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June Halper |  June Halper is a certified adult nurse practitioner who has specialized in multiple sclerosis since 1978. She was a founder of the Gimbel MS Center in Teaneck, NJ and has been the CMSC Executive Director since 1989. In 1993, the Gimbel MS Center was named the administrative seat of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, the largest organization of MS healthcare professionals in the world. Ms. Halper was president of the CMSC from 1995-1997 and has been the Executive Director since 1997.
Ms. Halper spearheaded numerous professional and patient programs with the goal of accurate and up-to-date information about multiple sclerosis. She has published and lectured extensively on multiple sclerosis and its ramifications and is the editor of several nursing books, books for patients and families, and monographs on topics such as immunology, MRI, and disease management. She is a member of the American Academy of Nursing, the founding director of IOMSN, the International Organization of MS Nurses, and the recipient of the IOMSN's first June Halper Award for Excellence in Nursing in Multiple Sclerosis. This award is given each year in recognition of excellence in MS Nursing.
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Mission of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers "To enhance collaboration of members for the improvement of care and the acquisition of knowledge. To increase resources and to transmit information, for the benefit of those affected by multiple sclerosis." The CMSC will accomplish this mission through programs
of comprehensive care, education and research.
| | | Letter from the Director |
Dear Members of the CMSC:
The CMSC has steadily grown in membership and services since its formation in 1986 as a 501c(3) organization of MS health professionals of all specialties. The CMSC continues to be the largest and only multi-disciplinary professional organization for multiple sclerosis in the world. Although world events have resulted in ongoing concern, the CMSC has remained focused on addressing issues related to MS care and research. Through activities and services outlined in the achievement section of this report, the CMSC proactively responds to and represents the needs of our membership.
The CMSC has steadily grown in membership and services since its formation in 1986 as a 501c(3) organization of MS health professionals of all specialties. The CMSC continues to be the largest and only multi-disciplinary professional organization for multiple sclerosis in the world. Although world events have resulted in ongoing concern, the CMSC has remained focused on addressing issues related to MS care and research. Through activities and services outlined in the achievement section of this report, the CMSC proactively responds to and represents the needs of our membership. CMSC Achievements - The International Journal of MS Care is the official journal of the CMSC, IOMSN, LACTRIMS, and RIMS. It is a peer-reviewed publication and contains articles that focus on MS research, clinical care, psychosocial implications, and rehabilitation. The journal is in both a print format and can be found on-line at www.mscare.com. The journal also includes case studies, clinical controversies, and supplements that focus on timely issues in multiple sclerosis.
- The CMSC/NARCOMS Registry is a recruitment database that was developed to provide a resource for linking investigators with patients who meet their required profiles. The registry is used for a wide range of studies including epidemiology, health care delivery, alternative therapies and drug trials. The assembled data also offers insight into diagnosis, symptoms, treatment and course of disease. The NARCOMS Registry is unique in that it is patient-driven; registrants provide extensive information related to their experience with MS. Currently there are 31,000 participants.
- The MS Exchange is the quarterly newsletter for the CMSC and the International Organization of MS Nurses. It contains reports from major meetings, articles that focus on particular care issues in MS, research updates, and a calendar of events. A special pullout section focuses on news for MS nurses worldwide. The editorial board of both the IJMSC and the MS Exchange reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of the Consortium of MS Centers. Its strong affiliation with IOMSN mirrors the CMSC"s commitment to global outreach in MS care.
- The CMSC website offers book reviews, discussion forums, articles, power point presentations, a Meet the Experts section, video presentations, resources, member centers information, a directory, job opportunities, as well as news from its special interest groups. There is also a section devoted to Breaking News and Kudos. The Website Committee has 11 Project Leaders and 43 Peer Reviewers representing the varying disciplines involved with MS care. It is national and international in scope.
- The Foundation of the Consortium of MS Centers (FCMSC) was established as a 501(c)(3) to support the education and training of health professionals who specialize in multiple sclerosis. Donations to the Foundation have been used to support fellowships for MS training doctorally and post-doctorally, scholarships to attend meetings including our annual meeting, and to conduct research.
- The CMSC has facilitated numerous advisory meetings with the pharmaceutical industry. Not only has our organization participated in data collection via the CMSC/NARCOMS project along with data analysis, our thought leaders have advised leaders of the pharmaceutical industry in the development and implementation of research protocols in symptom management, psychosocial concerns, and clinical trials. The CMSC is extremely responsive to both our Partners in Industry and Partners in the Community in their efforts to fight against multiple sclerosis.
