LDA Co-Hosted Holmdel Lyme Forum

Holmdel High School PTSO and the Lyme Disease Association, Inc. hosted a Lyme Forum on Thursday April 26. On a drizzly foggy night, about 250-300 people showed up for a three hour program on Lyme disease. Statistics on the spread, an overview of prevention and diagnosis and treatment, the neuropsychiatric manifestations, and how Lyme disease affects kids in the schools were discussed. A question and answer period followed each speaker, PA Gerald Simons, Drs. Judy Leventhal and Robert Bransfield, and also at the end of the program. The PTSO President introduced LDA President Pat Smith, who moderated and discussed the work of LDA and documented the spread of Lyme disease. The LDA, and event organizer Wendy Inglis, PT, had information and display tables set up. The program was supported by a grant from LDA.

Holmdel is in Monmouth County, NJ, which ranked third in case numbers in 2010 in NJ, and NJ ranked second in the nation in case numbers that year. According to Ms. Smith, after the event, “Knowing the area, it was not surprising to me to see the number of people who attended, but it was unsettling to encounter 6 or 7 deer 2 minutes from the school crossing the road in front of my car on my way home.”

Click here to view HolmdelPatch Online Local News Reporting of this event.

 

 

 

After the presentations, three experts took questions from the audience.  From left to right: Gerald T. Simons, PAC, Robert C. Bransfield, M.D., and President of the Lyme Disease Association, Patricia V. Smith. 

 

 

 

 

 


Event Save The Date

The Holmdel High School Parent Teacher Student Organization and the national non-profit Lyme Disease Association based in NJ, are co-sponsoring a free “Lyme Disease Lecture Night” taking place on April 26, 7-9 p.m. at the Holmdel High School Auditorium, 36 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ.

Experts will talk about the physical, neurological, psychological and emotional aspects of Lyme disease including common misdiagnoses and symptoms, testing choices, IEPs and school dynamics, reasons people don’t get better, treatment options, supportive therapies and the importance of early detection.

Speakers are Robert Bransfield MD, a Lyme-literate psychiatrist in private practice in Red Bank and Riverview Medical Center; Judith Leventhal PhD, a neuropsychologist from NY specializing in children and adolescents; Gerald Simons PA-C; and Pat Smith, president of the national non-profit Lyme Disease Association. (Click here for detailed flyer)