FALL 2016 | National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter

Jim TurkLeading by Serving

MS Connection | 2 The National MS Society is committed to creating a world free of MS.

For more than 30 years I have had the privilege of serving the mission of the National MS Society. During this time, we have come a long way.

• The Society has dedicated more than $900 million to MS research.

• We have built a critical platform of knowledge to serve as a springboard for progress. That’s evidenced in the 16 therapies now available for MS and the hundreds in the pipeline – more today than at any other time in history.

• MS is more quickly diagnosed today, enabling early and sustained therapy to slow disease activity.

• Scientists are making breakthroughs in identifying risk factors that can increase a person’s susceptibility to MS, which will help lead to ways to prevent the disease.

And while all of these breakthroughs and research milestones are incredible and life changing in and of themselves; what continues to inspire me for all these many years are the people diagnosed with MS and their loved ones, who everyday meet the challenges of this disease with courage, humor and hope.

People with MS are the center of everything we do at the National MS Society because you are the heart and soul that drives this movement forward. None of our progress in research or in helping people with MS live their best lives could have happened without your passion and commitment. Because of you and the dedication of your family and friends, the Society continues to be the worldwide leader in MS research, state and federal MS advocacy, education and access to quality MS health care. Because you ride a bike, walk in an MS Walk, volunteer on a committee, host a backyard bar-b-que, or write a check at the end of the year; people with MS around the world have hope.

I can never thank you enough for all that you have done and continue to do to create our shared vision of a world free of MS. I can only simply say thank you. It truly is a privilege to serve you.

With gratitude,

Colleen G. KaltPresident & CEO

You Inspire MeMeeting the challenge of MS with courage, humor and hope

In this circa 1980s photo, Colleen Kalt, far right, visits with Bike MS volunteer Pearl Capello. At this year’s TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour event, Capello was honored for 30 years of volunteer service.

Nearly 2,000 cyclists and volunteers came together August 6-7, 2016 for the 33rd Annual Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour. The goal? To experience the best cycling event

while raising $1.5 million to support research and services for those living with multiple sclerosis. More than $27 million has been raised throughout the Tour’s history.

You can help the Society reach this year’s $1.5 million goal by making a donation online at bestdambiketour.org or by calling 262-369-4400.

To register for next year’s Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour, August 4-5, 2017, visit bestdambiketour.org or call (262) 369-4400 for details. Registration is only $35 before January 31, 2017 and first-time riders get to sign up for free.

Beautiful Weather Helps Make This Year’s Tour the Best33rd Annual Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour attracts 2,000

MS Connection | 3

OFFMY WAVE.

Together We Are StrongerTogether We Are Stronger

Ocean Beach native and local surf legend Steve Bettis was

diagnosed with MS in 2006. Although surf ing is still central

to his life, he hasn’t been able to get out on the water in 10

years. For a man whose daily routine always included a few

waves, more than a decade out of the surf is just too long.

This is why the National MS Society teamed up with his buddy

Rober t “Wingnut” Weaver and used vir tual reality to get Steve

back on his wave. See their experience and f ind out how you

can share yours at WeAreStrongerThanMS.org .

Wisconsin MS Clinics Quality MS care is offered at clinics throughout Wisconsin. Several locations offer more comprehensive services specific to MS including neurology, rehabilitation and mental health. These facilities have also met guidelines established by the National MS Society and receive designation as a Center for Comprehensive Care.

PARTNERS IN MS CAREMilwaukee: Aurora Advanced Healthcare 414-247-4671

Marinette: Aurora Marinette Menominee Clinic 715-735-7421

Neenah: Neuroscience Group 920-725-9373

MS CLINICSMilwaukee: Wheaton Franciscan Center for Neurological Disorders 414-769-4040

The Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin 414-805-3666

Summit: Aurora Wilkinson Medical Clinic 262-434-5000

CENTERS FOR COMPREHENSIVE MS CAREGreen Bay: Aurora Medical Group MS Clinic 920-288-8020

La Crosse: Gundersen Health System MS Center 608-775-9000

Madison: Dean St. Mary’s MS Clinic 608-260-3425

UW Hospital and Clinics MS Clinic 608-262-0546

Marshfield: Marshfield MS Clinic 715-387-5350

Waukesha: ProHealth Care MS Clinic 262-928-8668

W ith the addition of Staley A. Brod, MD, professor of neurology and

chief of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis/Neuroimmunology, to the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network; the facility’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Program is expanding its ability to provide comprehensive care to patients with MS.

