NEWS: March 11 NYC Lyme forum will be streamed live
US Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Richard Blumenthal (CT) to take part.
Press release:
Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Blumenthal, Tick-borne Disease Alliance and Weill Cornell Medical College Host NYC Forum on Silent Epidemic of Tick-borne Diseases on March 11th
(PRWEB) March 06, 2013
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are partnering with the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness, supporting initiatives, and promoting advocacy to find a cure for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, and Weill Cornell Medical College to host a forum to raise awareness and build support in the fight against the silent epidemic of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme, on MONDAY, MARCH 11TH from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Weill Cornell Medical College. In 2011, more than 24,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease were reported in the U.S., with the Centers for Disease Control stating they believed only 10-12% of all cases had been reported. Lyme disease is the second most common reportable disease in the Northeast.
The forum will include a panel of doctors, experts, and patients who will offer their insight in ways to combat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases:
- Dr. Brian Fallon, Director of the Center for Neuroinflammatory Disorders and Biobehavioral Medicine; Director of Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center, Columbia University
- Dr. Roy Gulick, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College; Attending Physician, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City
- Dr. David Leiby, Head of Transmissible Diseases at American Red Cross
- John McPherson, nationally syndicated cartoonist, Creator of the “Close to Home” comic, patient advocate
- Dr. Richard Ostfeld, Disease Ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
WHAT: U.S. Senators Gillibrand and Richard Blumenthal, Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA) to Co-Host Forum on the Threat of Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases at Weill Cornell Medical College.
WHO: U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Richard Blumenthal
David Roth, Co-Chairman of TBDA
Panel of doctors, experts, advocates, and patients affected by tick-borne diseases
WHEN: Monday, March 11th at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Weill Cornell Medical College
1300 York Avenue
(Corner of 69th Street and York Avenue)
Manhattan
The forum will be simulcast beginning at 10:15 a.m. Monday in Vanderlyn Hall at Ulster County Community College, 491 Cottekill Road, Stone Ridge, NY. And will be available via live-stream at tbdalliance.org and weill.cornell.edu/tickborne.
As a member of the planning committee, I’d like to also let everyone know that a simulcast of the forum is being sponsored by Congressman Chris Gibson, (R NY-19) at SUNY Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, NY. Congressman Gibson will be in NYC with Senators Gillibrand and Blumenthal during the forum.
will this be recorded for later vviewing?
I applaud you wholeheartedly Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Chris Gibson!!! You are a great voice for all of us that suffer everyday living with this horrible disease. Thank you so much for helping take a stand for us!!!
I’ve been struggling with Lyme Disease for almost a year. The pain I feel on a regular basis is unreal. I was treated in October with Doxycycline. My body did not respond to the medication and I was not getting better. I was tested positive for Lyme but because my body didn’t accept the treatment the doctors insisted there was something else wrong with me. For months I was going to doctor to doctor. Neurologists laughing in my face because a tick couldn’t possibly give me parkinson’s symptoms. Experts disagreeing with one another about my blood results. While I was still in pain with fevers, numbness, hand tremors, bells palsy, joint pain, sharp stomach pain, and so much more. I finally found an out of pocket doctor that cost me over 1,200 to get the proper treatment. The doctor could not accept health insurance because of all the controversy that comes a long with Lyme Disease. It’s a political disease. I’ve had infectious disease doctors hang up on me as soon as I said that I have Lyme Disease. “I’m sorry we do not treat Lyme Disease. ::click::” I know hundreds of people that are in my situation that are not allowed to get proper treatment because of the cost. This needs to stop and people need to understand that Chronic Lyme Disease does exist. It’s not in our heads. I hope that people read my story and understand what Im going through. Lyme Disease is serious and it is truly an epidemic.