Apr 10, 2013

Jacqueline Sembor

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Few doctors make house calls these days. The very notion recalls an era long before healthcare reform, urgent care centers and medical centers. But one Fairfield practice, always game for some extra legwork, is ready to step up and out for its patients.

“Our patients are number one,” shared Angelo Termine, a clinical research manager at Associated Neurologists of Southern Connecticut (ANSC). “Even if that means going above and beyond the duties of the clinic.”

“Our involvement with Walk MS is one more thing we can do to ensure that research continues to move forward,” said Termine, a resident of Durham, who, in addition to walking every year, also volunteers his time serving on the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter’s research advocacy committee.

Since its inception in 2007, the team continues to grow. Last year, Termine led a group of 24 in successfully raising $2,000 to benefit the 2012 Walk MS.

“We work hard to recruit other healthcare organizations to get involved with Walk MS,” stated Termine. “We are a compassionate and caring organization in that we want to walk alongside our patients.”

More than 6,000 residents live with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. Symptoms can include, among other things, numbness and tingling in the extremities, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness in the limbs, and in extreme cases, complete paralysis. There currently is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Funds raised through Connecticut Chapter events, such as Walk MS, ensure ongoing scientific research to find better treatments and a cure. These funds also provide for the continuation of vital programs and services offered by the chapter.

“I have been invested in Walk MS since I first began my practice,” stated Jeffrey Gross, M.D., president and managing partner of ANSC and longtime board member of the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter. “Since Angelo started the team in 2007, I have been very proud of our forward momentum. It is great to see a group of people so committed to our patients that they are willing to take their work beyond the confines of the office.”

In addition to the 25 staff members who are currently registered, the team has also opened its roster to patients. The team will step out for the 2013 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, on Sunday, April 21, in Westport.

“We invite any and all of our patients to step out with us for this great event,” said Gross, who also serves as director of the MS Comprehensive Care Center at ANSC. “We hung fliers around the office promoting our team, but the people who have not recently visited the office should know they can join us, too. We even had special t-shirts printed.”

Along with participating in the walk, the staff will also run an information booth at the Westport Walk MS site. There, participants can learn more about the MS Comprehensive Care Center, current clinical trials, FDA-approved treatments for MS and other available resources.

Associated Neurologists of Southern Connecticut, the first MS care center in the state to be certified as a Partner in MS Care by the National MS Society, also teamed up this year with the Connecticut Chapter to sponsor the 2013 Walk MS public service announcement, which airs on WTNH News 8 and Clear Channel radio stations.

“From passing out t-shirts and food at Walk MS to filling balloons before the event, we are there to lend a helping hand,” continued Termine. “We do it because we truly appreciate all that the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, does to help people living with MS. Our partnership with the Society is valuable and I am confident that one day, we will find a cure for MS.”

To join the MS Comprehensive Care Center at ANSC fundraising team, call Angelo Termine or Alicia Castelot at 203.333.1151 or visit www.anscneuro.com. For more information on the 2013 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, or to register, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.

4/10/2013