Dedicated to Our Mission
By Jason M. Slattery
Chair, MSAA Board of Directors
I would like to introduce myself to the MS community and our cherished readers of The Motivator. My name is Jason Slattery and I was recently appointed as the new Chairperson for MSAA’s Board of Directors. I am deeply honored to be given this opportunity to support vital program initiatives designed to accomplish our mission of Improving Lives Today for everyone affected by MS.
To share a bit about my background, I am a founding partner at a global executive search firm, focusing on some of the top technology companies. I am married to my college sweetheart, Susan, and she is the reason I have become so passionate about my new role at MSAA. Susan has MS, and together, we are devoted to the needs of people living with MS and their care partners.
Turning to MSAA news, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Montague, EdM as MSAA’s Interim President & CEO. Amanda has been a dedicated member of our senior management team and a part of MSAA for more than 21 years, while serving most recently as Chief Mission Officer. Additionally, Amanda recently earned her master’s in International Patient Advocacy Management.
With this new appointment, I want to emphasize that the commitment to our mission remains stronger than ever. Amanda has been an integral part of the development and implementation of MSAA’s most notable programs for more than two decades. Her innovative ideas and tireless work ethic have been invaluable to our organization’s mission.
Along with this important announcement, I want to provide a program update to our readers. Currently, we are past the halfway mark of our strategic plan for the 2024-2026 fiscal years. This plan was largely influenced by our needs-assessment survey, identifying the needs, interests, and concerns of individuals living with MS as well as those who provide support for them.
Under the plan’s direction, we are expanding existing programs while creating new ones including MSAA’s MS Ecosystem Framework initiative, and the Multiple Sclerosis Implementation Network® (MSIN®), featured in this issue’s “Program Notes” column.
I encourage you to read this edition’s cover story on biomarkers in MS. Biomarkers have the potential to predict the onset or worsening of diseases, including MS, and may assist with such things as an earlier diagnosis, a more precise prognosis, and an optimal treatment plan.
Finally, I want to express my sincere appreciation to all those who support MSAA. The contributions you make are absolutely essential to the development and delivery of our urgently needed programs. With your support, we’re able to provide such services as our Helpline, safety and mobility equipment, cooling vests, educational programs, and much more, all at no cost to tens of thousands of individuals with MS and their families each year. Together, we are able to Improve Lives Today for the MS community.