Spinal Muscular Atrophy Experts Answering Questions Online on May 5, 2011

Specialists will speak on respiratory issues, nutrition, orthopedics, clinical trial and neurology during FightSMA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

(Washington, DC) – The 2011 FightSMA Annual Conference, the Good Fight, is underway at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel this week, and spinal muscular atrophy experts are gearing up to participate in a one-of-a-kind webcast. Participating in the Thriving with SMA: LIVE! webcast on Thursday, May 5, 2011 will be researchers and scientists in the fields of pulmonology, nutrition, orthopedics, clinical trial and neurology.

This unique web-based program is free to the public and will feature panel discussions by leaders in the SMA community.  Online attendees and those attending in person will be able to ask questions  of panelists representing each specific discipline, an opportunity that is unparalleled and offers exclusive access to some of the most respected professionals in the field.

The live webcast will begin at 9:00 AM EDT at www.fightsma.org, and will conclude at 2:00 PM EDT.

Those residing in the Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland areas who are interested in the Thriving with SMA: LIVE! panel are encouraged to attend in person at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel (480 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024)

Thriving with SMA Schedule (all times are EDT)

• 9:00 AM – Webinar I: Pulmonary/Respiratory: Dr. Mary Schroth (University of Wisconsin), Dr. Richard Kravitz (Duke University), Dr. Nanci Yuan (Stanford University),
• 10:15 – Webinar II: Orthopedic: Dr. John Smith (University of Utah), Dr. Craig Eberson (University Orthopedics Rhode Island), Dr. Brian Snyder (Harvard University), Dr. John Grayhack (Children’s Memorial)
• 11:30 – Webinar III: Nutrition: Rebecca Hurst (University of Utah), Erin Seffrood (University of Wisconsin), Barbara Godshall (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center), Dr. Tom Crawford (Johns Hopkins University)
• 12:45 – Webinar IV: Clinical Trial / Neurology: Dr. Kathryn Swoboda (University of Utah), Dr. Sandy Reyna (University of Utah), Dr. Carolina Tesi-Rocha (Children’s National), Dr. Bob Leshner (Rady Children’s Hospital and The University of California San Diego), Dr. Ching Wang (Stanford University), Dr. Alex MacKenzie (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario)

About FightSMA

FightSMA was created to strategically accelerate the search for a treatment and cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the number-one inherited cause of infant death. Celebrating its 20th year, the organization pursues this objective by raising awareness and funding for SMA research.  For more information on the organization and on spinal muscular atrophy, please visit http://www.fightsma.org.

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