Julie Parsons, MD
Professor of Clinical Practice, Pediatrics-Neurology

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Medical School:
  • MD, University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center (1989)
Graduate School :
  • MS, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (1979)
Undergraduate School:
  • BA, Stanford University (CA) (1975)
Residencies:
  • University of Colorado, Neurology (1994)
  • University of Colorado, Pediatrics (1991)
Fellowships:
  • University of Colorado (University Hospital) Program, Neuromuscular Medicine (1995)
Languages: English
Department: Pediatrics-Neurology

Professional Titles

  • Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Neurology
  • Haberfeld Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Co-Director, Neuromuscular Clinic

Recognition & Awards

  • Four Star Excellence Award, Professional Research Consultants (2018)
  • Career Teaching Scholars Award, Department of Pediatrics (2017)
    Awarded by the Department of Pediatrics for outstanding contributions in pediatric education throughout a career
  • Strength in Healthcare Nominee, Denver Post Newspaper (2014)
  • Five Star Excellence Award, Professional Research Consultants (2013)
    Scoring in the top 10% nationally for "Excellent" responses in overall quality of Doctor Care
  • Show of Strength Award, Muscular Dystrophy Association (2013)
  • Top Doctor in Denver, 5280 Magazine 2000-2004, 2008-2021 (2000)
    Voted a 5280 best doctor by my peers in response to the question, "Which physician would you trust to treat you and your family?"

