Welcome to the 2021 Virtual Holistic Health and Wellness Forum Virtual Exhibit Hall
Yoga Moves MS presents this Forum to empower those impacted by MS with information about a range of integrative and holistic mind-body strategies. This event is an opportunity to learn about healthy living and wholesome options that complement traditional medical care. Our live event was on November 6, 2021. Feedback from this year’s and past year’s attendees is that they learned a LOT from our inspiring speakers. Sessions were packed with useful material. Many told us that they plan to watch the presentations again! You too can gain much from the Holistic and Wellness Forum for MS.
You are invited to explore the links below and learn about our amazing speakers and generous sponsors. The links for the complete Forum and individual speaker presentations are below. You can download informative content and reach out with questions to info@yogamovesms.org.
Yoga Moves MS Mission and purpose
Yoga Moves MS (YMMS) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and supportive community of students, yoga instructors and therapists, and volunteers. Our mission is to increase the quality of life and wellness for individuals impacted by MS by providing virtual and in person adaptive yoga for Any Body. We seek to educate the expanding YMMS community about yoga as an umbrella for healthy lifestyle choices- as a way of life! Holistic health principles are integrated into educational forums. The annual Holistic Health and Wellness Forum for MS offers opportunities to learn about an array of wellness topics from national MS experts.
The Yoga Moves philosophy cultivates empowerment healing and fun. We provide adaptive yoga resources for those with MS and neuromuscular conditions. Presently, we offer at-home practice through subsidized and donation-only virtual classes with the hope to return to in-person classes when it is safe! To learn more about our Yoga Moves Any body classes, you can view the schedule and descriptions at yogamovesms.org. These classes can be supported by the purchase of our book, card deck, and helpful videos.
Enjoy watching the Virtual Holistic Health and Wellness Forum for MS. You have the option to watch the individual presentations or the full video in its entirety below. The individual presentations are next to the speaker’s bios and photographs below.
See individual presentations below.
Inspiring Yoga Moves MS Students Video
Enjoy this video of three inspiring students, Adam, Veena, and Liz to set the tone for our theme this year of resilience and thriving with MS.
Sponsors
Learn more about MS support and resources from Biogen
Meijer Specialty Pharmacy – Services For People Living With Multiple Sclerosis
Our registered dietitians have put together a Nutrition Tool Kit. This downloadable guide is filled with tools, tips, and recipes for people living with multiple sclerosis. Click here for many more MS-specific nutritional tools and resources.
Meijer has been in business for more than 85 years, including 55 years serving pharmacy patients. We’re a private, family-owned business that treats our patients like family. Please contact us at 1.855.263.4537 for additional information.
Watch a special video for forum attendees from Meijer Specialty Pharmacy
Download Meijer Specialty Pharmacy’s Living with MS Resource Guide
Download Meijer Specialty Pharmacy’s Enhancing Adherence & Persistence in MS Patients Guide
Download Meijer Specialty Pharmacy’s Nutritional Tips & Services
Download “A Healthier You” nutrition flyer for forum participants
MS Views and News (MSVN) is a Grassroots, MS Patient Advocacy organization which provides educational programs, advocacy and resources to empower and enhance the quality of life, for the MS community. Whether in metropolitan communities, Suburbia or Rural America, we want those needing information about Multiple Sclerosis, to get this information.
Promo video – Please click: https://youtu.be/
MS Views and News is dedicated to the global collection and distribution of current information regarding Multiple Sclerosis. In collaboration with other organizations, MS Views and News uses state-of-the-art communication channels to provide information for those affected by MS.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/
msviewsandnews - Twitter: www.twitter.com/
msviewsandnews - Instagram: www.instagram.com/
msviewsandnews - Watch our pre-recorded programs here: www.youtube.com/
msviewsandnews
Monthly virtual programs include: MS NeuroTV; MS Views NOW, MS Patient’s Voices; Mental Health and Wellness Chat; Compass To MS Care; Chair Yoga; Pilates; Physical Therapy; & more.
Use the search box on either our Blog or website to find information about Multiple Sclerosis.
Additionally, each month, you will be sent our monthly, MS Beacon e-Newsletter.
MS Views and News (MSVN) is making an IMPACT.