The Program’s multidisciplinary team, located within the Neurosciences Center at the Froedtert & MCW in Milwaukee, includes Dr. Brod, neurologist; Julie Bobholz, PhD and Sara J. Swanson, PhD, neuropsychologists; and Michelle Wesline, MS Program coordinator, along with physical, occupational and speech therapists and an MS-certified nurse practitioner. Together, they will also draw on the expertise of specialists from the Froedtert & MCW health network, including urologists, ophthalmologists, neuro-ophthalmologists and neuroradiologists, to address each patient’s needs.

Currently, the team is working to become a National MS Society Partner in Care, a program that recognizes and supports quality MS care in the areas of neurology, rehabilitation and mental health while also being a Society-recognized Center for Comprehensive MS Care that offers a multidisciplinary model of care to address the many complexities of MS.

“I’m just one cog in this wheel of comprehensive care,” Dr. Brod explained. He joined the Froedtert & MCW health network in January, moving from Texas and then Boston after

retiring from a 35-year career in internal medicine and neurology.

“There is very good support by being connected to the Froedtert & MCW health network. The physical medicine and rehabilitation providers at

Froedtert Hospital work with spasticity. There are urologists interested in MS, and that’s unusual. Our team works with providers at the Froedtert & MCW Eye Institute. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can be easily interjected. Patients will have options.”

The Froedtert & the Medical College of WisconsinDr. Staley Brod leads multidisciplinary team at facility’s MS Clinic

The Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin’s MS Clinic Staff includes: Front row (left to right): Samantha Simpson, Administrative Assistant- Neurosciences; Terry Walton, Occupational Therapist; Middle row (left to right): Amy Monday, Speech Therapist; Dr. Staley Brod, Medical Director- MS Program; Dr. Julie Bobholz, Neuropsychologist; Barb Zembles, Manager- Neurosciences clinic; Back row (left to right): Cindy Sunstrom, Clinic RN; Laurie Dulitz, Speech Therapist; Anne Jurenec, Executive Director Neuroscience and Spine Service Lines; Michelle Wesline, RN- MS Program Coordinator

“ Patients want somebody who is an expert in the field, and a facility that provides the services they need.” – Dr. Staley Brod

MS Connection | 5

MS Connection | 6

Additionally, there are research trials and investigations that patients will have the opportunity to enroll in. Dr. Brod is particularly interested in the potential for scientific interactions with other Froedtert & MCW researchers and technology available at Froedtert Hospital, particularly with the facility’s 7-Tesla MRI. It provides a higher magnetic field strength in an MRI than the more common 3-Tesla machines. The results, accoding to Dr. Brod, provide a higher resolution of gray matter lesions in MS, which could spawn studies on cognition and anatomical issues on the brain, as well as how the lesions may correlate to psychological issues sometimes associated with MS, or to possible changes in blood and spinal fluids relevant to remylination.

Similarly, Dr. Brod is looking forward to conducting immunology research in the lab of MS researcher Bonnie Dittel, PhD, senior investigator at the nearby Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin. (For more about Dr. Dittel, see page 2.)

Still, the main focus will be on comprehensive patient care.

“Patients want somebody who is an expert in the field, and a facility that provides the services they need,” Dr. Brod explained. “It’s a confidence issue really, and with the breadth of this facility and our expertise, we cover all these services. Combined with the reputation of the Froedtert & MCW health network, that’s comforting.”

