4/3/10

1st Pan-Florida Meeting of the FSN

On March 11, the Florida Society of Neurology held it's first quarterly Pan-Florida meeting. This event drew 57 participants throughout the state. Participants were linked throughout the state via the web at six different locations. (Tampa, Bonita Springs, Tallahassee, Jacksonville Beach, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale) The evening began with a presentation by Dr. Lara Katzin on the Management of CIDP. After a brief question and answer period, the meeting was then turned over to Dr. Hubert Fernandez, our current president, and Dr. Daniel Kantor, our president-elect. The rest of the meeting was devoted to updating participants on what the Florida Society of Neurology is up to and the current projects we are working on. To view the FSN business meeting slides, please click here. We would like to give a special thank you to Talecris Biotherapeutics for making this meeting possible.

Plans are now underway for a second Pan-Florida quarterly meeting to be held in June. Please watch the website for more information.

12/3/09

Twinning Project

The Florida Society of Neurology is collaborating with the Nigerian Society for Neurological Sciences in a Twinning Project to help improve neurological care and education in Nigeria. As part of this initiative, FSN is working with the World Neurology Foundation to supply 40 Neurologist’s Tool Kits to Nigerian neurologists in training. The Tool Kits include the equipment needed for the basic neurological examination: reflex hammers, small flashlights, stethoscopes, Snellen Charts, NIH Stroke Scales, and tuning forks. These have been exceptionally effective with enhancing the quality and delivery of care. The World Neurology Foundation has supporting testimonials on the website, as well as the opportunity to join the FSN in supporting this project. Please log on at www.worldneurology.org

3/4/09

Sacco to Lead AHA

The American Heart Association has named Ralph L. Sacco, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN, as president-elect for the 2009–2010 term. He will serve on the national Board of Directors for three years as President-Elect, President, and Immediate-Past President. He is the first neurologist to lead the AHA in its history.

Sacco is rotating off the Academy's Board of Directors in April after two two-year terms. He has served on numerous Academy committees and subcommittees, including the Governance and Environmental Scanning Subcommittees, and chaired the Clinical Research Subcommittee.

Now chairman of the department of neurology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Sacco was professor of neurology and epidemiology at the Neurological Institute of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, and the Sergievsky Center. He was associate chair of neurology for Clinical Research and Training and Director of the Stroke and Critical Care Division, and an attending neurologist at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

Sacco is a noted stroke expert who pioneered research studies of strokes in Hispanics and improving stroke care delivery to high-risk disadvantaged populations.

12/8/08

2008 was a successful year for the World Neurology Foundation

9/24/08

Important Information About New VA Policy for ALS

As you know from the great news we shared last night, the VA has officially published regulations establishing ALS as a service connected disease. As of today, September 23, all veterans with ALS automatically will be eligible for benefits - no matter when or where they served and no matter how soon after discharge they were diagnosed.

The ALS Association worked closely with the VA in announcing the new policy and we will continue to partner with the Department to identify veterans with ALS and ensure they receive the benefits they need and have earned. Additional information on the benefits available as well as how to obtain benefits can be found below. To read today's press release from the Veterans Administration click here. Click here to read The ALS Association's press release.

Thank You
We again would like to thank all veterans for their efforts to advocate for this vital benefit. In particular, we would like to recognize three veterans with ALS whose outreach to Congress and the VA played critical roles in this victory: Jeff Faull, from our Greater Philadelphia Chapter, Tom Mikolajcik (USAF) Ret. who helped found our South Carolina Chapter and Jim Thew, from the Greater Chicago Chapter. Jeff, Tom and Jim deserve our thanks for their tireless efforts to make this benefit a reality. Click here to read more about these great advocates.

Additional Information Available