Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Announces its New Medical Advisory Council

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Families of Spinal
Muscular Atrophy has just launched a new Medical Advisory Council (MAC). The
Families of SMA MAC is one of the most highly respected bodies of SMA medical
and clinical experts in the U.S., setting the agenda for proactive, creative,
and collaborative leadership on issues that improve the quality of medical
care for those affected by SMA.

The new Council will focus on educating families, health care providers, and
the public about SMA; expanding SMA standards of care; and translating
positive research results into clinical practice. Dr. Mary Schroth, a leading
pediatric pulmonologist will serve as Chair for the new Council. Mary is
Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Pulmonary
Center Grant at the University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital.

The MAC is composed of experts in the following fields:

Neurology (pediatric and adult); Pediatrics; Pulmonology; Pediatric Orthopedic
Surgery; Pediatric Critical Care (NICU specialist); Physiatry (rehab
medicine); Psychology; Genetic Counseling and/or Medical Ethics; Physical
Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Diet and Nutrition; Respiratory Therapy;
Nursing.

The members of the new MAC will be present at the upcoming 25th Anniversary
Conference to be held in Cincinnati, OH in June.

Members of the new MAC include:

-Susan Apkon, MD. The Children's Hospital, Colorado.
-Thomas Crawford, MD. Johns Hopkins University.
-Richard S. Finkel, MD. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
-Albert Freedman, Ph.D. West Chester, PA.
-Robert Graham, MD. Children's Hospital Boston.
-John Grayhack, MD. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Children's Memorial Hospital.
-John T. Kissel, MD. The Ohio State University.
-Richard M. Kravitz, MD. Duke University Medical Center.
-Kristin J. Krosschell, PT, MA, PCS. Feinberg School of Medicine,
Northwestern University.
-Garey Noritz, MD. MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve
University.
-Karen Patterson, MS, PT, PCS. University of Wisconsin Physical Therapy
Program.
-Richard Shell, MD. Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State
University.
-Kenneth Silver, MD. University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.
-Brian Snyder, MD, Ph.D. Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital
of Boston.
-Jodi Wolff, MS, RD. MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve.
-Andreas Constantinescu, MD, Ph.D. Columbia University/Children's
Hospital of NY-Presbyterian.
-Susan Iannaccone, MD. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Children's Medical Center
-Jonathan Finder, MD. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
-Petra Kaufmann, MD. Columbia University.
-Anastassios C. Koumbourlis, MD, MPH. Schneider Children's Hospital.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
-Jo Anne Maczulski, MA, OTR/L. Chicago, IL.
-Barry S. Russman, MD. The Ohio State University and Shriners Hospital
for Children.
-Kathryn J. Swoboda, MD. University of Utah School of Medicine.
-Nanci Yuan, MD. Stanford University.

About Families of SMA:

Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy is dedicated to creating a treatment and
cure by:

Funding and advancing a comprehensive research program; Supporting SMA
families through networking, information and services; Improving care for all
SMA patients; Educating health professionals and the public about SMA;
Enlisting government support for SMA; Embracing all touched by SMA in a caring
community.

Our vision is a world where Spinal Muscular Atrophy is treatable and curable.

The goal of the organization for 2009 is to have raised $50 million for SMA
research. Families of SMA funds and directs the leading SMA research
programs. Families of SMA has created hope for our community that did not
exist in 1984. Our support comes from generous individual donations and
numerous fundraising events held by volunteer families and our chapters.

Our successful results and progress from basic research to drug discovery
programs to clinical trials provides real hope for families and patients:

-Families of SMA has funded 5 multi-center clinical trials for existing
drugs that have potential for SMA.
-FSMA has directed and funded the leading new drug development program for
a therapy specially designed to treat SMA.
-Families of SMA is building a pipeline of drug discovery programs based
on our investments in basic research.
-FSMA has invested significant resources into alternative approaches that
show promise to cure SMA.

www.curesma.org

SOURCE Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Kenneth Hobby, Executive Director, 1-800-886-1762, kenneth@fsma.org