Learn more about the Multiple Sclerosis Program at froedtert.com/neuroscience/multiple-sclerosis. n

Continued from Page 5

Wisconsin’s Calendar of Upcoming Events

BIKE MS: TOYOTA BEST DAM BIKE TOUR

August 5-6, 2017

10TH ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE WALK MSSeptember 22-24, 2017

Door County2016

MS SNOWMOBILE TOURJanuary 26-28, 2017

2017

April, May,September

2017

MS CONNECTION IS A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY-WISCONSIN CHAPTER.

National MS Society-Wisconsin Chapter1120 James Dr., Ste. A, Hartland, WI 53029

262-369-4400 | 800-242-3358 TOLL FREE

wisMS.org@

n Editor: Maureen Waslickin Graphic Design and Production: Amy Malo

To comment or share a story idea, call 262-369-4400 or email info.wisMS@nmss.org.

MS SUMMIT March 11, 2017

MS Connection | 7

Ihave voted in every national election, and most state and local elections, since I turned 18. I’ve

stood in lines outside of schools, courthouses, firehouses and retirement homes, eager to register my stance on candidates and issues that were important to me. I believe that voting is the most important way that we participate in the democratic system, and my belief in its importance has only gotten stronger since I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014.

The many hurdles, both practical and emotional, that a person with a disability might face when trying to exercise their right to vote only became apparent as I faced them myself: losing the ability to walk to school, as after half a mile I found myself tripping and dizzy; becoming unable to summon the strength in my right hand to sign a receipt for my coffee; failing to recognize friends passing on the sidewalk as my vision blurred; missing meetings and blanking on names as my memory became unreliable. And I was very, very tired. At the height of an MS flare, when performing basic, necessary tasks requires momentous effort, voting might cede to more immediate concerns.

Accessible Polling PlacesBut government can help by ensuring that polling places are accessible, by providing and maintaining accessible voting equipment, and by making sure that anyone who seeks information on how to vote can easily find it. That’s where the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission (eac.gov)

comes in as the primary resource for information regarding voting in the United States, including specific resources for voters with disabilities.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting and training for a nationwide campaign to get out the disability vote — thereby harnessing our community’s power to influence decisions of particular importance to us, like social security, Medicare, healthcare, affordable

housing, accessible transportation, employment and funding for MS research. In that first meeting, we discussed the potential power of the disability vote and the challenges that we face in exercising that power. But it all starts with a simple first step: registering to vote.

Voting is EmpoweringThough facing an incurable and unpredictable disease like MS is difficult, learning to advocate for myself and for others with MS has been profoundly empowering.

Volunteering as an MS activist has encouraged me to educate my legislators about MS and urge them to support measures that make a real difference in the lives of people with MS. Now, by participating in a voting campaign, I help others in our oft-overlooked community to feel empowered to register their opinions and, hopefully, influence the political conversation.

First, though, we have to show up. Register to vote! Go to nationalMSsociety.org/voterinfo to learn how. n

What to Know Before You VoteTurn-out rate for people with disabilities 6% lower than general population

Your voice is importantIt’s important that people with disabilities exercise their right to vote as fully as the general population. Currently, more than one

out of seven eligible voters have a disability; yet, the turnout rate of people with disabilities is nearly six percent lower than other Americans who are eligible to vote.

At nationalMSsociety.org/voterinfo, learn your voting rights, including your protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act; how to register, including online; and how to ensure that your polling place is accessible to you.

BY LAUREN SHRYNE

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MS Connection | 9

D o you remember feeling invincible as a kid? I once jumped my bike off of a construction

mound – my head broke the fall. That was before we all wore helmets.

I got up, brushed myself off and kept riding.

I now deal with a different kind of punishment – every hour of every day – and I can’t just walk away from it.

It started with speech difficulty during graduate school.

I made the earliest appointment that I could – three weeks out – and called to tell my wife who insisted that I get in sooner. I called back and the receptionist asked, “Is there anything else we should know?”

When I told her I was having some speech difficulty, she asked how soon I could get there!

I went to Urgent Care and they misdiagnosed me. They thought it must be stress or lack of sleep.

