Branson Meeting a Hit!
September 2011
USMVP members got a chance to meet the founders and directors of U.S. Military Veterans with Parkinson's at this year's Founder's Reunion in Branson, Missouri. Members discussed issues with PD therapies, symptoms, and research opportunities. Caregivers discussed care management and dealing with challenging health issues brought by Parkinson's disease. Our thanks to the staff of the Hilton Convention Center Hotel and the folks at the Branson Convention Center.
2011 PAN Forum
Rachel Gonzalez, Jan Oates, Terri Graham, Jim Graham, Alan Oates, Steve Fiscus , Lorenzo Gonzalez, Pat Fiscus, Jake Smith
February 28, 2011 - Washington D.C.
USMVP was present and accounted for at the 2011 PAN Forum. Our group joined PAN members and staff to discuss PAN legislative priorities. Wednesday, March 2, was spent "on the hill" asking members of Congress to:
USMVP was present and accounted for at the 2011 PAN Forum. Our group joined PAN members and staff to discuss PAN legislative priorities. Wednesday, March 2, was spent "on the hill" asking members of Congress to:
- Join the Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's disease.
- Co-sponsor the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act. The Bill, S. 425, was officially introduced Tuesday, March 1, 2011. Joining U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) as co-sponsors are Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE), and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
- Support both biomedical research and therapy development at the National Institutes of Health (in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill). The Cures Acceleration Network needs a small part of NIH funding to get up and running.
Recognition Award
February 28, 2011 - Washington. D.C.
The Parkinson's Action Network presented USMVP Directors Alan Oates, Lorenzo Gonzalez, and Steve Fiscus with SPECIAL RECOGNITION for DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PARKINSON'S COMMUNITY IN THE FIGHT TO SECURE DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR VIETNAM VETERANS. The work done by these veterans will make available medical and compensatory benefits for more than 80,000 Vietnam Veterans with Parkinson's disease. The award was presented by Amy Comstock Rick, CEO, Parkinson's Action Network.
The Parkinson's Action Network presented USMVP Directors Alan Oates, Lorenzo Gonzalez, and Steve Fiscus with SPECIAL RECOGNITION for DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PARKINSON'S COMMUNITY IN THE FIGHT TO SECURE DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR VIETNAM VETERANS. The work done by these veterans will make available medical and compensatory benefits for more than 80,000 Vietnam Veterans with Parkinson's disease. The award was presented by Amy Comstock Rick, CEO, Parkinson's Action Network.
Shinseki meets USMVP
9/1/2010 - Mankato, MN
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki meets USMVP and friends. Attending the meeting were (l-r): Larry Volk, Patty Fiscus, Steve Fiscus Mike Tork, U.S. Congressman Tim Walz, Eric Shinseki, Alan Oates, Jan Oates, Becky Volk, Terri Graham, Jim Graham, Jane Tork. Director Lorenzo Gonzalez was unable to attend.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki meets USMVP and friends. Attending the meeting were (l-r): Larry Volk, Patty Fiscus, Steve Fiscus Mike Tork, U.S. Congressman Tim Walz, Eric Shinseki, Alan Oates, Jan Oates, Becky Volk, Terri Graham, Jim Graham, Jane Tork. Director Lorenzo Gonzalez was unable to attend.
IOM Public Session - San Antonio
June 19, 2008 San Antonio, Texas
The Directors of USMVP are grateful for an invitation from Dr. Mary Paxton, Institute of Medicine (IOM), to participate in the Public Session of the Committee to Review the Health Effects in Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides (Seventh Biannual Update). The Public Session was held at the Hyatt Regency-Riverwalk in San Antonio. Attending the session for USMVP were Alan Oates, Steve Fiscus, Lorenzo Gonzalez, and Christopher Reid, MD, PhD.
Alan Oates presented arguments and research which supports the association between exposure to service-connected herbicides and Early-Onset Parkinson's disease. Response from the IOM Committee was enthusiastic and positive.
Dr. Reid gave a presentation on his Study of USMVP Veterans showing a common causation of Parkinson's disease among these Vietnam veterans. Dr. Reid also reported the identification of a "PD latency period of 33 years" which supports an earlier finding by Lorenzo Gonzalez based on information from USMVP members.
The Directors of USMVP are grateful for an invitation from Dr. Mary Paxton, Institute of Medicine (IOM), to participate in the Public Session of the Committee to Review the Health Effects in Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides (Seventh Biannual Update). The Public Session was held at the Hyatt Regency-Riverwalk in San Antonio. Attending the session for USMVP were Alan Oates, Steve Fiscus, Lorenzo Gonzalez, and Christopher Reid, MD, PhD.
Alan Oates presented arguments and research which supports the association between exposure to service-connected herbicides and Early-Onset Parkinson's disease. Response from the IOM Committee was enthusiastic and positive.
Dr. Reid gave a presentation on his Study of USMVP Veterans showing a common causation of Parkinson's disease among these Vietnam veterans. Dr. Reid also reported the identification of a "PD latency period of 33 years" which supports an earlier finding by Lorenzo Gonzalez based on information from USMVP members.