Publications

  • Crawford TO, Swoboda KJ, De Vivo DC, Bertini E, Hwu WL, Finkel RS, Kirschner J, Kuntz NL, Nazario AN, Parsons JA, Pechmann A, Ryan MM, Butterfield RJ, Topaloglu H, Ben-Omran T, Sansone VA, Jong YJ, Shu F, Zhu C, Raynaud S, Lago TR, Paradis AD, Foster R, Chin R, Berger Z. Continued benefit of nusinersen initiated in the presymptomatic stage of spinal muscular atrophy: 5-year update of the NURTURE study. Muscle Nerve. 2023 Aug;68(2):157-170. PubMed PMID: 37409780
  • Strauss KA, Farrar MA, Muntoni F, Saito K, Mendell JR, Servais L, McMillan HJ, Finkel RS, Swoboda KJ, Kwon JM, Zaidman CM, Chiriboga CA, Iannaccone ST, Krueger JM, Parsons JA, Shieh PB, Kavanagh S, Wigderson M, Tauscher-Wisniewski S, McGill BE, Macek TA. Onasemnogene abeparvovec for presymptomatic infants with three copies of SMN2 at risk for spinal muscular atrophy: the Phase III SPR1NT trial. Nat Med. 2022 Jul;28(7):1390-1397. PubMed PMID: 35715567
  • Strauss KA, Farrar MA, Muntoni F, Saito K, Mendell JR, Servais L, McMillan HJ, Finkel RS, Swoboda KJ, Kwon JM, Zaidman CM, Chiriboga CA, Iannaccone ST, Krueger JM, Parsons JA, Shieh PB, Kavanagh S, Tauscher-Wisniewski S, McGill BE, Macek TA. Onasemnogene abeparvovec for presymptomatic infants with two copies of SMN2 at risk for spinal muscular atrophy type 1: the Phase III SPR1NT trial. Nat Med. 2022 Jul;28(7):1381-1389. PubMed PMID: 35715566
  • Strauss KA, Farrar MA, Muntoni F, Saito K, Mendell JR, Servais L, McMillan HJ, Finkel RS, Swoboda KJ, Kwon JM, Zaidman CM, Chiriboga CA, Iannaccone ST, Krueger JM, Parsons JA, Shieh PB, Kavanagh S, Wigderson M, Tauscher-Wisniewski S, McGill BE, Macek TA. Onasemnogene abeparvovec for presymptomatic infants with three copies of SMN2 at risk for spinal muscular atrophy: the Phase III SPR1NT trial. Nat Med. 2022 Jul;28(7):1390-1397. PubMed PMID: 35715567
  • Seeberger L, Corey-Bloom J, O'Brien M, Slowiejko D, Schlang D, Booth MS, Ann Griffin B, Chen PG. Assessing the state of care for Huntington disease in the United States: Results from a survey of practices treating Huntington disease patients. Clin Park Relat Disord. 2022;7:100165. PubMed PMID: 36262527
  • Strauss KA, Farrar MA, Muntoni F, Saito K, Mendell JR, Servais L, McMillan HJ, Finkel RS, Swoboda KJ, Kwon JM, Zaidman CM, Chiriboga CA, Iannaccone ST, Krueger JM, Parsons JA, Shieh PB, Kavanagh S, Tauscher-Wisniewski S, McGill BE, Macek TA. Onasemnogene abeparvovec for presymptomatic infants with two copies of SMN2 at risk for spinal muscular atrophy type 1: the Phase III SPR1NT trial. Nat Med. 2022 Jul;28(7):1381-1389. PubMed PMID: 35715566
  • Shieh PB, Elfring G, Trifillis P, Santos C, Peltz SW, Parsons JA, Apkon S, Darras BT, Campbell C, McDonald CM. Meta-analyses of deflazacort versus prednisone/prednisolone in patients with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy. J Comp Eff Res. 2021 Oct 25. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34693725
  • Marden JR, Santos C, Pfister B, Able R, Lane H, Somma M, Zhao J, Signorovitch J, Parsons J, Apkon S. Steroid switching in dystrophinopathy treatment: a US chart review of patient characteristics and clinical outcomes. J Comp Eff Res. 2021 Oct;10(14):1065-1078. PubMed PMID: 34275333
  • Shieh PB, Elfring G, Trifillis P, Santos C, Peltz SW, Parsons JA, Apkon S, Darras BT, Campbell C, McDonald CM. Meta-analyses of deflazacort versus prednisone/prednisolone in patients with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy. J Comp Eff Res. 2021 Dec;10(18):1337-1347. PubMed PMID: 34693725
  • Marden JR, Santos C, Pfister B, Able R, Lane H, Somma M, Zhao J, Signorovitch J, Parsons J, Apkon S. Steroid switching in dystrophinopathy treatment: a US chart review of patient characteristics and clinical outcomes. J Comp Eff Res. 2021 Oct;10(14):1065-1078. PubMed PMID: 34275333
  • Stratton AT, Roberts Iii RO, Kupfer O, Carry T, Parsons J, Apkon S. Pediatric neuromuscular disorders: Care considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Pediatr Rehabil Med. 2020 Oct 30. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33185615
