Giants of MS Honoree Jenelle Montgomery on Building a Pharmacist’s Role in MS Care—One Patient at a Time

When Jenelle Hall Montgomery, PharmD, BCACP, CPP, walked into her first multiple sclerosis (MS) clinic a decade ago, she knew little about the disease. Today, she’s a clinical pharmacist practitioner at Duke Neurological Disorders Clinic and a newly named Giant of MS—one of the field’s most prestigious honors, awarded at the 2026 Consortium for MS Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting.

In this conversation, Montgomery reflects on how a background in neuroscience and a passion for patient education led her to carve out an indispensable role on the MS care team and why she believes pharmacists are the critical bridge between a daunting diagnosis and a patient’s first step toward treatment.

Pharmacy Times: Can you introduce yourself, your institution, and anything else?

Jenelle Montgomery, PharmD, BCACP, CPP: My name is Jenelle Hall Montgomery. I'm a clinical pharmacist practitioner with Duke Neurological Disorders Clinic at Duke University Hospital.

Pharmacy Times: Last weekend at the Consortium for Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) 2026 Annual Meeting, you were recognized as one of the Giants of MS. So, what does that mean to you and what was going through your mind when you found that out?

Montgomery: It was truly an honor to receive this award. When I first learned that I was the recipient for the pharmacy award, I found myself reflecting on how far I’ve come since I first began working in an MS clinic about ten years ago. At that time, I was new to the disease state and simultaneously working to establish my role as the first clinical pharmacist on the MS team. I essentially started from the ground up.

Over the years, I’ve not only been able to build and define my role within the clinic, but also to share best practices, such as what has worked well and what has been challenging, with other pharmacists who are new to this space. Receiving this recognition was especially meaningful because it represents that journey. In addition, I have had the opportunity to serve as the co-chair ofCMSC’s pharmacist special interest group, PharMS, which has allowed other clinical pharmacists to share their experiences. Having that work acknowledged is truly a great honor.

Pharmacy Times: How did you find your way into MS care specifically and what drew you to that?

Montgomery: During my undergraduate studies at Emory University, I majored in neuroscience and behavioral biology, so I’ve always had a strong interest in neuroscience. That interest continued to develop during pharmacy school at the University of North Carolina, where I completed rotations in both inpatient and outpatient neurology settings. Over time, I found myself consistently drawn to this area of practice. So when the opportunity arose during my residency program to join the neurology clinic at Duke it felt like the perfect fit.

What I value most about this role is the combination of directly helping patients while also being able to apply and share my expertise in pharmacotherapy. It brings together my long-standing passion for neuroscience with my commitment to improving patient care through pharmacy practice.

Pharmacy Times: What does your day-to-day role look like in the clinic and how has that evolved over your career?

Montgomery: Day to day, I spend most of my time in clinic seeing patients. Several days a week, I’m in one clinic where I complete in person or telehealth visits with multiple sclerosis and epilepsy patients. I also work in a separate clinic supporting our movement disorders team, where I see patients with Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary care model.

For patients with multiple sclerosis, the provider will first discuss disease-modifying therapy (DMT) options with the patient and then refer them to me for a more in-depth conversation. During my visit, I help guide patients through a shared decision-making process by reviewing how each medication works, potential side effects or warnings, administration considerations, and any relevant drug interactions. We also discuss treatment strategies, such as starting with a high-efficacy approach versus starting with low- or moderate-efficacy therapies, with the goal of helping patients achieve the best possible outcomes. One of the nice things about having a clinical pharmacist as a part of the care team is I can help the patient navigate next steps to make the process of getting the medication in hand as smooth as possible.

In addition to DMT selection, I also manage symptom-based therapies. For these medications, I follow a similar process, evaluating efficacy, tolerability, and dosing, while determining whether adjustments are needed to optimize the patient’s regimen. The most significant change I’ve seen over the course of my career has been the growing recognition of the value that clinical pharmacists bring to patient care in outpatient neurology clinics.

Pharmacy Times: When you think about all the patients you've worked with over the years, what keeps you motivated to push for better care and better practice models?

Montgomery: I believe pharmacists are a critical part of the care team. We serve as an important bridge between the provider visit and the initiation of therapy. For many patients, starting disease-modifying treatment can feel overwhelming, and in some cases, even intimidating. We help ease that transition by answering questions, addressing concerns, and providing clarity during what can be a complex decision-making process.

Patients often come in with information they’ve found online, and one of our key roles is helping them navigate that such as clarifying what is accurate, correcting misconceptions, and putting that information into context. By doing so, we help patients feel more informed and more comfortable moving forward with their MS treatment.

In addition, we play a vital role in ensuring patients are able to access their medications, minimizing barriers and delays along the way. Overall, our role centers on both supporting patient understanding and facilitating access to therapy, which are both essential to achieving successful outcomes in MS. It’s truly inspiring to see how pharmacists across the country are contributing to MS patient care. There is a strong sense of collaboration within the field, and we are continually learning from one another to enhance and advance our own practices.