Society Helps Unearth Virtual Frontier

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be part of a geologic expedition? Exploring deep into a cavern and discovering evidence of the cave's history. Now imagine living with limited mobility and being a part of the expedition. This is exactly the scenario that the National Advisory for Geoscience Diversity (NAGD) has been working toward. The NAGD, founded by Christopher Atchison, a Ph.D. candidate in geoscience education at The Ohio State University, is an advisory committee composed of higher education faculty, staff and students, geoscience industry representatives, disabilities education researchers and members of the community. This partnership is charged with identifying current research practices and opportunities for underrepresented students with disabilities, while seeking to raise awareness of improving access and exposure to the geoscience disciplines to those populations. The NAGD is currently working to create and test the use of virtual reality models as educational tools for students with disabilities.

The National MS Society's Ohio Buckeye Chapter became a member of this innovative committee at the invitation of Don Stredney of the Ohio Supercomputer Center.

Recently, two members of the Ohio Buckeye Chapter joined the NAGD: Elizabeth Thompson and Dr. Robin Dhillon. Elizabeth is an author, an MS Ambassador and recently received the Jefferson Award for her volunteer work for the Society. Dr. Dhillon is a retired cardiothoracic surgeon and Sr. Clinical Anatomy & Physiology Instructor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Both Elizabeth and Dr. Dhillon understand the benefits of this important project as they both live with the effects of multiple sclerosis.

Thompson comments, "When MS keeps us from moving like the majority of the world's people, it can affect our ability to have a profession in our area of expertise or to pursue a career in our younger years. Any program that helps people with MS or living with any disability be a productive member of society and improve quality of life will always be a bright light on my radar." Thompson's MS has left her hearing impaired and reliant on a power wheelchair for mobility. Being able to learn about cave expedition through a virtual reality model and without the constraints of disability would open a whole new world to not only Thompson, but to anyone living with disabilities.

Dr. Dhillon views the project from a more clinical viewpoint, "As one with the disease and as many others who write about it or experience it, much of what happens is difficult to explain to others as it is highly individualistic. What people with MS experience does not conform well to written descriptions. This disease complex does lend itself well to the use of virtual reality."

Moving this project forward, recent funding from the National Science Foundation will allow students who are mobility impaired to experience sections of the Mammoth Cave National Park currently inaccessible by wheelchair. This virtual field study project is just one of many projects the NAGD hopes to lead in the near future to provide better opportunities for students with mobility impairments to pursue careers in the geosciences.

National MS Society Joins President Obama's Call for eHealth

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society's fight for better health care has accelerated to a whole new level.

President Obama and Congress directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accelerate a nationwide program to assist health care providers in adopting, implementing and effectively utilizing health information technology to improve the quality, safety, efficiency and accessibility of health care for their patients. The National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) was formed to support this requirement.

In response to the hard work and dedication of Julie Butcher, CIO, National MS Society, Janet Kramer, President of the Ohio Buckeye Chapter, and David Stallman, Director of Information Technology of the Ohio Buckeye Chapter, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society received unanimous approval by the NeHC Board of Directions for membership into this important Collaborative. The NeHC Board viewed the Society's clients as an important group to include and an example of the diversity of members needed to make up the Collaborative. As a member of the Collaborative, the Society will have the opportunity to:

• Identify breakthrough strategies to accelerate health IT adoption and interoperable use


• Participate in the development of a governance framework white paper for the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN)


• Provide expertise on policies related to an interoperable, standards-based electronic health care system


• Support the implementation of health IT through market-driving approaches


• Provide and share technical resources to accelerate health information technology interoperability

In addition to being invited to be a Collaborative member, the Society specifically asked to be a part of the Policy Committee.

The National eHealth Collaborative operates in partnership with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC/HHS), the Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP), the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT), and the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).

Which would you choose - health care or food?

Could you survive without food or water or shelter? What if you had to choose one of these necessities to give up in order to pay for your health care? Believe it or not, this could happen to you. During an insurance company's open enrollment period, health insurance must be offered to everyone regardless of current health status. However, there is no limit as to what the insurance company is able to charge. It is not impossible to see an insurance premium of $100,000 per year with $25,000 due January 1st. Therefore, people living with chronic diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) must choose between paying for vital health care and having food to eat or water to drink or a place to live.

To help make a difference, advocates from across Ohio made their voices heard at the State House when they met with legislators to express how critical the decisions they make about health care reform are to people living with MS. Specific topics discussed are:

• Modifying the open enrollment process by capping premiums
• Requiring businesses to create pre-tax flexible health spending accounts
• Increasing the age of dependency to 29 for purposes of coverage on a family's group insurance policy
• Legislators were also asked to consider creating legislation that would elimiate exclusion riders that bar coverage for a specified pre-existing medical condition that would normally be covered.

This movement to achieve a world free of MS did not stop at the state level, but went all the way up Capitol Hill. Representative Barbara Lee of California led a resolution recognizing MS Awareness Week (March 2 - 8) in Congress. In addition, Senators Casey and Snowe steered an MS Awareness Resolution through the Senate. That measure passed unanimously.