Learn about a Novartis treatment
At Novartis, our mission is to use science-based innovation to address some of society’s most challenging healthcare issues. We discover and develop treatments and find new ways to deliver them to as many people as possible. We strive to change the practice of medicine. We aspire to approach things differently – to make discoveries that take medicine in new directions. We look to tomorrow to inspire us today. Never satisfied with the status quo, we imagine what’s next. We are passionate about what we do.
As the specialty care global business arm of Sanofi, Sanofi Genzyme is committed to meeting significant unmet medical needs. With a well-established heritage in multiple sclerosis, we continue to forge the way in neurology, seeking to provide hope where none existed before, developing innovative approaches to treatments based on patient insights, scientific expertise, and cutting-edge technology. By partnering with scientific, healthcare and patient communities, we continue to build on over 40 years of collaboration and inspiration, understanding and experience, empathy and knowledge to drive the development of potential new therapies and to help change what it means to live with a neurological disease. Learn more about these partnerships and possibilities at www.sanofigenzyme.com
Visit the MS Patient Virtual Event Microsite
RMS Oral Therapy Patient Info Kit
RMS Injectable Therapy Website
RMS Injectable Therapy Patient Info Kit
MIND Center for Comprehensive MS Care Virtual Exhibit
Visit Memorial Healthcare’s Multiple Sclerosis Resource Center
Presenters
Dr. Rany Aburashed, DO
Chief of Neurology and Director of Comprehensive MS Center, Memorial Healthcare Institute for Neuroscience
Presentation Title: Current MS Research
Dr. Rany Aburashed serves as the Chief of Neurology and Director of Multiple Sclerosis at the Memorial Institute for Neurosciences and Multiple Sclerosis. He holds a clinical faculty position at Central Michigan University and serves as the Medical Director for Specialty Care at Memorial Hospital. He is designated as a Comprehensive Center for MS care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and has lectured on various aspects of multiple sclerosis internationally and nationally. He has published numerous articles and abstracts surrounding MS therapeutics/progressive multi focal leukoencephalopathy and autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system. His Research team is currently focused on the role of blood biomarkers as measures of predictive change in Multiple Sclerosis. He was the first in the United States to use Neurofilament light chain amongst other markers in real world MS patients. He serves as principal investigator for numerous phase I, II and Phase 3 trials in Multiple Sclerosis. He has received numerous awards including the Richard Alper memorial award, the Michigan Medical school grant, and Yoga Moves MS leadership award amongst others.
Brandon Beaber, MD
MS Specialist, author of Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis
Presentation title: Stories on resilience & inspiration, and evidence-based coping skills
Dr. Martin Belkin, Medical Director, MIND MS Center
Medical Director, MIND MS Center
Michigan Institute forNeurological Disorders (M • I • N • D)
View Dr. Belkin’s 2020 presentation
Dr. Belkin is the Medical Director of the MS Center at the Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders, which is one of the largest private MS Centers in the country. In addition to his extensive experience as the primary and sub-investigator for clinical trials in Multiple Sclerosis, he is known as a national speaker on the topic of Multiple Sclerosis. He is also actively involved in educating medical students and residents in the field of Neurology as he serves as the residency program director for the Ascension Macomb-Oakland Neurology Residency. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.
Mindy Eisenberg, MHSA, C-IAYT, ERYT-500
Director and Founder of Yoga Moves MS
Mindy Eisenberg, MHSA, C-IAYT, ERYT-500 is the Founder and Director of Yoga Moves MS, a non-profit 501(c )(3). She is the author of Adaptive Yoga Moves Any Body, created for individuals with MS and neuromuscular conditions and Adaptive Yoga Cards. Mindy has provided yoga therapy to individuals with mobility challenges for over sixteen years and thrives on building a strong, mighty community for her students and families. She is a Qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress reduction teacher and Certified Buteyko Breathing Instructor. She presents nationally for several MS, corporate, and yoga organizations and offers adaptive yoga teacher training for yoga therapists and clinicians. Her experience as a health care administrator at the University of Michigan Medical Center contributes to her ability to bring the Yoga Moves philosophy of healing and the importance of the mind-body relationship to the health care arena. Mindy has a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan. Since COVID, she lives with her family and pets in Franklin, Michigan, and offers daily adaptive yoga and meditation classes online.
