ALS Podcast

Debbie Ihde and her family created a Tribute Fund to honor her late husband, Dave Ihde, who did everything he could to fight ALS for himself and for others. That included ALS Advocacy and fundraising, but also participating in research like a study on Brain Computer Interface with Andrew Geronimo.

In this podcast, Debbie talks about her husband and Andrew Geronimo discusses the potential for this new brain technology to help people with ALS and other diseases. Listen and then get involved at www.alsphiladelphia.org

Brenda Edelman is the Director of Patient Services at The ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter. In this podcast episode, she talks about how her background as a social worker helps guide her management and values while running the patient services department, how her staff is organized to best help people with ALS, and how her role has evolved in her decade with the Chapter. Listen, share, and get involved today at www.alsphiladelphia.org and join Brenda at the Greater Philadelphia Walk to Defeat ALS on November 1 at www.greaterphiladelphiawalktodefeatals.org

Mikaelyn Austin and Rob Marcolina of Philly Philms have been recording stories about ALS since 2011, first with the Phillies Phestival and now producing feature profiles for the national ALS Association. As outsiders to the disease, they've come to understand how ALS affects whole families and the impact of ALS Association programs and research. Listen to their perspectives and get involved today at www.alsphiladelphia.org

Alisa Brownlee makes her second appearance on the ALS Podcast, this time to talk about how ALS families can prepare for emergencies and be ready in the event of a natural disaster. From "Go-Bags" to contact lists to important devices, Alisa gives tips on how to be ready and where to go for further resources. After the tough winter of 2014-15, this information can be vital to a person with ALS and their caregivers. For further questions, email [email protected] or tweet her @ALSAssistiveTec

In this Podcast, Wendy Barnes talks about her 15 years of working with The ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter. From her start running an ALS support group to her work today managing the Howard I. Abrams In-Home Care Program, Respite Care, and the Accessibility Fund, Wendy discusses how she does her job, what ALS means to her today after over a decade with the Chapter, and her efforts with the Lehigh Valley Walk to Defeat ALS. Join Wendy at the walk on October 17 at Coca Cola Park in Allentown, PA at www.lehighvalleywalktodefeatals.org and find out more about supporting the ALS cause and the programs Wendy mentions at www.alsphiladelphia.org

Donn’s Dash is named in honor of Donn Schmidt, a beloved husband, father and resident of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Tim Seigfried and his friends at eBay Enterprise helped create this 5k event in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA to surprise their coworker, Brianne Schmidt. Together Brianne, Tim, and the team created and organized this event from scratch and, in their first year, raised over $15,000 for ALS care services. Listen to Tim and Brianne talk about their experiences in this episode of the ALS Podcast and then continue the fight against ALS at www.alsphiladelphia.org

Sue Walsh, Director of Clinical Services at the ALS Association Treatment Center at Hershey Medical Center, joins the podcast to talk about her two decades of providing nursing care to people with ALS. In this episode, Sue discusses how the clinic has grown at Hershey Medical Center, the work of Dr. Zach Simmons, coordinating care and research, and how the work impacts her personally. Support her team for the Hershey Walk to Defeat ALS all year long at www.hersheywalktodefeatals.org or donate generally at www.alsphiladelphia.org and follow on social media @alsphiladelphia

BAYADA Home Health Care is a national partner with The ALS Association, a relationship that began locally with The Greater Philadelphia Chapter. In this podcast, Tracy Sideris, Ali Nielsen, and Emma Straub of BAYADA talk about working for a values driven company, how partnering with The ALS Association at many events has mutual benefits for all involved, and what they have learned about ALS and improving quality care since the relationship began. Join them at a Walk to Defeat ALS at www.gpcwalktodefeatals.org and follow BAYADA on Twitter and Instagram @BAYADAHHC

Judy Lyter and Travis Haines from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center join the ALS Podcast to discuss their surveys to screen for froto-temporal dementia in persons with ALS. Their screening process will help guide better treatment, start the discussions on brain health and cognition earlier in the ALS journey, and provide comfort and resources to family caregivers. Listen, share, and get involved at www.alsphiladelphia.org

You may have donated to ALS research, but what is that research money funding? In this podcast, Dr. James Connor of Hershey Medical Center talks about his research, funded through The ALS Association, which focuses on the effect of iron and oxygen on ALS. He speaks about understanding ALS, what the differences are in people living with the disease, the advancements in biomarkers, and the challenges and opportunities of research generally. Continue to support ALS research all year long at www.alsphiladelphia.org