Both of these important measures get the issues, such as health care reform, important to people living with MS on the minds of legislators. It also prepares them for when hundreds of MS Activists from across the country descend on Capitol Hill in effort to shape public policy that will improve the lives of people living with MS and other chronic diseases.

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Tressel to receive Society's highest honor

The inaugural Fiesta Bowl football game was held in 1971 between Arizona State and Florida State with Arizona State winning 45-38. That same year Jim Tressel, who would make his 5th visit to the Fiesta Bowl in 2009, was graduating from Berea High School in Northeast Ohio.

Tressel was born in Mentor, Ohio and grew up with football a big part of his life. His father, Lee Tressel, was the football coach at Mentor High School, Massillon High School and Baldwin Wallace. Jim Tressel played quarterback at Baldwin Wallace College under his father’s direction and graduated cum laude in 1975 with a degree in education.

Tressel began his coaching career at the University of Akron as a graduate assistant coaching the quarterbacks, receivers and running backs. While at Akron he earned his master’s degree in Education. Tressel also held coaching positions at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Syracuse University and Youngstown State University before coming to the Ohio State University.

His football and education background have led him to be one of the most respected coaches in the history of The Ohio State (OSU) Buckeyes. While teaching his players about the game of football he also teaches them life lessons. According to OSU, “he emphasizes organization, planning and accountability as not just important in football, but as skills for life. He reminds his players that representing Ohio State is a privilege, an advantage that allows them to enhance the futures of themselves, their families and communities through education and enlightened concern.”

Jim Tressel is also active in the Ohio community as he and his wife, Ellen, are committed to a number of Ohio charitable organizations including: Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio, Columbus Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and The Tressel Family Fund for Cancer Research at Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Institute. In 2009, the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society will be added to this list.

On May 21, 2009, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Ohio Buckeye Chapter will honor Jim Tressel for his continued involvement and leadership in the community at their 4th Annual Dinner of Champions Gala in Columbus. Funds raised at the gala will be used to support important programs and services as well as vital research to find the cause and cure for MS. Much of this important research is taking place in Ohio at the The Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic, and Case Western Reserve University.

For information about how you can help honor this coaching legend and his selfless support of our community, visit the official Dinner of Champions website or call 800-667-7131.

Ohio Buckeye Chapter Moves to the Beat of a "Green" Heart

In addition to helping more than 18,000 people in Ohio living with multiple sclerosis, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Ohio Buckeye Chapter is also helping the planet.

The Ohio Buckeye Chapter recently recycled nearly 50 pieces of unusable computer hardware. Not only were pieces of office equipment recycled, chapter staff were encouraged to bring in personal computer hardware to be recycled. The chapter contacted Itran Electronics Recycling to help dispose of the equipment in a way that was safe for the environment.

“The hardware was no longer usable, and we were glad to find an environmentally friendly means of disposal,” said David Stallman, Director of Information Technology for the Ohio Buckeye Chapter. “We are committed to moving toward a world free of MS and we want to do our part to ensure that the world will be here when that day comes.”

The Ohio Buckeye Chapter plans to host a Recycling Fundraiser in Spring 2009 to help other businesses and individuals safely dispose of their unwanted equipment while helping fund programs, services and vital research to find the cause and cure for multiple sclerosis. If anyone is interested in donating computer hardware to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society call David Stallman or Jodi Shipley at 800-667-7131.

In addition to computer hardware recycling, the chapter is also helping conserve resources by offering its constituents the opportunity to receive quarterly newsletters via email versus mailed hardcopies. Reducing the number of mailed copies helps to reduce printing costs, as well as the amount of paper used to print the quarterly newsletter. Walk MS and Bike MS participants are also encouraged to fundraise online and can download fundraising materials from MSohiowalk.org and MSohiobike.org Web sites versus receiving materials through the mail.

What Price Would You Pay to Help Someone In Need?

Heroism is contagious. When Don Fetzer, Gary Graham and Dempsey Root volunteered to build a ramp to help Carolyn Thornton, of Wooster, Ohio, they never dreamed that it would almost cost one of them their lives and create another hero in the process.

Problems with walking are certainly nothing new to Paul and Carolyn Thornton. The couple needed the ramp built as Carolyn could no longer maneuver the steps at the entryway of their home. Carolyn was diagnosed with MS ten years ago and now depends on a walker for mobility.

A collaborative effort between the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Smithville was begun to construct the ramp.

According to Pastor Scott Bacon, “church members, including Don, Gary and Dempsey, donated all the labor required to build the ramp”. Don led the effort by designing the ramp plans, getting the building permits and following through with the inspections.

However, Don in no way imagined the price of his good deed could be so high. The first day of construction at the home he started to feel ill. Paul insisted on driving him to the hospital which turned out to be a life saving decision because Don was having a heart attack. He needed emergency surgery to implant a pacemaker to save his life.

Thanks to the efforts and generosity of church members and support from the Society, the Thorntons are enjoying a new freedom this holiday season. And thanks to the unexpected heroism of Paul, Don is appreciating the special gift he received - life.