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SPR Health Forum: Unraveling the Mystery of MS

Multiple Sclerosis

SPR spent an evening discussing treatment developments for Multiple Sclerosis, or MS. Doug Nadvornick hosted a public health forum on March 19 in the Spokane City Council Chambers. Audience members brought questions and engaged in a helpful discussion about living with this disease, an unpredictable assault on the central nervous systems of more than 2 million people worldwide.

The forum is occasionally televised on City Cable 5.

The forum was FREE thanks to event donors Horizon Hospice, the Journal of Business, Providence Medical Services, and Washington State University Spokane.

If you are unable to listen to a broadcast, you can listen to the podcast here:

MSForum20152.mp3
SPR Health Forum 2015 - Mysteries of Multiple Sclerosis - Part 2

About the panelists:

Ruth Kirk

Ruth Kirk was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 40.  She is now dedicated to making a difference for others with MS, “doing whatever I can, for as long as I can.”  She developed the MS Water Solutions (MSWS) exercise class at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene, ID.

Dr. Yashma Patel

Dr. Yashma Patel is a board certified neurologist trained in both adult and pediatric Multiple Sclerosis from State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook. She has extensive training in the diagnosis, treatment, and research of the disease. She is currently the director of Rockwood Clinic’s MS Center.

Terrie Ashby-Scott

Terrie Ashby-Scott was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2011.  She is currently the Eastern Washington Senior Program Officer for the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship. She has an undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology, a Masters in Social Work and a PhD in Education Leadership from Gonzaga University. She has served on the Spokane Leadership Council for the Greater Northwest Chapter of the National MS Society and advocates for those living with MS.

Dr. Roger Cooke

Roger Cooke, M.D. is a board certified neurologist who has practiced in Spokane since 1975. He grew up in Washington State. Since 2007 he has been the medical director of the Providence Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at Holy Family Hospital.  He received his M.D. from Yale University and did his internal medicine and neurology training at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. For many years he's been the chairman of the clinical advisory committee for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the Inland Empire. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine for the University of Washington.

Doug Nadvornick

Moderator Doug Nadvornick is a longtime communications professional now in higher education public relations at WSU. He still dabbles occasionally in his longtime love, radio, and is president of Spokane Public Radio's community advisory board.