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A Final Goodbye & Gratitude from LDA

Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Congressional Town Meeting, 2019. Congressman Chris Smith; Ben Beard, PhD; and LDA Board members and volunteers; Corey Lakin, Debora Scatuccio, Pat Smith, Rich Smith, Ruth Waddington, Jeannine Phillips and Tim Lynagh (not pictured)

After 33 years of advocacy in the Lyme community, the Lyme Disease Association is closing its doors. LDA President, Patricia V. Smith, was the indomitable spirit of the organization and this difficult decision was made after her passing on August 17, 2024. The LDA website will officially close down on December 5, 2024. This is the end of a very long and successful era of advocacy by Pat Smith and the LDA board and team.

It has been an honor working with the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease community since 1991. This community has always been stronger working in collaboration with LDAnet advocacy organizations, researchers, clinicians, and legislators, and we are so grateful for the dedication and hard work by all of these groups and individuals that has moved mountains over the past 33 years.
 
We thank patients, medical providers, researchers, laboratories, businesses, educators and other organizations for their commitment to finding a cure and to developing better prevention resources.
 
As one door closes other doors open. We wish everyone success with their efforts in Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Research, Education, Prevention & Patient Support. We look forward to the day that reliable diagnostics, foolproof prevention tools, and a cure for Lyme and other TBD/associated illnesses is accessible to everyone. Columbia University, a long time collaborator of LDA, will be initiating a Guest Lecturer series in honor of Pat Smith in the near future.
 
The LDA would not have been able to accomplish so much over the past 4 decades without the tireless and passionate leadership of our President, Pat Smith, and the volunteers and team members who worked behind the scenes. Pat navigated advocacy with a deep understanding of the issues, a passion to help others, incredible wisdom, and adept skills in bringing others together. Her light and spirit lives on in all of us and in all of the work yet to be done. 
 
With Gratitude to All, 
 
The LDA Board
 

Links to some of the transitioning LDA resources here:

Links to Support the Following Organizations