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September 2026 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: HANNAH KOPINSKY, MD, SHARES HER PATH TO MS CAREHannah Kopinsky, MD, joins Northwestern Medicine as a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology. She completed her neurology residency at New York University and a fellowship in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis (MS) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. In this Q&A, she reflects on her path to MS care, what brought her back to Northwestern Medicine and how she helps patients navigate an evolving treatment landscape.
What inspired you to pursue multiple sclerosis as your subspecialty? Throughout medical school, I was fascinated by conditions that sit at the intersection of neurology and the immune system. That interest continued during residency, where I discovered how rewarding it is to care for patients with MS and related disorders. The field offers the opportunity to build lifelong relationships with patients and help guide them through some of the most challenging and uncertain moments in their lives. After completing your fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, what made you want to stay and transition into a faculty role? Northwestern Medicine has been an incredible place to train, learn and grow as a physician. The opportunity to continue working alongside outstanding colleagues while caring for patients and contributing to the advancement of neuroimmunology made joining the faculty a natural next step. What do you find most fulfilling about your work? One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is the combination of lifelong learning and patient care. I enjoy staying current on the science behind disease mechanisms and emerging research, but what I value most is getting to know my patients and building meaningful relationships over time, especially when I have the opportunity to care for them across multiple visits. What are you currently focused on in your practice? I'm focused on helping patients understand how the latest clinical trial findings, diagnostic advances and treatment strategies apply to their individual situations. As MS care continues to evolve — including earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment sequencing — translating new evidence into thoughtful, individualized discussions is an important part of helping patients make informed decisions about their care. What's one thing you wish more patients understood about living with MS? MS is highly individualized. Each person's symptoms, disease course and response to treatment can be different. Because of that, it's important not to compare your experience with someone else's and not to become discouraged if a treatment doesn't deliver results immediately. Finding the right approach often takes time, and care should be tailored to each patient. As you begin your faculty career, what are you most excited about? I'm excited to continue caring for patients with MS and related disorders while contributing to research and education in the field. Most of all, I look forward to building long-term relationships with patients and helping advance care for people living with these conditions. |
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