Jennifer Graves, MD, PhD

Jennifer Graves, MD, PhD, is a board-certified neurologist who treats adults and children. She partners with patients, families and the multiple sclerosis clinical team to provide comprehensive care for people of all ages. Specialty care tracks are offered for children and pregnant women with multiple sclerosis.

She has special training in demyelinating diseases, which are autoimmune disorders of the nervous system that include multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica, a central nervous system disorder that primarily affects the eye nerves and the spinal cord. She also has expertise in neuro-ophthalmic disorders, or visual disorders related to the nervous system.

An associate professor of in the Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Graves serves as director of the UC San Diego Neuro-immunology Research Program. Her current research focuses on genetic, environmental and sex-related risk factors driving clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis. She also studies how age affects patients' experience of multiple sclerosis.

Her research includes the development of next-generation digital tools to assess neurological patients, leveraging sensors developed in the computer control industry as well as novel applications in mobile technology. She is a collaborator in several national and international research efforts in multiple sclerosis and participates in multi-center clinical trials.

Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Graves was an assistant professor the Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology at UCSF.

Dr. Graves completed a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology and residency in neurology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She earned her medical degree and doctoral degree in molecular biophysics from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. She also holds a master's degree in epidemiology and biostatistics from UC San Francisco. She is board certified in neurology.

She is a member of many professional organizations, including the American Academy of Neurology, the United States Network of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Centers, and the American Neurological Association.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Neurological Care.