I was a busy guy, after all – running marathons, drumming in a band, going to graduate school, working full time.

All with a family.

I thought I was healthy and bullet-proof. If they’re telling me what I want to hear, that’s good enough for me! I’ll just take the punishment and hope I can walk away.

So, after a brief reprieve from symptoms during my final semester, I decided it was time to get back into running. I couldn’t get through a few minutes, though, without losing control of my legs and fine motor skills.

That’s not right!

I talked to my doctor about it and we explored a number of things, but eventually I had an MRI and the diagnosis was confirmed. It was multiple sclerosis.

Okay – so it has a name, but it doesn’t sound good!

What does that mean for my future? What does that mean for my family?

After the standard freak-out period, I enrolled in a clinical trial.

I was heavy into research so it seemed logical. By a lucky coincidence, my neurologist was just getting one started.

You might not have thought I was lucky, though. You see - I swallowed parasite eggs!

I decided early on that I would use my research background and natural rapport to spread the word about clinical trials. About how important enrollment is, even when the treatment doesn’t work. I had a lot of experience in clinical research through my work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as well as graduate school – and now I had the perfect ice-breaker!

I contacted the MS Society and started traveling around Wisconsin, delivering my message. Then the Wisconsin Chapter asked me to teach a class on the subject at the 2010 MS Summit.

Healing By Serving OthersJim Turk is a volunteer, activist and clinical trial participant

Continued on Page 10

BY JIM TURK

“Life’s under no obligation to give us what we expect.”

– Margaret Mitchell

Jim Turk, left, visits with Wisconsin congressman Mark Pocan as part of Turk’s Disctrict Activist Leader volunteer responsibilities.

MS Connection | 10

Because of my science background and the fact that the trial was unconventional, I was soon featured in The Wall Street Journal and BBC Future. I even took the stage with my neurologist at the Wisconsin Chapter’s MS Luncheon to talk about the trial.

At the same time, I was raising money for Walk MS and started volunteering. I eventually became co-chair of Madison’s Walk MS event.

I soon began doing interviews on TV and radio. Advocating for people and educating them on the value of a good attitude and scientifically sound principles became my mission.

I even started a blog, beatmydisease.com, to help me reach more people.

As it turned out, FBR Media liked my mission as well – they filmed a documentary in 2015 about me and my life with MS.

I give regular talks to a variety of audiences and even delivered a speech at the graduation ceremony for a UW Master’s program!

Today, I am a District Activist Leader for the MS Society, a blogger and a speaker.

There is no question that I’m a different person than I used to be. I’m in a wheelchair instead of running shoes and no longer have an office at UW-Madison; but I keep busy, have a happy and healthy family, and am passionate about what I do.

I have a lot to be thankful for.

Watch for Turk’s posts on MSConnection.org and follow him on his website, beatmydisease.com. n

Jim Turk always lives life to the fullest, including drumming in a rock ‘n’ roll band.

Volunteering with the National MS SocietyThere are numerous opportunities to help others, support MS-related events, or become a leader or activist in the MS movement. Walk MS events are an easy and local way to get involved. Learn more and get involved in the walks or other upcoming and ongoing volunteer opportunities at wisMS.org or by contacting ashley.wissinger@nmss.org.

Research StudiesResearchers are committed to finding solutions for everyone affected by MS — the very people who hold the key to the answers. Without participants in research studies, MS research would come to a standstill. People with MS, and sometimes family members, can help advance MS research by volunteering for clinical trials and other studies, responding to surveys, donating DNA from saliva and blood samples, and more. Visit nationalmssociety.org/Research/Participate-in-Research-Studies to learn more.

What is a District Activist Leader?District Activist Leaders build and foster critical relationships with elected officials in their legislative districts, serving as a liaison between officials and the Society and helping to develop a reliable grassroots movement across the state and the country. It is an ongoing volunteer position requiring a time commitment of approximately 10-15 hours per month for a minimum of two years. Learn more at nationalMSsociety.org or by contacting denise.jendusa@nmss.org.

