The ALS Association Golden West Chapter hosts "Ask the Experts" educational symposiums in our service area and online throughout the year. Participants have an opportunity to hear presentations and ask questions about important aspects in clinical care and promising developments in research from some of the top ALS specialists and researchers in the world. These community events are open to the public and presented free-of-charge.  For more information, please email us at asktheexperts@alsagoldenwest.org

Saturday, January 25, 2020
Harvey Morse Conference Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Clinical Section 1:

• Jennifer Claxton, Director of Care Services and Audra Hindes, VP of Care Services (07:23-08-46)

• Abirami Muthukumaran, MD – ALS 101 (09:15-22:22)

• Matthew Burford, MD – ALS Treatments, Where Are We Now? (23:12-38:04)

• Tara A. Jones, MS, LCGC – Genetic Testing for ALS: Is it for Me? (38:34-51:10)

• Q&A Panel (with 3 speakers above) (51:57-1:13:51)

Research Part 1

• Sheri Strahl, Chief Operating Officer – Introduction to Jim Barber, and Barber ALS Research Award, and moderators (1:15:34-1:21:00)

• An overview to scientific poster presentations- Dr. Jeffrey Rosenfeld and Dallas Forshew, RN (1:21:12-1:24:21)

•  Interactive Mock Poster Presentation with 2020 Barber Award Winners

• Maya Maor-Nof, PhD, Stanford (1:24:30-1:31:40)

• Michael W Baughn, PhD Candidate, UCSD (1:31:47-1:40:55)

• Veronica J. Garcia, PhD, Cedars Sinai (1:40:57-1:48:33)

• Q&A Panel (01:49:02-01:52:50)

BREAK

Clinical Section 2

• Audra Hindes, VP of Care Services (2:12:40-2:14:03)

• Jessica Besbris, MD Neuropalliative Specialist –How Palliative Care Can Enhance ALS Care Throughout Illness (2:14:11-2:20:14)

• Princess Albania, OTR/L II – The Benefits of Smart Home Technology for Patients With ALS (2:20:20-2:33:30)

•  Jessica Limtao, PT, DPT, NCS – Wheelchair Seating & Mobility (2:33:35-2:45:33)

• Q&A Panel (2:46:26-2:48:40)

BREAK

Research Part 2

• Fred Fisher, President & CEO– Introduction 3:(02:20-3:10:14)

• Clive Svendsen, PhD, Chair, California ALS Research Network; Director, Cedars-Sinai RMI (3:10:21-3:34:00)

• Robert H. Baloh, MD, PhD, Director, Neuromuscular Medicine, Cedars-Sinai (3:34:06-3:53:22)

• Merit Cudkowicz, MD, Director, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Mass General (3:53:27-4:07:44)

Previous Ask the Experts Events:

Saturday, January 12, 2019 - Irvine

We held our educational symposium at UC Irvine, with special updates on clinical care presented by clinic team members from the UCI Health ALS and Neuromuscular Center, and promising developments in ALS research, presented by members of the California ALS Research Network.

Saturday, February 17, 2018 - Honolulu

We held our educational symposium “Ask the Experts: Thriving with ALS” at the Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center Auditorium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The event featured national speakers as well as local ALS experts who discussed important aspects of clinical care and relevant ALS information.

Saturday, January 20, 2018 -  Palo Alto

Watch “Ask the Experts- Help for Today/ Hope for Tomorrow,” which was held at the Li Ka Shing Center Conference Center at Stanford University in Palo Alto. This educational symposium featured practical tools for living with ALS, presented by multidisciplinary ALS clinic team members from Stanford University, as well as important research developments from members of the California ALS Research Network.

To view other past "Ask the Experts" symposiums in California and Hawaii, please visit our online library.