Past Episodes

With more than 9,000 MS researchers and clinicians in attendance, the 2024 ECTRIMS meeting in Copenhagen was the largest MS research conference in the world. During the meeting, I had an opportunity to talk with some of the best and brightest minds in MS research and clinical practice. This is your invitation to listen in on my ECTRIMS EXTRA conversation with Dr. Fred Lublin. Dr. Fred Lublin is the Director of the Corrine Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mount Sinai. He par...

Living with the unpredictability of MS sometimes feels like riding a rollercoaster. As you experience the twists and turns of life with MS, you can sometimes feel unmoored from the person you thought you were. You can sense your priorities, motivations, and values shifting. And, in those moments, it becomes easy to lose your sense of purpose. Clinical assistant professor and rehabilitation psychologist at the University of Michigan, Dr. Evan Smith, joins me to discuss how to identify and reconn...

Living with MS is expensive. A recent study funded by the National MS Society found the average cost of living with MS in the United States is $88,487 a year. Even with insurance, that can turn out to be a heavy lift. One thing you don't need is to be worrying about money while you're already worrying about MS. So, when I think about discussing budgeting and managing your personal finances when you're living with MS, I think we're really talking about preserving your quality of life. Joining m...

Most of us know Medicare as health insurance for Americans who are 65 or older, but when they qualify for Social Security disability benefits, people younger than 65 automatically qualify for Medicare. Today, between 25 and 30% of the people living with MS are Medicare beneficiaries. Whether you already have Medicare or you'll be signing up for Medicare in the future, getting the right coverage requires making some important choices. Licensed Medicare Advisor Laquel Thomas joins me with tips, ...

If you're a regular listener, you know that I rely on the RealTalk MS listener community to let me know which topics you'd like to hear about on this podcast. A few years ago, in episode 264, listener Dawnia Baynes did a podcast takeover, and interviewed me. Since then, I've heard from a bunch of you who, for some reason, want to hear more about me. So, when listener Kyra Millich asked if she could interview me, it felt like it was time. In today's episode, you'll find out what I like to do whe...

Getting an MS diagnosis is not always the quick, straightforward process we'd like it to be. For some people, the process can drag on for years. But getting that diagnosis only happens when you and your primary care physician recognize that something's going on. It might be a sudden vision issue. Maybe it's unexplained tingling in an arm or leg. Or maybe it's something more acute that gets your attention. A wide variety of signs could point to MS, but they could also point to other health condi...

For some people, getting in their car and heading for, well, anywhere represents freedom and independence. For others, it's a way to get to their jobs, get to their medical appointments, get the kids to school, and run necessary errands. MS can change all of that. Occupational Therapist and Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist Jenny Nordine joins me to discuss how to preserve your independence while protecting yourself and the people around you when you're driving with MS. You'll also me...

Integrative medicine brings conventional and complementary treatments together in a coordinated way. This approach to health and wellness represents a growing trend across the United States, especially among people who live with a chronic disease like MS. Dr. Lynne Shinto joins me to explain what integrative medicine is and how to safely incorporate complementary treatments into your MS care plan. We'll also tell you about study results that show how the common cold, flu, or a urinary tract in...

Less than two weeks ago, the National MS Society announced the appointment of Dr. Tim Coetzee as its new President and CEO. The MS Society's board chair, Peter Porrino, commented, "Tim is a trusted voice of the global MS community, a highly respected scientist, and we are excited for him to bring his transformative leadership to drive us into our next era to achieve a world free of MS." I thought it was important for everyone in the RealTalk MS listener community to hear from Tim and learn firs...

It's hard to imagine any area of our lives that hasn't been transformed by digital technology. That's certainly true for healthcare in general and MS diagnosis and treatment in particular. Dr. Riley Bove joins me to discuss the role that digital technology already plays in the diagnosis and treatment of MS and to share a preview of what's coming next. The National MS Society has named its new President and CEO. We're sharing the details! We'll tell you about some of the benefits that are bein...