Dr. Gary Birnbaum - Minnesota Chapter
Dr. Gary Birnbaum is a neurologist at the Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology, where he is director of the MS Treatment and Research Center. He is an active clinician and researcher who strives daily to meet the medical needs of people affected by MS. Dr. Birnbaum has been a member of the Minnesota Chapter Board of Trustees for 32 years and regularly donates his time and expertise to speak at client and professional education programs.

Rene Elkin - New York City/Southern NY Chapter
Dr. Rene Elkin is a board certified neurologist, MS specialist and director of two chapter affiliated MS Centers: Bronx Lebanon Hospital/BronxCare MS Clinic, and White Plains Hospital Center MS Center at Rye Brook. She has been treating MS patients for over 20 years and during that time volunteered regularly as a speaker for the Southern New York and New York City chapters. Dr. Elkin is a long time member of the Clinical Advisory Committee, and served on the Southern New York chapter board of trustees.

Thomas Leist, MD, PhD - Greater Delaware Valley Chapter
Thomas Leist, MD, PhD, has made providing high-quality, easily accessible care for people living with MS his life’s work as director of the Comprehensive MS Center at Thomas Jefferson University. As the chairman of the chapter’s Clinical Advisory Committee, he has challenged committee members to develop “programs in a box” that can be presented by any MS professional throughout the area. He also is a frequent speaker at programs for both physicians and clients.

Deanna Markley, PT - Mid America Chapter
Deanna Markley has been a Physical Therapist at Mid America Rehabilitation Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas for the past 20 years. Deanna received her BA from Kansas State University and her degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas. She is certified by Resna as an Assistive Technology Practitioner and in the neurological area of NDT. Deanna has been a long-time volunteer with the Society, and was awarded the Mid America Chapter’s Healthcare Professional of the Year in 2009.

Marie Namey - Ohio Buckeye Chapter
Marie A. Namey, RN, CNS has been part of the interdisciplinary team at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation since its inception in 1985. Since that time she has also been an active volunteer for the National MS Society, making numerous presentations to patient and professional groups to increase knowledge about MS and to deliver comprehensive care and treatment options. She has been a longtime member of the Clinical Advisory Committee and Program Committee.