DR. STEVEN SCHERER TO SPEAK AT CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH (CMT) DISORDER SUPPORT GROUP AT CENTRASTATE MEDICAL CENTER ON DECEMBER 6TH Local Resident

Central NJ area residents who suffer from Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disorder, the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy, can attend a support group meeting to be held at THE STARR AND BARRY TOBIAS AMBULATORY CAMPUS AT CENTRASTATE MEDICAL CENTER, 901 WEST MAIN STREET, FREEHOLD, on December 6, 2014 from 10am to NOON in the CONFERENCE CENTER AUDITORIUM.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder affects one in 2,500 people - 2.6 million worldwide. CMT is a progressive disorder that causes the nerve cells leading to the body’s extremities to slowly degenerate resulting in the loss of normal use of the hands/arms and legs/feet. It may also lead to a loss of sensory functions and to deformities. CMT affects all ages, genders, races and ethnicities. People with CMT lose their ability to do daily activities that are often taken for granted.

Sponsored by the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, the Central NJ CMTA support group is being spearheaded by local resident Mark Willis, whose family has a long history of CMT.

“I am committed to working with the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association to help others with CMT, and facilitating this Support and Action Group for the last 5 years has been a wonderful opportunity to reach out to our local community, letting people with CMT know they are not alone.”

Jacqueline Donahue, the groups Co-Facilitator added “We offer information, education and guidance for those suffering from this disorder.” Mrs. Donahue has CMT also, as does her Mother. “So far, my adult daughters do not show any signs of inheriting this from me.”

The group is pleased to announce the guest speaker for this next meeting will be Dr. Steven Scherer. Dr. Scherer is the Ruth Wagner Van Meter and J. Ray Van Meter Professor of Neurology; the Chief of Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, The Perelman School of Medicine; and Vice Chair for Academic Development, The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Scherer’s clinical expertise is in the diagnosis and management of peripheral neuropathies. He has been published many times over in medical and scientific journals.

Dr. Scherer is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. In describing his work, Dr. Scherer said “For 30 years, I have investigated what causes peripheral neuropathy and what can be done about it; CMT has been my focus for the last 15 years. I have grants that enable my students to investigate the causes of CMT from a biological point of view in the laboratory. I see patients who have CMT in my clinic. I teach medical students, graduate students, neurology residents, and patients about CMT. I have written many papers about CMT, for physicians, scientists, and patients. My increasing involvement with CMT naturally developed into an ever larger association with the CMTA, and I have always had an excellent relationship with the staff, the board, and the patients that they have referred to me. Our mission is the same-to unlock the secrets of CMT, to provide patients with treatment and effective therapies, and, ultimately to find a cure for CMT.”

Anyone with CMT, their caregivers, family, friends, or anyone interested in learning more about Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder is invited to attend this meeting.

For information on the Central NJ CMT support group, go to www.cmtausa.org, or contact Mark Willis at mrwillis@optonline.net or Jacqueline Donahue at Donahuefour@optonline.net.

Join us December 6th at 10am in the Auditorium at the Starr and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus. CentraState Medical Center, 901 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728.

About the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA):

The CMTA, headquartered in Glenolden, Pennsylvania, is a 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983. The goals of the CMTA include providing patient support, public education, the promotion of research, and ultimately the improved treatment and cure of CMT. The organization is led by a Chief Executive Officer and governed by a voluntary Board of Directors (BOD), and an international Medical Advisory Board (MAB) comprised of over fifty clinical and research professionals in specialties such as neurology, genetics, orthopedic surgery, physiatry, physical therapy and podiatry. The CMTA Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is comprised of senior scientists with extensive research experience related to CMT. An External Advisory Board, made up of internationally recognized scientists, serves in an advisory capacity to the SAB. The CMTA has more than 20,000 patients and families, supportive friends, and medical professionals in its member database. For more information, visit www.cmtausa.org.

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