Calling All Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients and Advocates

Calling All Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients and Advocates

May 7, 2007

It is crucial that patients make a strong showing at the CFS Advisory Committee (CFSAC) hearings in Washington, DC, Wednesday and Thursday May 16-17. This is an important opportunity to hear members of the CFSAC and individual patients state our case to top CFS budget decision makers in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

The Advisory Committee – a dedicated group of top CFS experts and advocates – will report on the latest research findings and patient needs, and submit budget allocation recommendations to the Secretary of HHS.

All CFS Patients and Advocates are invited to attend this public meeting. And a number of individual patients/advocates (who were required to register by Friday, May 11) will be presenting five-minute public witness testimonials.

Introducing New CFSAC Members, and Meeting Details
The CFS Advisory Committee is a group of experts responsible for informing and advising the U.S. Secretary of Public Health & Science on:

CFS research findings and opportunities,

Diagnosis and treatment methods,

And patient access, care, and education programs.

A roster of members with background information is provided at the CFSAC website (http://www.hhs.gov/advcomcfs). Featured are the qualifications of five new members, appointed recently to replace a group whose terms have expired. The new members are:

Dr. Ronald Glaser, PhD
Associate Vice President for Research,
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Dr. Arthur Hartz, MD, PhD
Professor for Quality in Family Medicine
Department of Family Medicine
University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa

Dr. Leonard Jason, PhD
Director, Center for Community Research
DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois

Dr. Nancy Klimas, MD
Professor of Medicine,
University of Miami School of Medicine
Miami, Florida

Dr. Christopher Snell, PhD
Department of Sport Sciences
University of the Pacific

Additionally, Dr. James M. Oleske, MD, MPH, CIP, was named the new Chair of the Committee. Dr. Oleske is:
Director, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases,
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey

Photo ID Required for Admission
General public attendance is limited to space available, and those planning to attend must provide a photo ID for entry into the building. Reasonable special accommodations including sign language interpretation are available by advance request.

Meeting Times and Address
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 and Thursday, May 17, 2007
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days

Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 800
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

For Further Information Contact
Dr. Anand K. Parekh, Executive Secretary, CFSAC
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 727H
Washington, DC 20201

Or Ms. Olga Nelson at (202) 401-7899.