GOALS: An ALS United Podcast

Bryan Rosica is a teacher and father living with ALS. He now uses assistive technology to speak. In this ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast, Bryan and his wife Lisa discuss their ALS journey from diagnosis to today, including support from ALS United Mid-Atlantic care professionals, speaking at events like the Annual Celebration, and connecting with students to explain ALS. Our mission is to uni...

Regina Shuster joins the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to discuss her family's history with ALS and her work at events such as the ALS United Walk. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to fostering bold research initiatives, advancing national and state advocacy, and providing comprehensive care and support to individuals and families affec...

Daniel Kelly joins Alisa Brownlee to discuss the important topic of Swallowing and ALS to address concerns, safety, and best practices. Daniel Kelly, MA, CCC-SLP, AT, is a speech-language pathologist and assistive technologist at the Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center in Philadelphia. With nearly two decades of experience in medical speech pathology, he’s focused on swallowing assessment, communication...

Zachary Simmons, MD and Kathleen Twomey, MD join the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to share their work at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center and their new innovations around respiratory care and ALS. Dr. Simmons has led the ALS Treatment Center at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center for 30 years and Dr. Twomey is adding her expertise as a pulmonologist for ALS patients. O ur mis...

Mark VandeBraak, PhD, FT, MT-BC joins the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to discuss issues about processing grief for those impacted by ALS. Dr. Mark talks about the various forms of grief, expressing compassion and empathy, opening up about our concerns, and what help is available for everyone. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to foster...

Tim Kurkjian and his son Jeff Kurkjian are hosts of the baseball podcast "Is This a Great Game or What?" They also share a strong support for the ALS cause after their family's loss of Tim's brother Matt to ALS. Tim is the proud recipient of the 2022 BBWAA Career Excellence Award for his work as a baseball writer and journalist. In this episode of the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast, Tim and...

In this podcast episode, Alisa Brownlee and Amanda Cuth discuss the challenges and strategies related to speech therapy for individuals with ALS. They explore the impact of ALS on communication, the importance of voice preservation techniques such as voice banking and cloning, and the role of technology in enhancing communication. The conversation also covers compensatory strategies for speech the...

Gale Ferranto and Buona Foods are uniting to match your donations for #GivingTuesday to ALS United Mid-Atlantic. In this GOALS Podcast, Gale discusses her mother's battle with ALS and her support for ALS care and research. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to fostering bold research initiatives, advancing national and state advocacy, and providi...

Charles Poeppelman joins the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to discuss how Synchron is developing Brain Computer Interface technology to improve the lives of people with ALS. In this podcast, we discuss how AI can enhance the power of BCI, how BCI can improve safety, and how this technology can address accessibility and communication. Learn more about the January 21st educational webinar at...

Alisa Brownlee hosts this special ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast with guest Jamie Pace from  ⁨@amRAMP⁩  about the benefits of stair glides for people with ALS. In this episode, Alisa and Jamie talk about the process of installing a stair glide and how it can be used to improve access in the home. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to foste...

Bill O'Sullivan is a veteran living with ALS. He joins the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to talk about his family's history with ALS, his family's proud history of military service, his participation in ALS research, and his years of support for the ALS United Walk. Listen to his story and join our efforts today. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative...

Dr. Irene Rombel is the CEO, President, & Co-Founder of BioCurie. In this ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast, she talks about how AI can be a tool to advance research into diseases like ALS. Dr. Rombel also talks about how AI can reduce costs of research so more companies can invest in rare diseases, what therapies are working now, and what gives her hope in the future of medicine. Learn mo...

Jamie from AMRAMP joins Alisa Brownlee on the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to discuss our ramping program and how it benefits people with ALS. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to fostering bold research initiatives, advancing national and state advocacy, and providing comprehensive care and support to individuals and families affected...

Courtney Fitch, MS, CGC, is a Certified/Licensed Genetic Counselor at the ALS Treatment Center at Lehigh Valley Health Network. In this ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast, Courtney explains the role of a Genetic Counselor, how she works with the clinic team, advances in genetic understanding and science, and offering support to ALS patients and families. The mission of ALS United Mid-Atlantic i...

Chloe LaBella, SLP-CCC and Arianna Jarosinski, M.S. SLP-CCC join the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to discuss their work Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication for people with ALS. In this podcast discussion, Chloe and Arianna share their expertise on AAC, how they introduce the concept of communication devices to a p...

Mary Grams is the new Executive Director at ALS United North Carolina. In this GOALS Podcast, Mary discusses her family's ALS story, progress in ALS care, the extensive research programs in North Carolina, and how the ALS United network collaborates to advance the ALS cause. To learn more about her work, visit www.alsnc.org Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborat...

Stephanie Dobak, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC, is a clinical dietitian at the Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this podcast episode, Stephanie talks with Alisa Brownlee about important questions for people with ALS and their caregivers regarding nutrition and diet. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to fostering bold research...

Gary Goldstein joins our ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to discuss his role in ALS advocacy. In this episode, Gary talks about his wife Paula's battle with ALS, successes through advocacy, his Named Fund for Paula, and being a Visiting Volunteer. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to fostering bold research initiatives, advancing national...

ALS United Mid-Atlantic nurse Annette Miller, RN, joins the GOALS Podcast to discuss her work and experience caring for people with ALS. In this episode, Annette talks about how her role as a nurse has evolved, how she guides people through the challenges of ALS, the services offered through ALS United Mid-Atlantic, and the growing reputation of the ALS Treatment Center at Penn State Health Hershe...

Vincent Cella is a 22-year retired Gulf War veteran from Sewell, N.J., with 18 years spent in the Navy and four with the Army. After years of health issues, Cella was diagnosed with ALS in August of 2024. He joins the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to share his story to bring more attention to the issue of veterans and ALS. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a col...

Director of Development Donna Cleary talks about her work at ALS United Mid-Atlantic, how to leave a lasting legacy, and her personal connections to the ALS cause. Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to fostering bold research initiatives, advancing national and state advocacy, and providing comprehensive care and support to individuals and famili...

Michele Yelland was diagnosed with ALS in 2024. When she saw that many people did not understand her symptoms and experience with ALS, she decided to write and publish her own book about it. In this podcast, Michele talks about what inspired her to write her book, her travels with ALS, and what gives her hope. Order her book now at: https://www.amazon.com/ART-LIVING-JOY-FIGHTING-ALS/dp/B0FJFJRZDN/...

Jessie Meier, MSW, LSW, joins the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to discuss her role as a social worker with ALS United Mid-Atlantic, her connection with ALS patients and families, what it means to be a caregiver and to live with purpose, and the upcoming Lehigh Valley ALS United Walk. To join the Walk, register or donate at www.alsunitedwalk.org Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS...

Larry Gifford is living with Parkinson's Disease. He formed PD Avengers to raise awareness of Parkinson's Disease and advocate for more research to find new treatments. In this ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast, Larry talks about his efforts and collaboration and education with groups like ALS United. Learn more about his work at: https://www.pdavengers.com/ The mission of ALS United Mid-Atlan...

Chris Albright joins the ALS United Mid-Atlantic GOALS Podcast to discuss the ALS United Walk program and upcoming ALS United Walk events. The ALS United Walk is the signature event for ALS United Mid-Atlantic. Register now at www.alsunitedwalk.org Our mission is to unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach to fostering bold research initiatives, advancing national and s...