Program Notes
Successful Start for MSAA Health Fairs
"The small group format was the best conference I have ever attended. The patient individual focus was unique in my 15 years experience in MS workshops."
"This was also a great help to me in explaining things to my husband. I rarely speak of MS, not wanting to admit anything is wrong, or that I can't do as much as I once could. It was very helpful for him to hear from other MS patients."
"Thank you so much for remembering small town America."
These are just some of the comments we have received following the first two of 10 scheduled MSAA National Health Fairs. Funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Serono, Inc./Pfizer, Inc., MSAA National Health Fairs are full-day seminars which join a small group of 20 to 25 clients and their care partners with nationally recognized healthcare professionals and resource specialists. The purpose of these seminars is to share information and develop individual strategies for the successful management of MS.
MSAA launched the first Health Fair on Saturday, March 6th in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The event featured MS experts Dr. James Simsarian and Carol Saunders, BSN, MSCN, both from the Neurology Center of Fairfax, Virginia; and physical therapist
Valerie Gibson of Advanced Physical Therapy. MSAA President and CEO Doug Franklin was on hand to kick-off the program and to provide an overview of the organization's programs and services, as well as the goals of this new initiative.
The second Health Fair was held on Saturday, March 27th in Ocala, Florida. Presenters included Dr. Ben Thrower, medical director of the MS Center at Shepard in Atlanta, Georgia; Constance Easterling, RN, MSCN of the Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida; and physical therapist Patricia Ann Bobryk of Orlando Regional HealthCare, Sand Lake Hospital.
The goals of the Health Fairs are to educate and empower clients to overcome the ever-changing challenges of MS. The program uses an Action Plan as its tool for success. In the program packet, clients are given an Action Plan, which asks them to identify their main areas of concern regarding the successful management of MS. They are instructed to bring their Action Plan as they go through the day and meet with the panel of experts. Clients then develop strategies on how to solve their issues based on the information exchanged in the breakout sessions. MSAA copies each client's Action Plan and provides ongoing follow-up support to help ensure these goals are met.
Adding to the uniqueness of this program are the selected locations of the Fairs. Where possible, MSAA has selected smaller cities in less urban settings to host the Fairs. This helps to reach clients in potentially underserved populations who may not have the opportunity to meet with top MS experts in the country. By June 2004 two more Health Fairs will have been held. Please see schedule below for upcoming Fairs. Seating is limited; to reserve your space, please call Anne Negrin, MSAA's health fair coordinator, at (800) 532-7667, ext. 105.