Continued from Page 9

“Make your life a mission; not an intermission.” – Arnold Glasgow

MS Connection | 11

O ne year ago, I sat at my desk as my dad gave himself his tri-weekly injection to treat

his multiple sclerosis.

Today, for everything that has changed in my life this past year, many of the challenges of having a parent with MS remain.

Now, as I begin my second semester of college, I reflect upon how I looked forward to attending. As an Asian-American, I appreciated how I was invited into a learning community that expanded outside our classroom walls. I shared in organized events where our teams took public transportation to grapple with some of the challenges that people with disabilities may experience. I put these into context as I contemplated the resilience it takes for someone with a disease like MS to travel around town for daily errands.

Another key connection I made was during a trip to a biotech lab for my class in bioethics. We got to see DNA and learned about stem cells.

I felt like I was on the cutting edge when I was able to share something that nobody else knew: I had just read an article talking about research supported by the Society where they found that

by blocking a molecule present in specific stem cells, they may be able to stimulate myelin repair (nationalMSsociety.org/myelinnews2015). It was also relevant because my dad had just had an MRI and, afterward, we had talked about the myelin sheath and how wonderful it would be if it could be repaired.

This year, I learned to integrate academics and community service within the context of the world in which we live. I would not have made this vital connection so early in my college career without the support of a Society scholarship. Since I love literature and am an avid reader, I am looking forward to declaring my major in English and hope to become a head librarian someday. Despite the challenges that MS has presented to my family, the scholarship has allowed me to grow and start achieving my life goals.

To learn more about the Society’s Scholarship Program, visit nationalMSsociety.org/scholarship. n

Integrating Academics and Community ServiceCollege scholarship recipient reflects on impact of MS

Emily Tabers-Kwak with her dad, John Kwak, who was diagnosed with MS in 2010.

“This year, I learned to integrate academics and community service within the context of the world in which we live.” – Emily Tabers-Kwak

BY EMILY TABERS-KWAKSociety Scholar Emily Tabers-Kwak is currently attending Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin.

Date and Time:10/11/2016 at 6:00 PMSpeaker:Mark Lanser, MDJanesville, WILocation:Imperial Gardens2039 Allen BoulevardMiddleton, WI 53562Event Code: TR376974

Date and Time:10/19/2016 at 6:00 PMSpeaker:Susan Hibbs, MDNeuroscience GroupNeenah, WILocation:Wish Steakhouse5006 East Jelinek AvenueWeston, WI 54476Event Code: TR381461

Date and Time:11/2/2016 at 12:00 PMSpeaker:Bhupendra Khatri, MSCenter for Neurologic DisordersMilwaukee, WILocation:El Fuego909 West Layton AvenueMilwaukee, WI 53221Event Code: TR380018

Date and Time:11/9/2016 at 6:00 PMSpeaker:Susan Hibbs, MDNeuroscience GroupNeenah, WILocation:Rock Garden Supper Club1951 Bond StreetGreen Bay, WI 54303Event Code: TR381464

Date and Time:11/9/2016 at 6:00 PMSpeaker:Staley Brod, MDMS/Neuroimmunology

Jessica Szpak, PAMadison, WILocation:The Geneva InnN2009 South Lakeshore DriveLake Geneva, WI 53147Event Code: TR380602

Date and Time:11/15/2016 at 6:00 PMSpeaker:Staley Brod, MDDirector, MS/Neuroimmunology Milwaukee, WILocation:HobNob277 South Sheridan RoadRacine, WI 53403Event Code: TR380020

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MS Connection | 13

Make a Mark for MSDonate to the Society on your Wisconsin income tax statement

Make a Mark for MS is the name given to the option that Wisconsin taxpayers have to make a donation to the National

Multiple Sclerosis Society on their state income tax form. Just under $70,000 was generated in donations through this program in 2015. That’s important because, starting in 2015, the Society must generate a three-year average of $50,000 in donations in order to remain in the program.

