dr. Vitriol’s lab studies how the actin cytoskeleton contributes to cell motility, neural development, and in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His ALS research has been supported by funding from the National Institute of Health and the ALS Association. Ultimately, Dr. Vitriol’s goal is to identify and target the cellular mechanism that cause ALS.  

Diane Manghram, RN, ACNP, DNP

Dr. Manghram received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in from the Medical College of Georgia, BSN and MS from the University of South Florida. She has over 25 years of clinical acute, critical, medical-surgical, and neurology nursing with further interests in neuromuscular disease and neuromuscular research. Dr. Manghram joined the Neuromuscular section in 2016 as a Neuromuscular Nurse Practitioner in the Department of Neurology, Augusta University Medical Center.

Staff

Rebecca Fulmer, CNCT

Ms. Fulmer obtained her diploma for Medical Billing and Coding in 2004, she began working at Augusta University in 2007 for the billing department. She worked closely with the Neuromuscular clinic on schedules & insurance authorizations.  In 2009, she transitioned to the clinic, and began training as a Neurodiagnostic Technologist for the EMG Lab, in 2010 she obtained her CNCT through AANEM (American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine). She served on the Digital Media Education Committee with AANEM from 2014-2017, where she assisted in the production of digital educational materials in Neuromuscular continuing education.  In addition, she obtained her Associates degree as a Network Specialist Administrator in the fall of 2020. After 11 years in the EMG lab, she continues to play a vital role in the function of the Neuromuscular clinic. 

 

Loreen Ingram-Moore, CNCT

Ms. Ingram began her employment in the Neurology Dept., EMG Lab with Dr. Rivner in September 2001 as a receptionist/transcriptionist.  A short time later she was trained under the direct supervision of Dr. Rivner as a nerve conduction study technologist and became a registered technologist through the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologists in 2003.  She has been an employee of Augusta University for 19 years. 

Brandy Quarles, MPH

Mrs. Quarles graduated from Augusta State University in 2010 with her bachelor of science in biology and immediately assumed her role in the clinic as a research assistant. She gained much experience and became a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) in 2012.  She obtained her Master's in Public Health from the Augusta University Graduate School in 2019.  With over 10 years’ experience conducting clinical research and participation in over 40 trials, she currently holds the position of Research Operations Coordinator in the Neuromuscular clinic. 

Kristy Bouchard, BS, CCRC

Ms. Bouchard graduated from Augusta State University in 2003 with her bachelors of science in biology.  Soon after graduation, she began a role as research assistant in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department of Augusta University, where she conducted pre-clinical research in memory and cognition.  After 13 years of pre-clinical research, she joined the Neuromuscular clinic as a senior research assistant.  After 4 years and much learning about the world of clinical research, she became a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) in 2020.  She continues to apply her 17 cumulative years of research experience to all she does for the over 30 clinical trials she has participated in.