ALS Podcast

Paul Miller is living with ALS and using his personal experience with the disease to educate young people, advocate with public officials, and raise money for a cure. Listen to what he tells people about the realities of ALS and what experiences he finds most enjoyable as he works to end ALS for himself and others. Get involved today at www.alsphiladelphia.org and support a Walk to Defeat ALS, which Paul loves as well, at www.gpcwalktodefeatals.org 

ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter board member Lauren Stevenson Yacina talks about her 30 year involvement with the Chapter, her mother's battle with ALS, support from the Philadelphia Phillies, and why she is looking forward to the Walk to Defeat ALS and the Annual Luncheon honoring caregivers. Find out how you can get involved at www.alsphiladelphia.org 

Debbie Ihde and her family created a Tribute Fund to honor her late husband, Dave Ihde, who did everything he could to fight ALS for himself and for others. That included ALS Advocacy and fundraising, but also participating in research like a study on Brain Computer Interface with Andrew Geronimo.In this podcast, Debbie talks about her husband and Andrew Geronimo discusses the potential for this new brain technology to help people with ALS and other diseases. Listen and then get involved at www.alsphiladelphia.org 

Brenda Edelman is the Director of Patient Services at The ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter. In this podcast episode, she talks about how her background as a social worker helps guide her management and values while running the patient services department, how her staff is organized to best help people with ALS, and how her role has evolved in her decade with the Chapter. Listen, share, and get involved today at www.alsphiladelphia.org and join Brenda at the Greater Philadelphia Walk to Defeat ALS on November 1 at www.greaterphiladelphiawalktodefeatals.org 

Mikaelyn Austin and Rob Marcolina of Philly Philms have been recording stories about ALS since 2011, first with the Phillies Phestival and now producing feature profiles for the national ALS Association. As outsiders to the disease, they've come to understand how ALS affects whole families and the impact of ALS Association programs and research. Listen to their perspectives and get involved today at www.alsphiladelphia.org 

Alisa Brownlee makes her second appearance on the ALS Podcast, this time to talk about how ALS families can prepare for emergencies and be ready in the event of a natural disaster. From "Go-Bags" to contact lists to important devices, Alisa gives tips on how to be ready and where to go for further resources. After the tough winter of 2014-15, this information can be vital to a person with ALS and their caregivers. For further questions, email Alisa@alsphiladelphia.org or tweet her @ALSAssistiveTec 

In this Podcast, Wendy Barnes talks about her 15 years of working with The ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter. From her start running an ALS support group to her work today managing the Howard I. Abrams In-Home Care Program, Respite Care, and the Accessibility Fund, Wendy discusses how she does her job, what ALS means to her today after over a decade with the Chapter, and her efforts with the Lehigh Valley Walk to Defeat ALS. Join Wendy at the walk on October 17 at Coca Cola Park in Allentown, PA at www.lehighvalleywalktodefeatals.org and find out more about supporting the ALS cause and the programs Wendy mentions at www.alsphiladelphia.org 

Donn’s Dash is named in honor of Donn Schmidt, a beloved husband, father and resident of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Tim Seigfried and his friends at eBay Enterprise helped create this 5k event in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA to surprise their coworker, Brianne Schmidt. Together Brianne, Tim, and the team created and organized this event from scratch and, in their first year, raised over $15,000 for ALS care services. Listen to Tim and Brianne talk about their experiences in this episode of the ALS Podcast and then continue the fight against ALS at www.alsphiladelphia.org 

Sue Walsh, Director of Clinical Services at the ALS Association Treatment Center at Hershey Medical Center, joins the podcast to talk about her two decades of providing nursing care to people with ALS. In this episode, Sue discusses how the clinic has grown at Hershey Medical Center, the work of Dr. Zach Simmons, coordinating care and research, and how the work impacts her personally. Support her team for the Hershey Walk to Defeat ALS all year long at www.hersheywalktodefeatals.org or donate generally at www.alsphiladelphia.org and follow on social media @alsphiladelphia 

BAYADA Home Health Care is a national partner with The ALS Association, a relationship that began locally with The Greater Philadelphia Chapter. In this podcast, Tracy Sideris, Ali Nielsen, and Emma Straub of BAYADA talk about working for a values driven company, how partnering with The ALS Association at many events has mutual benefits for all involved, and what they have learned about ALS and improving quality care since the relationship began. Join them at a Walk to Defeat ALS at www.gpcwalktodefeatals.org and follow BAYADA on Twitter and Instagram @BAYADAHHC 

Judy Lyter and Travis Haines from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center join the ALS Podcast to discuss their surveys to screen for froto-temporal dementia in persons with ALS. Their screening process will help guide better treatment, start the discussions on brain health and cognition earlier in the ALS journey, and provide comfort and resources to family caregivers. Listen, share, and get involved at www.alsphiladelphia.org 

You may have donated to ALS research, but what is that research money funding? In this podcast, Dr. James Connor of Hershey Medical Center talks about his research, funded through The ALS Association, which focuses on the effect of iron and oxygen on ALS. He speaks about understanding ALS, what the differences are in people living with the disease, the advancements in biomarkers, and the challenges and opportunities of research generally. Continue to support ALS research all year long at www.alsphiladelphia.org 

Allison Lardner is the Associate Director of the national Walk program at The ALS Association. In this podcast, she talks with us about what makes the Walk to Defeat ALS so special and effective, how a company can be successful as a sponsor, and why people come back year after year to participate in a walk. Listen, share, and join a Walk to Defeat ALS in our Chapter region at www.gpcwalktodefeatals.org 

Greater Philadelphia Walk to Defeat ALS chair Chris Martin talks about the Walk to Defeat ALS, getting corporate sponsorship, and, most importantly, the effect his father's battle with ALS had on him and his family. Join Chris at a walk this fall at www.gpcwalktodefeatals.org 

Jeanette Beck was the top individual fundraiser for the 2015 Hershey Walk to Defeat ALS this May and it was also Kerry Durkan's first official walk as part of the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter staff. Listen as Kerry talks about her first experience with a walk and Jeanette shares how she has used her personal story for years to raise money and awareness to fight ALS, including establishing a Named Fund. Continue to Challenge ALS at www.alsphiladelphia.org and support a walk at www.gpcwalktodefeatals.org all year round.