Up Front

By Douglas G. Franklin
MSAA President and CEO

Douglas G. Franklin

There has been a flurry of activity at MSAA starting with the launch of our first mobile phone application, My MS Manager™, as well as our S.E.A.R.C.H.™ initiative to assist the MS community with learning about treatment choices. We participated in both the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) annual meetings earlier this year, which provided a wealth of information. We are pleased to summarize the key highlights in our annual "Research Update" appearing in this issue.

Our recent collaboration with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) on an article discussing the needs of the primary-progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) population was published in the Summer 2011 issue of the International Journal of MS Care. Please visit the Recent News section of MSAA's website (at www.mymsaa.org) to read the article.

Currently, we are working in partnership with the National Disability Institute (NDI) to better understand and address the financial needs of the MS community. Together, MSAA and NDI have created an online survey as well as focus groups to evaluate needs and help design a specific financial education program. The input gathered has been used to create a webinar series; please see the inside back cover of this issue for details.

We continue to be inspired by our many volunteers, such as Rebecca and Jarrod Schlenker. The brother-and-sister team from Cranford, New Jersey, formed "Jabeccawalk: End to End for MS," a 2,181-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail. Over the course of four months, the duo trekked from Georgia to Maine, raising funds in support of MSAA's mission. You may read about their adventures at jabeccawalk.blogspot.com.

I encourage everyone to visit www.mymsaa.org and select "Volunteer" to see how you can help support MSAA's vital mission. Don't forget about our Swim for MS program - Any Pool, Any Time makes it easy to volunteer for MSAA, no matter what the season!

Doug Franklin joined MSAA as President & CEO in 1999. He has a distinguished career in nonprofit leadership and is a former national trainer in strategic planning for the Peter Drucker Foundation. A published international expert in social marketing and corporate social investment, he is a graduate of four universities. He currently serves on the National Board of the Key Philanthropic Organizations Committee of the American Society of Association Executives; on the Executive Committee of Health First - America's Charities Board in Washington, DC; and as President of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition.

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