Gretchen Hawley, PT, DPT, MSCS
The MSing Link-Physical Therapy for MS
Title of Presentation: Physical Therapy for MS Fatigue
Learn more MS-Specific exercises & strategies with Dr. Gretchen
The MSing Link podcast on Spotify
The MSing Link podcast on Apple
Gretchen Hawley is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. After graduating from Simmons University in Boston, MA she developed an MS physical therapy program alongside two of the city’s top MS neurologists. Dr. Hawley utilizes the concept of neuroplasticity in her online MS wellness program, The MSing Link, to help her clients reduce fatigue, get stronger, improve their balance, and walk better. Her clients feel more energized, empowered, in control over their life with MS. Dr. Hawley has been a keynote speaker at several MS conferences, lectures frequently for MS support groups, and continues to keep herself up-to-date on the newest & best MS practices by attending the MS Consortium each year. Dr. Hawley resides in Buffalo with her dog, Finn.
Evan L. Smith, PhD
Rehabilitation Psychologist, Michigan Medicine MS Center
Presentation title: Value-Based Thriving with MS
Dr. Evan L. Smith (he/him/his) is a Rehabilitation Psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), Division of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology (RPN). He serves as the attending psychologist in the University of Michigan Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center, a Comprehensive Center for MS care as designated by the National MS Society. His clinical role focuses on providing evidence-based psychotherapy services with patients and families living with MS, chronic health conditions, and disabilities through an interprofessional team-based approach. Dr. Smith is passionate about expanding access to care, serving historically marginalized/underserved communities, and is the Co-Director of the PM&R RPN Health Equity and Antiracism Taskforce (RPN-HEART). He has also served as the chairperson for the American Psychological Association, Division of Rehabilitation Psychology, Science Committee (2016-2018), and APA Program Committee (2019-2021).
In this session, we will learn about the importance of values, how values affect your lived experience with MS and how understanding your values can influence the choices you make to optimize your lived experience. Thriving with MS looks different for everyone. This discussion aims to provide a basic foundation of understanding in how to apply evidence-based value-based living strategies to your circumstances and empower yourself to thrive.
Barry Singer, MD
Director, The MS Center for Innovations in Care, Missouri Baptist Medical Center and also Founder of MS Living Well: Key Info from Multiple Sclerosis Experts
Keynote Speaker
Barry Singer, MD is the director and founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. He is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Duke University and medical degree from Columbia University. He completed his residency training in neurology at New York Hospital-Cornell University and a neuroimmunology fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. He has been an investigator in greater than 35 multiple sclerosis trials focused on new therapeutic options including remyelination. He received a Congressional Proclamation for MS Research in 2008.
Dr. Singer serves on the Board of Directors of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America since February 2016 and has a position on its executive committee. He has also served on the health advisory committee of the Gateway Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from 2000-2017 and is the recipient of the 2008 Pathlighter Award. His award-winning MS patient education website www.mslivingwell.org started in 2007 has been a valuable resource in 200 countries. Dr. Singer is also the host of the MS Living Well podcast.
James Voci, MD
Chair, Yoga Moves MS
Dr. James M. Voci received his undergraduate training at Haverford College in Philadelphia followed by Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania. There, his interest in Neurology was nurtured by a strong faculty which included Dr. Robert Lisak who later became Chairmen of Neurology at DMC in Detroit. His residency in Neurology was performed at University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University where he served as Chief Resident in his final year. Upon completion of his training, he served on the faculty there as Assistant Professor Of Neurology, performing both research in molecular biology as well as the instruction of new residents. In 1996 he left for private practice and eventually arrived in the metro Detroit region in 1999 where he has remained since. Dr. Voci currently serves as the Director of Neurology at St. Francis Hosp in Evanston. He is actively involved in the care of Multiple Sclerosis patients both clinically and with clinical research studies. And, yes, he actively practices Yoga. He has been the Chair of Yoga Moves MS since 2014.
Rosemarie Walch, DO
MS Specialist, MS Center at MIND
Presentation title: NMOSD and MS
Mitzi Joi Williams, MD
CEO of the Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center
Presentation title: Coping with MS Pain
Explore our 2020 Virtual Exhibit Hall
Click here to see last year’s presentations
We welcome your feedback and questions!
Use this form to provide event feedback or submit a question; please include a topic or a particular presenter, if applicable, and your email address if you’d like a response.