While this giving option is still months away, you can help by letting your friends and family know about the program and asking them to “Make a Mark” when the time comes. All the money donated stays in Wisconsin to help those diagnosed with MS improve their quality of life and maintain their independence.

For more information about the Make a Mark for MS program, please call 262-369-4400 or email denise.jendusa@nmss.org. n

2016 20172015

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A three-year average of $50,000 is needed beginning with 2015 donations for multiple sclerosis

to remain in Wisconsin’s tax check-off donation program

Center for Neurological DisordersFor comprehensive, patient-centered Multiple Sclerosis care,patients and physicians rely on the expertise of the team at theCenter for Neurological Disorders (CND) at Wheaton Francis-can Healthcare – St. Francis in Milwaukee, one of the largest MS facilities in the country.

Our team is uniquely qualified to meet theneeds of MS patients. In addition to pioneeringresearch and innovative treatment, we helppatients to manage MS – taking care of mind,body, and spirit.

Call (414) 769-4040 to make an appointment,or visit us at mywheaton.org/MS.

3237 S. 16th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215(enter from 18th Street and Ohio Avenue)

Bhupendra Khatri,MD, Medical Director

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For comprehensive, patient-centered Multiple Sclerosis care, patients and physicians rely on the expertise of the team at the Center for Neurological Disorders (CND) at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis in Milwaukee, one of the largest MS facilities in the country.

Our team is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of MS patients. In addition to pioneering research and innovative treatment, we help patients to manage MS – taking care of mind, body, and spirit.

Call (414) 769-4040 to make an appointment, or visit us at mywheaton.org/MS.

MS Connection | 15

Give Through WorkYou can support the National MS Society-Wisconsin Chapter by making a one-time donation or periodic payroll deductions through your company’s annual employee giving campaign. While your employer may have its own corporate giving program, many work through organizations such as Community Health Charities, the United Way or the Combined Federal Campaign. Check with your employer, and also ask if they sponsor a matching gift program, which could double or event triple your gift.

Knowledge is EmpoweringThe National MS Society offers an extensive variety of programs, services, resources and connection opportunities for people living with and affected by MS, including family members, caregivers and other members of their support systems. These resources range from insurance and financial information to employment advice, and to resources for the newly diagnosed. Learn more at nationalMSsociety.org/Resources-Support.

Self-Help GroupsLooking to connect with other people affected by MS? Self-help groups bring people together who share common life experiences for support, education and mutual aid. There are more than 40 self-help groups in Wisconsin. Visit nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support/ Find-Support/Join-a-Local-Support-Group or contact an MS Navigator at 800-344-4867 to get a list of groups and meeting dates.

How We Move ItWisconsin Chapter News and Notes

Scholarship Applications Open SoonThe National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s scholarship program exists to help highly qualified students who have been diagnosed with MS or who have a parent with MS achieve their dreams of going to college. Eligible students need to be enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester at an undergraduate course of study for the 2017-2018 academic year. Enrollment for the 2017 scholarship program is expected to be open by November 1, 2016 and typically closes in mid-January. Visit nationalMSsociety.org/scholarship for an update on dates and deadline, details on eligibility criteria and to access the online application.

Help Plan Your Community’s Walk MSDid you know that every Walk MS event is

led by community volunteers? Join them! Contact Kristin Raeber at kristin.raeber@ nmss.org or call 262-369-4436 and get in on the planning.

Cooling VestsThe MS Association of America provides free cooling vests to individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Call the MSAA at 800-532-7667 for more details.

