The 18th International Symposium for ALS/MND organized by the Motor Neuron Disease Association in cooperation with the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations was held in Toronto, Canada in December 2007. Terry Heiman-Patterson MD, Jeffrey Deitch PhD, Sara Feldman PT, Mark Goren OT, and Donna Harris SLP attended the symposium which included the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations meeting and the Allied Professionals’ Forum. The Allied Professionals’ Forum and the Ask the Experts sessions were sponsored by The ALS Hope Foundation.
 
 
Dr. Terry Heiman-Patterson presented two posters, “Adherence to NIPPV in ALS Patients with Mild and Moderate Respiratory Impairment: Preliminary Results of the Pilot Nutrition/NIPPV Study” and “Measuring Rate of Decline in Pulmonary Function in ALS: Preliminary Results from the ALS Nutrition/NIPPV Study Group.” Roseanne Sattazhan RN is the Medical Monitor and Clinical Research Coordinator for the NIPPV study.
 
Sara Feldman presented at the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations meeting with Dr. Francisco Rotta on the partnership between ABrELA in Brazil and the ALS Hope Foundation. She and Dr. Rotta discussed the importance of exchanging information between our organizations and the ongoing commitment on both sides to continue the partnership. She also presented on “Assistive Technology in the Acute Care Setting” at the Allied Professionals’ Forum. This highlighted the two rooms in Hahnemann Hospital specially equipped for people with ALS and their families.
 
Mark Goren and Donna Harris presented on the “Cyberlink Control System” at the Allied Professionals’ Forum. This presentation reported the findings of a study they conducted at the clinic comparing the Cyberlink system with the letterboard for communication.
 

   

Dr. Terry Heiman-Patterson, Dr. Anahita Deboo, Christine Barr RN and Sara Feldman PT were also listed as part of the Minocycline Study Group for three posters presented by other individuals.
 
The participants came back from the International Symposium with both a sense of accomplishment and an affirmation of our purpose. It was a worthwhile trip, made better by sharing it with others with similar energy, passion and focus in the fight against ALS.