- The CMSC has supported and enhanced the development of numerous MS centers throughout North America. It is has also worked closely with organizations such as LACTRIMS, our Latin American counterpart, to assist in its development and the dissemination of information about MS throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and Latin America.
- The CMSC spearheaded the development of Clinical Practice Guidelines in MS. Beginning in 1995, the CMSC collaborated with the MS Council for Clinical Practice Guidelines supported by PVA to finalize guidelines in Urinary Dysfunction and MS, Fatigue and MS, Immunizations and MS, Disease Modifying Therapies in MS, and during 2005, Spasticity Management in MS. These guidelines have been disseminated worldwide and are beginning to be studied in terms of outcomes.
- The Veterans Administration has a significant population of MS patients within their system. The CMSC has supported membership in our organization via a grant from EPVA (now called United Spinal Association) and currently there are over 53 VA centers who belong to the CMSC. The VA Special Interest Group was formed several years ago and each year this group holds special programs at our annual meeting. In 2002, two VA Centers of Excellence were established in MS: VA Baltimore on the East Coast and VA Seattle on the West Coast. The VA presence has grown substantially at the CMSC and this collaboration will lead to more research into the management of multiple sclerosis.
- Rehabilitation professionals belonging to the CMSC have established a Special Interest Group, International Organization of MS Rehabilitation Therapists. The purpose of this group is to examine and standardize rehabilitation practices in multiple sclerosis and to conduct research into outcomes of care.
- The CMSC launched its newest project, Multiple Sclerosis Cooperative Studies Group (MSCSG), at our 2003 annual meeting. Months of planning have resulted in an important effort to organize Research Interest Groups (RIGS) and to begin organization and training of these groups. We have identified immunology, epidemiology, rehabilitation, symptom management and psychosocial issues in MS as our initial focus.
- The CMSC has received a grant to pilot a telemedicine program in MS. This program will be developed as MS-Health and will include communication at multiple levels. The goals of the program are to enhance the care of persons with MS, to improve healthcare professionals knowledge of MS, and to maximize economic and personal satisfaction from the care of persons with MS.
- Preceptorship programs were designed to provide a detailed overview of MS and an in-depth look at the comprehensive needs of patients with MS and their families. In 2002, these programs took place in Seattle, WA, Minneapolis, MN, Boston, MA and Birmingham, AL. In 2003, preceptorships were held in Atlanta, GA, Houston, TX, and Denver, CO. Led by a distinguished scientific committee and panel of speakers, these programs focused on the patho-physiology, immunology and diagnosis of MS, treatment and care issues, as well as practical approaches to setting up an effective MS clinic.
- In late 2001, a consensus meeting was held in Vancouver, BC Canada to focus on MRI as a diagnostic tool, prognostic measure, and validation of treatment of effectiveness. The goal of the meeting was to generate a protocol that would help neurologists in their decision-making on the use of MRI throughout a patients lifetime. In 2003, we asked this group to reconvene to finalize the recommendations for the use of MRI in the diagnosis of MS and long-term management of MS. This effort at standardization has made and will continue to make a positive impact on the clinical care of patients with MS.
- As a result of a consensus meeting held in London in May 2002, a new method of CSF analysis for the diagnosis of MS has received FDA approval.
- In May 2003, an Anti-IFN antibody in IFN-treated MS Patients-Current Knowledge and Future Directions meeting was held in London. The purpose of the meeting was to answer, based on the research literature and expert opinion, the following questions: 1) What is currently known about anti-IFN antibodies and their effects on patients with multiple sclerosis treated with interferon therapies; 2) What are the tests available to detect antibodies; how accurate are they; what is the best method for their detection in clinical care; and 3) What are the research priorities in advancing our knowledge in this field. A supplement showing results of this meeting will be in the November 2003 issue of Neurology.
- In 2004, the CMSC held its first certification in multiple sclerosis for MS professionals (rehabilitation, counselors, LPNs, medical assistants). This certification as an MS expert validates and recognizes multiple sclerosis expertise in each professional's chosen field. The examination is offered via online testing at specified centers. Please visit www.ptcny.com for additional information.
Welcome to the new view of multiple sclerosis as defined by our proactive approach to MS Care and Research; welcome to the CMSC. Sincerely,
June Halper, MSN, ANP, FAAN
Executive Director |
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CMSC Online 