  • Rivera SR, Jhamb SK, Abdel-Hamid HZ, Acsadi G, Brandsema J, Ciafaloni E, Darras BT, Iannaccone ST, Konersman CG, Kuntz NL, McDonald CM, Parsons JA, Tesi Rocha C, Zaidman CM, Butterfield RJ, Connolly AM, Mathews KD. Medical management of muscle weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0240687. PubMed PMID: 33075081
  • Feldman AG, Parsons JA, Dutmer CM, Veerapandiyan A, Hafberg E, Maloney N, Mack CL. Subacute Liver Failure Following Gene Replacement Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1. J Pediatr. 2020 Oct;225:252-258.e1. PubMed PMID: 32473148
  • Veerapandiyan A, Connolly AM, Finkel RS, Arya K, Mathews KD, Smith EC, Castro D, Butterfield RJ, Parsons JA, Servais L, Kuntz N, Rao VK, Brandsema JF, Mercuri E, Ciafaloni E. Spinal muscular atrophy care in the COVID-19 pandemic era. Muscle Nerve. 2020 Jul;62(1):46-49. PubMed PMID: 32329921
  • Veerapandiyan A, Wagner KR, Apkon S, McDonald CM, Mathews KD, Parsons JA, Wong BL, Eichinger K, Shieh PB, Butterfield RJ, Rao VK, Smith EC, Proud CM, Connolly AM, Ciafaloni E. The care of patients with Duchenne, Becker, and other muscular dystrophies in the COVID-19 pandemic. Muscle Nerve. 2020 Jul;62(1):41-45. PubMed PMID: 32329920
  • Mercuri E, Lucibello S, Perulli M, Coratti G, de Sanctis R, Pera MC, Pane M, Montes J, de Vivo DC, Darras BT, Kolb SJ, Finkel RS. Longitudinal natural history of type I spinal muscular atrophy: a critical review. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2020 Apr 5;15(1):84. PubMed PMID: 32248834
  • De Vivo DC, Bertini E, Swoboda KJ, Hwu WL, Crawford TO, Finkel RS, Kirschner J, Kuntz NL, Parsons JA, Ryan MM, Butterfield RJ, Topaloglu H, Ben-Omran T, Sansone VA, Jong YJ, Shu F, Staropoli JF, Kerr D, Sandrock AW, Stebbins C, Petrillo M, Braley G, Johnson K, Foster R, Gheuens S, Bhan I, Reyna SP, Fradette S, Farwell W. Nusinersen initiated in infants during the presymptomatic stage of spinal muscular atrophy: Interim efficacy and safety results from the Phase 2 NURTURE study. Neuromuscul Disord. 2019 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31704158
  • Coratti G, Brogna C, Norcia G, Ricotti V, Abbott L, D'Amico A, Berardinelli A, Vita GL, Lucibello S, Messina S, Sansone V, Albamonte E, Colia G, Salmin F, Gardani A, Manzur A, Main M, Baranello G, Arnoldi MT, Parsons J, Carry T, Connolly AM, Bertini E, Muntoni F, Pane M, Mercuri E. Longitudinal natural history in young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord. 2019 Sep 26. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31629611
  • Bielsky AR, Fuhr PG, Parsons JA, Yaster M. A retrospective cohort study of children with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 receiving anesthesia for intrathecal administration of nusinersen. Paediatr Anaesth. 2018 Oct 4. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30284761
  • Bartlett A, Kolb SJ, Kingsley A, Swoboda KJ, Reyna SP, Sakonju A, Darras BT, Shell R, Kuntz N, Castro D, Iannaccone ST, Parsons J, Connolly AM, Chiriboga CA, McDonald C, Burnette WB, Werner K, Thangarajh M, Shieh PB, Finanger E, Coffey CS, Yankey JW, Cudkowicz ME, McGovern MM, McNeil DE, Arnold WD, Kissel JT. Recruitment & retention program for the NeuroNEXT SMA Biomarker Study: Super Babies for SMA!. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2018 Sep;11:113-119. PubMed PMID: 30094386
  • Finkel RS, Mercuri E, Darras BT, Connolly AM, Kuntz NL, Kirschner J, Chiriboga CA, Saito K, Servais L, Tizzano E, Topaloglu H, Tulinius M, Montes J, Glanzman AM, Bishop K, Zhong ZJ, Gheuens S, Bennett CF, Schneider E, Farwell W, De Vivo DC. Nusinersen versus Sham Control in Infantile-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 2;377(18):1723-1732. PubMed PMID: 29091570