Date and Time:11/16/2016 at 6:00 PMSpeaker:Jessica Szpak, PAMadison, WILocation:Suzy's Steak & Seafood House2711 County Road CXPortage, WI 53901Event Code: TR380597

Date and Time:11/18/2016 at 12:00 PMSpeaker:Barbara Green, MDSaint Louis, MOLocation:Imperial Gardens2039 Allen BoulevardMiddleton, WI 53562Event Code: TR382371

Date and Time:11/30/2016 at 12:00 PMSpeaker:Michael Connor, DOMedical Director, MS ClinicMilwaukee, WILocation:Hom - Wood Fired Grill5750 North Port Washington RoadGlendale, WI 53217Event Code: TR380371

Date and Time:12/1/2016 at 6:00 PMSpeaker:Staley Brod, MDDirector, MS/Neuroimmunology Milwaukee, WILocation:Joey Gerard's Mequon11120 N Cedarburg Rd, Mequon, WI 53092Event Code: TR380378

Date and Time:12/7/2016 at 6:00 PMSpeaker:Lisa Sershon, PACenter for Neurologic DisordersMilwaukee, WILocation:El Fuego909 West Layton AvenueMilwaukee, WI 53221Event Code: TR380377

Date and Time:12/13//2016 at 12:00 PMSpeaker:Bhupendra Khatri, MSCenter for Neurologic DisordersMilwaukee, WILocation:Maggiano's Little Italy2500 North Mayfair RoadWauwatosa, WI 53226Event Code: TR356284

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Thank You, 2016 SponsorsEvent sponsors partner with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, allowingmore funds to go toward the critical research, programs and services thatmake a difference in the lives of people affected by MS.

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2016

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MS Connection | 18

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Longtime Wisconsin MS researcher Dr. Bonnie Dittel received yet another accolade in June when she was honored by the Society with the Stephen C. Reingold Award for submitting 2016’s most outstanding proposal. Dr. Dittel’s study will investigate how a sub-set of immune B cells reduces inflammation. In MS, the immune system damages tissues in the brain and spinal cord, and finding a way to reduce inflammation may be key to stopping disease progression.

Dr. Dittel, PhD, is a senior investigator at the Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin. The award was presented during the Research Programs Advisory Committee (RPAC) meeting in Washington, D.C. n

Wisconsin’s Dittel Honored by Society for Outstanding Proposal

National Multiple Sclerosis Society- Wisconsin Chapter Board of Trustees

Tom Golden, Chair M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc.

Kenneth Minor, Vice Chair Sonic Foundry, Inc.

James Rose, Vice Chair Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

Michael Lutze, Treasurer Ernst & Young

Robert Sowinski, Secretary Diversified Insurance Solutions

David Rodgers, Past Chair Briggs & Stratton Corporation

Colleen Kalt, President & CEO National MS Society- Wisconsin Chapter

Anne Brouwer McMillianDoolittle, LLP

Robert Buhler Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin, Inc.

Dennis Christiansen Secured Retirement Strategies Group, LLC

Robert deJong Rose & deJong, S.C.

Robert Engel Retired, M&I Bank

Pamela Evason, Windermere Wealth Advisors, LLC

Josh Hoesch First Business Bank

Paul Jones Harley-Davidson, Inc.

Fr. James Kaestner Retired

Wayne Larsen Ladish Company Foundation

Martin McLaughlin Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, s.c.

Jeffrey Steren Steren Management/McDonald’s

If you or someone you know has MS: Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional or contact the National MS Society at nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867 to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure. The National MS Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The National MS Society assumes no liability for the use of contents of any product or service mentioned. Information provided by the Society is based upon professional advice, published, experience and expert opinion. Information provided in response to questions does not constitute therapeutic recommendations or prescriptions. The National MS Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician.

National MS Society Executive Vice President Research, Bruce Bebo, presented the Stephen C. Reingold Award to Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin Senior Investigator Bonnie Dittel, during the Research Programs Advisory Committee meeting in June.

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A Publication of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMADISON, WI

PERMIT NO. 1252

A Fun Ride A Great Cause JANUARY 26-28, 2017 CARTER, WISCONSIN

Join a fun weekend that is all inclusive and fully supported, including:• Meals at the resort and

along the route• Evening entertainment • And more!

• Guided rides on groomed trails • On-site mechanical support • Three-nights lodging at Potawatomi

Carter Casino and Hotel

Register at: MSsnowmobiletour.org | 262-369-4400 | 800-242-3358A fundraising event to benefit multiple sclerosis

HURRY!Register by

November 30to get a FREElong-sleeve

commemorative T-shirt.