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Past Discussions

  • Navigating the health insurance maze

    Posted on: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 Time: 1:00 pm Presenter Name: Michelle Vogel

    Michelle Vogel is vice president of patient advocacy and provider relations at CSI Pharmacy, a provider of specialized home infusion services. As a patient advocate, she is well aware of the challenges patients often face in gaining access to the medications their doctors prescribe.

    Many of the medications myositis patients are prescribed, including IVIg and the newer biologics, are very expensive and only available through specialty pharmacies. Claims for coverage of these medications and even some procedures are increasingly being denied by insurance companies and drug plans.

    Much of Michelle’s job is related to advocating for patients with rare and genetic disorders to ensure they have access to and reimbursement for lifesaving biotherapeutics. She has worked with TMA for many years offering advice to our members about how they can access the therapies their doctor prescribes.

    In this Live Online Discussion, Michelle will respond to questions on how to navigate the challenging maze of health insurance coverage.

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  • Myositis skin disease and treatment

    Posted on: Wednesday, July 25, 2018 Time: 12:00 pm Presenter Name: Dr. Ruth Ann Vleugels

    In recent years, much research has focused on understanding dermatomyositis and developing new treatments for this challenging disease. We now understand, for example, that not all DM patients experience muscle symptoms. And a number of clinical trials are currently in process, testing new medications that show promise in treating DM.

    TMA medical advisor and dermatologist Dr. Ruth Ann Vleugels specializes in myositis skin disease, including amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM). She serves as director of autoimmune skin diseases and is an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School.

    Dr. Vleugels will respond to members’ questions related to skin symptoms in DM and ADM.

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  • TMA’s Past and Future

    Posted on: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 Time: 12:00 am Presenter Name: Bob Goldberg

    Today, we have a conversation with TMA's Executive Director Bob Goldberg. As TMA celebrates 25 years as Your Myositis Association, Bob answers your questions about the progress that has been made during that time and shares his vision for TMA and the path forward to better treatments and ultimately a cure for myositis diseases.

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  • New Developments in How We Classify Myositis Diseases

    Posted on: Thursday, March 15, 2018 Time: 1:00 pm Presenter Name: Dr. Chinoy

    Today we are honored to have Dr. Hector Chinoy with us. He is a researcher and clinical rheumatologist at the University of Manchester in the UK. He is also an expert in genetic and environmental risk factors related to myositis. He was among the many myositis experts who spent several years developing a new set of classification criteria for myositis diseases. We’ve invited him to share his insights about the criteria and how they may change the way inflammatory muscle diseases and their subtypes are diagnosed, treated, and studied. Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Chinoy.

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  • Treatment Options and Promising Research for Refractory Myositis Cases

    Posted on: Monday, January 8, 2018 Time: 12:00 pm Presenter Name: Floranne Ernste, MD

    Rheumatologist and TMA medical advisor Floranne Ernste, MD has a particular interest in working with complex patients whose disease does not always respond to the usual therapies. As a myositis expert at the Mayo Clinic Myositis Center, she has been involved in research projects that have expanded our understanding of many aspects of inflammatory muscle disease. Today, Dr. Ernste will respond to members' questions about the challenges of refractory myositis, current treatment options, and hope for the future from promising research. Please welcome, Dr. Floranne Ernste.

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  • How to Be at Your Best Despite the Stress of Chronic Illness

    Posted on: Thursday, July 27, 2017 Time: 12:00 pm Presenter Name: Amy Wood

    Amy Wood is a psychotherapist, professional life coach and mediator, motivational speaker, and author of the book Life Your Way. Over the last 20 years, she has helped hundreds of people channel their unique strengths into improving their lives. She says, "Genuine fulfillment is about stepping away from the cacophony of too much expert information, pulling out only that which resonates to create your own unique road map to success, and leaving the irrelevant rest behind." Dr. Wood practices in Portland, Maine and has a close relative who lives with myositis. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Wood to TMA's live discussion.

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