At the Northern California Chapter, our emphasis is wellness — and this emphasis begins with our Professional Advisory Committee. A multidisciplinary council of volunteers, the Professional Advisory Committee serves the Chapter in many ways:
- Developing professional education programs
- Ensuring that the medical information we publish is accurate
- Reviewing referral lists and clinical affiliations
- Educating the general public, people with MS, and professionals about multiple sclerosis
The Committee also educates and advises our Board of Directors on topics such as new treatments, current research, and health insurance. In addition to these tasks, the Professional Advisory Committee has established the following goals:
- To improve the quality of medical care for people with MS in Northern California
- To develop and promote a fully integrated, multidisciplinary approach to treating MS, which recognizes the contributions made by each care specialty
- To advocate for healthcare reform so that every person with MS will have access to quality, comprehensive care
- To increase partnerships with other healthcare organizations in order to pool knowledge and resources
To this end, the Committee’s members sit on subcommittees in their areas of expertise: physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, rehabilitation specialists (such as physical and occupational therapists), and complementary medical practitioners (such as acupuncturists and chiropractors). For more information on the Professional Advisory Committee, please contact us at 1-800-344-4867, (415) 230-6677, or info@msconnection.org.
One of the many blessings of life in our area is access to an impressive pool of medical professionals. Northern California is an epicenter of cutting-edge MS research; local scientists, healthcare professionals, and complementary medical practitioners have global reputations. The Chapter’s Professional Advisory Committee reflects this excellence.
All of these people are leaders: some are recognized as international MS experts, some are champions in their communities. Each of them brings unique skills to the fight against MS. We are grateful for their volunteer efforts.
Our Professional Advisory Committee presently includes two regional councils, one for the Bay Area and one for the Central Valley. The membership and chair of each council are listed below.
Bay Area |
Central Valley |
|
Chair Joanna Cooper, MD |
Chair John Schafer, MD |
| Committee | Committee |
|
Margaret Anderson, PT |
Mark Agius, MD |
| Victoria Behrman, MD Internist Laguna Honda Hospital San Francisco, CA |
William Au, MD Neurologist Neurological Consultants Medical Group Sacramento, CA |
| Saraswathi Devi Yoga Practitioner Yogalayam Center Berkeley, CA |
Stephen D. Forner, MD Neurologist Chico, CA |
| Diane Foti, OTR Occupational Therapist Fremont, CA |
Pam Logan, OTR Occupational Therapist Mercy General Hospital Sacramento, CA |
| John Gambin, MD Neurologist Eureka, CA |
For-Shing Lui, MD Neurologist Kaiser Medical Center Sacramento, CA |
| Douglas S. Goodin, MD Neurologist MS Center at UCSF San Francisco, CA |
George Palma, MD Neurologist Roseville, CA |
| Gail F. Gordon, PT Feldenkrais Practitioner & Physical Therapist Oakland, CA |
Margaret M. Portwood, MD Physiatrist Sacramento, CA |
| Richard Kelly Imes, MD Chief of Ophthalmology Alameda Co. Medical Center Alamo, CA |
David Richman, MD Neurologist UC Davis Medical Center Sacramento, CA |
| Barbara Ridley, FNP, CRRN Nurse Practitioner Alta Bates Medical Center Berkeley, CA |
Howell Runion, PA-C, PhD Professor of Pharmacology University of the Pacfic Stockton, CA |
| M. Elizabeth Sandel, MD Physiatrist Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center Vallejo, CA |
James Stoody, MD Neurologist Roseville, CA |
| Emmanuelle Waubant, MD Neurologist MS Center at UCSF San Francisco, CA |
Michael Taylor, MD Wellness Instructor Integrated Healing Center Granite Bay, CA |
| Pearl B. Werfel, PhD Psychologist San Francisco, CA |
John Wicks, PhD Neuropsychologist Sacramento , CA |
| Kurt R. Wharton, MD Obstetrician & Gynecologist Orinda, CA |
|
|
Gail L. Widener, PhD |
|
|
Robyn G. Young, MD |
|
| Scott S. Zamvil, MD, PhD Neurologist UCSF Dept. of Neurology San Francisco, CA |
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