  • McDonald CM, Campbell C, Torricelli RE, Finkel RS, Flanigan KM, Goemans N, Heydemann P, Kaminska A, Kirschner J, Muntoni F, Osorio AN, Schara U, Sejersen T, Shieh PB, Sweeney HL, Topaloglu H, Tulinius M, Vilchez JJ, Voit T, Wong B, Elfring G, Kroger H, Luo X, McIntosh J, Ong T, Riebling P, Souza M, Spiegel RJ, Peltz SW, Mercuri E. Ataluren in patients with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy (ACT DMD): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2017 Sep 23;390(10101):1489-1498. PubMed PMID: 28728956
  • Kolb SJ, Coffey CS, Yankey JW, Krosschell K, Arnold WD, Rutkove SB, Swoboda KJ, Reyna SP, Sakonju A, Darras BT, Shell R, Kuntz N, Castro D, Parsons J, Connolly AM, Chiriboga CA, McDonald C, Burnette WB, Werner K, Thangarajh M, Shieh PB, Finanger E, Cudkowicz ME, McGovern MM, McNeil DE, Finkel R, Iannaccone ST, Kaye E, Kingsley A, Renusch SR, McGovern VL, Wang X, Zaworski PG, Prior TW, Burghes AHM, Bartlett A, Kissel JT. Natural History of Infantile-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Ann Neurol. 2017 Nov 17. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29149772
  • Kolb SJ, Coffey CS, Yankey JW, Krosschell K, Arnold WD, Rutkove SB, Swoboda KJ, Reyna SP, Sakonju A, Darras BT, Shell R, Kuntz N, Castro D, Iannaccone ST, Parsons J, Connolly AM, Chiriboga CA, McDonald C, Burnette WB, Werner K, Thangarajh M, Shieh PB, Finanger E, Cudkowicz ME, McGovern MM, McNeil DE, Finkel R, Kaye E, Kingsley A, Renusch SR, McGovern VL, Wang X, Zaworski PG, Prior TW, Burghes AH, Bartlett A, Kissel JT. Baseline results of the NeuroNEXT spinal muscular atrophy infant biomarker study. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2016 Jan 21;3(2):132-45. PubMed PMID: 26900585
  • Zaidman CM, Wang LL, Connolly AM, Florence J, Wong BL, Parsons JA, Apkon S, Goyal N, Williams E, Escolar D, Rutkove SB, Bohorquez JL. Electrical impedance myography in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and healthy controls: A multicenter study of reliability and validity. Muscle Nerve. 2015 Oct;52(4):592-7. PubMed PMID: 25702806
  • Bushby K, Finkel R, Wong B, Barohn R, Campbell C, Comi GP, Connolly AM, Day JW, Flanigan KM, Goemans N, Jones KJ, Mercuri E, Quinlivan R, Renfroe JB, Russman B, Ryan MM, Tulinius M, Voit T, Moore SA, Lee Sweeney H, Abresch RT, Coleman KL, Eagle M, Florence J, Gappmaier E, Glanzman AM, Henricson E, Barth J, Elfring GL, Reha A, Spiegel RJ, O'donnell MW, Peltz SW, Mcdonald CM, PTC124-GD-007-DMD STUDY GROUP. Ataluren treatment of patients with nonsense mutation dystrophinopathy. Muscle Nerve. 2014 Oct;50(4):477-87. PubMed PMID: 25042182
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Professional Memberships

  • Child Neurology Society, member
  • World Muscle Society, member
  • American Academy of Neurology, member
  • Professors of Child Neurology, member

Practice Locations

Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
13123 East 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-777-1234

Hospital Affiliation
  • Children's Hospital Colorado
Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Child Neurology, Board Certification (, 2016)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Child and Teen Health
  • Brain and Nervous System - Neuromuscular Diseases
  • Brain and Nervous System
  • Brain and Nervous System - Spine Diseases and Conditions
Clinical Interests
Neuromuscular disease (Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Myotonic dystrophy, etc.)

Public Speaking
Yes

General Information

Medical Schools:
  • MD, University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center (1989)
Graduate Schools:
  • MS, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (1979)
Undergraduate Schools:
  • BA, Stanford University (CA) (1975)
Residency Programs:
  • University of Colorado, Neurology (1994)
  • University of Colorado, Pediatrics (1991)
Fellowships:
  • University of Colorado (University Hospital) Program, Neuromuscular Medicine (1995)
Languages: English
Department: Pediatrics-Neurology
Contact Us
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place
Campus Box C290
Aurora, CO 80045

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