Julie Parsons, MD

Professional Titles

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

Recognitions

• 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?"
• 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)
• 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

Publications

• Knupp K, Parsons J, Brooks-Kayal A; Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology, Fifth Edition, Philadelphia, Elsevier Saunders, 2012; chapter 42, Channelopathies; p 544-553.
• Wright MA, Yang ML, Parsons JA, Westfall JM, Yee AS. Consider musclar disease in children with elevated transaminase. J Am Board Fam Med 2012;25:536-540
• 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
• Kolb S, et. al., "Baseline Results of the NeuroNEXT Spinal Muscular Atrophy Infant Biomarker Study". Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
• 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
• "Neurologic Disorders" Chapter 26 in MERENSTEIN AND GARDNER’S HANDBOOK OF NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE, Eighth Edition by Sandra Gardner, RN, MS, CNS, PNP, Brian Carter, MD, FAAP, Mary Enzman-Hines, RN, PhD and Jacinto Hernandez, MD, FAAP, Elsevier, 2015.
• "Management of Children with Neuromuscular Disorders" Chapter 152 in Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology: Principles and Practice, 8th ed., Elsevier, 2015.
• 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
• Parsons J, Seay A, Jacobson M. Chapter 26, Neurologic Disorders in Merenstein and Gardner's Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care, 8th Edition, Editors Sandra L. Gardner, Brian S Carter, Mary Enzman Hines, Jacinto A Hernandez. Elsevier, St. Louis, MO 2016
• Parsons J, Warren B, Julapalli M, Prok L. Recurrent Necrotic Ulcerative Lesions in a Patient with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 1, 20th Annual International Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research Meeting, Anaheim, CA June 2016.
• Clinical Care Guidelines for Neuromuscular Patients. Children's Hospital Colorado, Clinical Improvement Team, Denver, May 2016. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6QNsfUxr01IOE52Sm1RTExLY1E
• Parsons j, Seay A, Jacobson M. Chapter 26, Neurologic Disorders in Merenstein and Gardner's Handbook of Neonatal Intensive Care, 8th Edition, Editors Sandra L. Gardner, Brian S Carter, Mary Enzman Hines, Jacinto A Hernandez. Elsevier, St. Louis, MO, 2016.
• Parsons J, Warren B, Julapalli M, Prok L. Recurrent Necrotic Ulcerative Lesions in a Patient with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 1, 20th Annual International Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research Meeting, Anaheim, June 2016.
• Parsons J, Dubow E. Survey of Current Treatment Practice for Enteral Management of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. MDA Scientific Conference, Washington, D.C., March 2017
• Parsons J, Watne L. Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency Related to the "Amino Acid Diet" In patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. American Academy of Neurology, Boston, April 2017.
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Gibbons M, Stratton A, Parsons J. Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the Therapeutic Era, Current Genetic Medicine Reports (1-6) 2019 July 19. DOI: 10.1007/s40142-019-00172-9
• Parsons J, Leonard S, Shetty A, Are We All On the Same Page? Caring for Patients Starting on Nusinersen. Cure SMA Research Meeting, Anaheim, CA June 28 2019.
• Nusinersen in Infants who Initiate Treatment in a Presymptomatic Stage of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA): Interim Results From the Phase 2 NURTURE Study, Cure SMA Research Meeting, Anaheim, CA June 30, 2019.
• Wright M and Parsons J, Dual therapy with nusinersen and AVXS-101 gene transfer in an infant with spinal muscular atrophy type 1, Cure SMA Research Meeting, Anaheim, CA, June 28, 2019.
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

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

• Colorado Fetal Care Center

Specialty Information

• Child Neurology, Board Certification (, 2016)

• Child and Teen Health
• Brain and Nervous System - Neuromuscular Diseases
• Brain and Nervous System
• Brain and Nervous System - Spine Diseases and Conditions