VetsFirst Finds New Leader

United Spinal Association recently announced the appointment of Ross Meglathery as the new director of VetsFirst, its program that helps thousands of vets reintegrate into their communities. Prior to his appointment at VetsFirst, Meglathery spent over 15 years in the military. Subsequently, he was selected as a Congressional Marine Fellow where he worked on Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans and Small Business issues. Meglathery is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Reserve.

As a civilian, Mr. Meglathery has worked as a program analyst at the Office of Special Programs at the Department of Homeland Security for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance matters. “United Spinal is privileged to have such an honored veteran and accomplished talent as Ross take leadership of our VetsFirst program,” said Joe Gaskins, president and CEO of United Spinal. “Ross brings an in-depth knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the challenges our veterans confront when returning home,” he added.

For his military service, Meglathery was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor Device, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon. Meglathery is a graduate of Harvard University where he earned a master’s in public administration. In addition, he holds a master of science in the management of information technology degree from the University of Virginia and a bachelor of arts in history from Trinity College, Hartford.

Meglathery replaces Heather Ansley who is currently associate general counsel for corporate and government relations at Paralyzed Veterans of America.

VetsFirst works to ensure veterans, their spouses, dependent family members and survivors receive healthcare, compensation, rehabilitation, and other benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Ask VetsFirst, our call center and online help desk, connects with over 2,000 veterans and their caregivers annually, offering assistance with questions on military separation, claims appeals, and state benefits. The VetsFirst website provides veterans and their family members and caregivers timely news and information, including guides on self-help, state benefits, separating from the military, as well as exclusive feature stories on VA funding, health care, and compensation.

United Rolls to International Conference

United Spinal Association’s Lindsey Elliott and Bill Fertig were honored to be part of an international team of presenters at the 2015 International Spinal Cord Society and American Spinal Injury Association Joint Scientific Meeting in Montreal, Canada, May 13-16. Their presentation addressed “Engaging Spinal Cord Injury Consumers Across the Research and Clinical Care Spectrum.” The annual event focused on the latest advancements and directions in research regarding SCI/D with other key researchers from around the globe.

“The joint scientific meeting is a wonderful opportunity for international collaboration with all different types of SCI professionals from around the world. Lindsey and I renewed existing relationships with colleagues in the SCI/D community and made numerous new international connections,” says Fertig, the director of United Spinal’s Resource Center. “It truly is a remarkable platform for folks to come together and share ideas to continue improving the quality of lives with individuals living with SCI.”

Fertig and Elliott’s presentation highlighted United Spinal’s outreach efforts and outlined United Spinal’s advocacy and legislative efforts in the U.S. and connections throughout the international SCI/D community. Additionally, Fertig and Elliott shared organizational details of United Spinal’s “Spinal Network” of U.S.-based chapters, affiliated support groups, SCI rehab hospitals and business partners. Some of the other presentations focused on topics such as “Upper Extremity Reconstruction Options in SCI,” “The Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care: Key Elements and Challenges,” and the “Symposium on Incontinence and Sexuality.” The conference offered many breakout workshops allowing attendees to pick and choose the presentations that appealed most to them.

This international assemblage of SCI/D basic researchers, hospital program directors and pivotal consumer group representatives collaborated in earnest to add to the event’s dynamism. “Bill and I recognize the value of working with the international SCI/D community. It was clearly evident that many of the issues individuals are dealing with here in the United States are the exact same issues individuals all over the world contend with,” says Elliott, United Spinal’s director of member initiatives. ”We hope to be able to attend next year’s conference and demonstrate expansion of United Spinal Association’s international presence and continue to strengthen our international network to be able to educate and empower all individuals living with SCI/D.”

The international community was able to see a map of the ever growing ‘Spinal Network’ of United Spinal individual members in the United States  — each dot is a zip code where clusters of members live [see photo].

Scholarship Opportunity for Gait Training in Northern California

Thanks to the Everyday Abilities Foundation, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the United Spinal Association, ten qualified individuals living with spinal cord injuries or disorders will receive two weekly sessions on one or both gait training therapy machines at Pleasanton, Calif.-based SCI-FIT for one year. Each session includes about 15 minutes of set-up and 45 minutes of therapy.

To be eligible for the Gait Training Scholarship Treatment, you must be cleared by a physician to participate in an intense exercise therapy program that includes weight-bearing activities through the upper and lower extremities. You must also be able to stand assisted or be vertical for 20 minutes with no blood pressure issues and have no open lesions or pressure sores.

Apply at unitedspinal.org/pdf/scholarship.pdf, or call 925/846-1848 for more information.

Myoelectric Orthotics for the Masses

United Spinal Association recently announced that it has entered into a partnership with Myomo, Inc. to raise awareness of the benefits of the MyoPro myoelectric upper limb orthosis — designed for individuals with spinal cord injury, brachial plexus injury, stroke, MS, ALS and other neuromuscular disorders.

“We are excited to be partnering with Myomo to educate our members about the benefits of this life-enhancing technology that offers individuals the opportunity to regain their independence,” said Joe Gaskins, United Spinal’s president and CEO.

“Our unique, patented myoelectric orthotics are powered braces that enable a growing number of individuals with upper extremity paralysis due to spinal cord injury to move their arms again and to function more self-reliantly,” said Paul R. Gudonis, CEO of Myomo, Inc.

“Our myoelectric orthotics help individuals with arm paralysis perform activities of daily living such as cooking, feeding themselves, carrying household objects, and in some cases, returning to work,” he added.

As part of its partnership, Myomo will be providing educational programs and focus groups for United Spinal members throughout the year. The focus groups will take place at upcoming United Spinal chapter meetings and include presentations, demonstrations of the MyoPro myoelectric orthosis, patient experience stories and discussions in support of educational outreach.

Myomo will also provide educational material for United Spinal’s New Beginning backpack program in which 5,000 backpacks containing information pertinent to newly spinal cord injured patients are distributed annually.

Advocates Roll on the Capitol

Disability advocates from all over the nation assembled in Washington, D.C., June 7-10 for the 4th Annual Roll on Capitol Hill. Check back next issue for an in-depth report.

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