MSAA Podcast Episodes
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Episode 17: If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 3
March 19, 2025
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 3” as the third and final in a three-part series. Hosted by Kate Durack, Director of Communication and Patient Focus with MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2025 MS Awareness Month theme – Empowered from the Start with MSAA. Our guests once again are Claude, Anita, and Lizette – a group of people living with multiple sclerosis who share their personal experiences of when they were diagnosed with MS.
Episode 16: If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 2
March 14, 2025
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 2” as the second in a three-part series. Hosted by Kate Durack, Director of Communication and Patient Focus with MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2025 MS Awareness Month theme – Empowered from the Start with MSAA. Our guests are a group of people living with multiple sclerosis who share their personal experiences of when they were diagnosed with MS: Claude, Anita, and Lizette. In this episode, you’ll hear the first part of a roundtable discussion where our panel shares the lessons they’ve learned, the challenges they’ve faced, and what they wish they had known when they were first diagnosed.
Episode 15: If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 1
February 28, 2025
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “If I Knew Then: Reflecting on an MS Diagnosis – PART 1” as the first in a three-part series. Hosted by Kate Durack, Director of Communication and Patient Focus with MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2025 MS Awareness Month theme – Empowered from the Start with MSAA. Our guest, MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer Barry Hendin, MD, is a neurologist and Director of the Arizona Integrated Neurology MS Center, among other credentials. In this episode, Dr. Hendin discusses important areas to focus on for individuals who are newly diagnosed with MS, how to communicate with one’s healthcare team, and the importance of emotional well-being.
Episode 14: Social Interactions and Connections – Finding Joy in the Process, PART 3
March 18, 2024
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Social Interactions and Connections” as the third and final one in a three-part series entitled “Finding Joy in the Process: Managing Mental Health in the MS Journey.” This program is part of MSAA’s 2024 MS Awareness Month theme – Improving Lives Through Supportive Connections. Our guest, Amy B. Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP, is a behavioral medicine specialist and an Associate Professor of Medicine along with being the Director of Behavioral Medicine & Research at the Mellen Center for MS. In this episode, Dr. Sullivan discusses how MS impacts daily routines, relationships, and social life and the benefit of social interactions and connections when someone is managing mental health and MS.
Episode 13: The Power of Positive Thinking – Finding Joy in the Process, PART 2
March 8, 2024
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “The Power of Positive Thinking” as the second in a three-part series entitled “Finding Joy in the Process: Managing Mental Health in the MS Journey.” Hosted by Yahaira Rivera, Director of Mission Delivery and Program Development for MSAA, this program is part of MSAA’s 2024 MS Awareness Month theme – Improving Lives Through Supportive Connections. Our guest, Amy B. Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP, is a behavioral medicine specialist and an Associate Professor of Medicine along with being the Director of Behavioral Medicine & Research at the Mellen Center for MS. In this episode, Dr. Sullivan speaks about coming to terms with living with MS and how using positivity as a coping strategy could improve one’s quality of life.
Episode 12: Mental Health and MS – Finding Joy in the Process, PART 1
March 4, 2024
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is pleased to present our podcast episode “Mental Health and MS” as the first in a three-part series entitled “Finding Joy in the Process: Managing Mental Health in the MS Journey.” This program is part of MSAA’s 2024 MS Awareness Month theme – Improving Lives Through Supportive Connections. Our guest, Amy B. Sullivan, PsyD, ABPP, is a behavioral medicine specialist and an Associate Professor of Medicine along with being the Director of Behavioral Medicine & Research at the Mellen Center for MS. In this episode, Dr. Sullivan discusses such issues as common symptoms that impact mental health, advice for someone that might be experiencing a mental health challenge, and strategies that could help to cope with mental health in one’s MS journey.
Episode 11: Young Adults Living with MS
March 10, 2023
This program is part of MSAA’s 2023 MS Awareness Month theme: Life with MS: Different Stages of the Journey. Our guest, Nuriel Moghavem, MD, is a neurologist and MS fellow at Keck School of Medicine at USC in Los Angeles, California, where he was born and raised. In this episode, Dr. Moghavem discusses how it is important to learn to live your best life with multiple sclerosis if you are newly diagnosed as a young adult.
Episode 10: Navigating the Pediatric MS Journey
March 3, 2023
This program is part of MSAA’s 2023 MS Awareness Month theme: Life with MS: Different Stages of the Journey. Our first guest, Yolanda Wheeler, PhD, CRNP, CPNP-AC, MSCN, is an assistant professor and nurse researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing, as well as a member of MSAA’s Healthcare Advisory Council and African American Advisory Board. Our second guest, Elena McDaniel, is a parent of a child with MS. In this episode, Dr. Wheeler and Elena explore pediatric MS and how that affects children and teens, and also what parents and guardians should know and consider when talking to their healthcare providers.
Episode 9: 3 M’s of MS – Mangia, Microbiome, and Molecules
March 18, 2022
This program is part of MSAA’s 2022 MS Awareness Month theme: Shaping the MS Experience. Our guest, Andrew Woo, MD, Ph.D., is a private practice neurologist at Santa Monica Neurological Consultants and an MSAA Board Member. In this episode, Dr. Woo shares his thoughts on what he calls the “3 M’s of MS: Mangia, Microbiome, and Molecules” by discussing supplements and diets that have been studied or claimed to help MS, as well as other related autoimmune conditions.
Episode 8: Choosing the Right MS Therapy
March 4, 2022
With so many MS disease-modifying therapies to consider, it can be overwhelming to choose what might be the best therapy for your specific MS disease course. In this podcast episode, we’ll chat with MS specialist Dr. Barry Singer, Director and Founder of The MS Center for Innovations in Care and MSAA Board Member, about key considerations healthcare providers make in consultation with their patients to determine the best possible treatment course.
Episode 7: Caring for the Care Partner
March 2, 2021
This program is part of MSAA’s 2021 MS Awareness Month theme: Improving Mental Health and Wellness. Our returning guest, Dr. Amy Sullivan, is a Board Certified, Staff Clinical Health Psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Sullivan talks about care partners' often overlooked but important physical and emotional needs, and provides practical tips and suggestions on ways to avoid care partner burnout.
Episode 6: Better Symptom Management through Wellness
March 13, 2020
This program is part of MSAA’s 2020 MS Awareness Month theme: The Mind, Body, and MS Connection. Our guests Mary Rensel, MD, and Amy Sullivan, PsyD of the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for MS talk about brain health and provide helpful strategies to improve MS care through nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and overall healthy living. Dr. Rensel is an MS neurologist and Director of the Wellness Program, and Dr. Sullivan is a psychologist and Director of Behavioral Medicine, Research, and Training.
Episode 5: A Little is a Lot When Exercising with MS
March 2, 2020
This program is part of MSAA’s 2020 MS Awareness Month theme: The Mind, Body, and MS Connection. Our guest, physical therapist Brian Hutchinson, shares his insights on the importance of exercise and physical activity in managing MS. Brian is an MS-certified specialist and the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center in Sacramento, California.
Episode 4: The Impact of Nutrition in Multiple Sclerosis
June 26, 2019
This program is part of MSAA’s series on MS and the Family, spotlighting healthy lifestyles and wellness activities. Our guest, Dr. Olga Thon, shares her insights on popular vitamins and supplements, various diets that affect MS, and suggestions for effective exercises and overall wellness strategies to help better manage multiple sclerosis. Dr. Thon is the director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.
Episode 3: The Many Faces of MS: Exploring Diversity Within Multiple Sclerosis
June 4, 2019
This program is part of MSAA’s series on MS and the Family, spotlighting the topic of diversity within MS. Our guest, Dr. EJ Gettings, shares his insights on multiple sclerosis and its impact on various patient populations. Dr. Gettings is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Episode 2: Spotlighting Care Partner Needs with Lara Krawchuk
March 15, 2019
This program is part of MSAA’s 2019 MS Awareness Month campaign on MS and the Family, spotlighting the topic of Care Partners and MS. Our guest, Lara Krawchuk, MSW, LCSW, MPH, shares her insights as well as resources and tips for care partners. Ms. Krawchuk is a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and wellness educator.
Episode 1: Exploring Relationships & MS with Miriam Franco
March 11, 2019
This program is part of MSAA’s 2019 MS Awareness Month campaign on MS and the Family, spotlighting the topic of Relationships and MS. Our guest, Miriam Franco, MSW, PsyD, MSCS, shares her expertise and insights on fostering healthy relationships for couples living with MS. Dr. Franco is a psychologist, social worker, certified guided imagery practitioner, and a multiple sclerosis specialist.
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