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Patricia V. Smith, BA
![Patricia V. Smith, BA Patricia V. Smith, BA](https://lymediseaseassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/pat-smith.png)
President, Lyme Disease Association, Inc.
Advisory Board, Columbia University
Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center
Jackson, NJ
Welcome, Remarks/Brief Overview of LDA, Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases
President, Lyme Disease Association, Inc.
Advisory Board, Columbia University
Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center
Jackson, NJ
Welcome, Remarks/Brief Overview of LDA, Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases
The Lyme Disease Association Inc. and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons are jointly providing the 21st annual CME scientific conference, Lyme & Other Tick-Borne Diseases: Research for a Cure, virtually, on October 2, 2021. This conference is designed to meet the high standards for continuing medical education credits for medical & health professionals and researchers.
CONFERENCE COMPLETED The Lyme Disease Association Inc. and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons jointly provided the 21st annual CME scientific conference, Lyme & Other Tick-Borne Diseases: Research for a Cure, virtually, on October 2, 2021. This conference is designed to meet the high standards for continuing medical education credits for medical & health professionals and researchers. It was also open to the general public (adults only). Limited number of scholarships were available for certain medical students, researchers, recent medical professionals.The conference was sponsored by the Stephen & Alexandra Cohen Foundation and IGeneX Inc.
The Lyme Disease Association Inc. and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons are jointly providing the 21st annual scientific conference, Lyme & Other Tick-Borne Diseases: Research for a Cure, virtually on October 2, 2021. This conference is designed to meet the high standards for continuing medical education credits for medical & health professionals and for researchers. It is, however, open to the general public. Adults only. Public Registration will open soon. Details will be provided on the LDA website.
Today, during May Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Congressman Christopher Smith (NJ-4-R) introduced a bill which could change the way our children with Lyme disease have been treated for decades. Co-sponsors are new Lyme Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28-D), Lyme Caucus Member Rep. Bill Posey (FL-8-R), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5-D), and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1-R). The bill, “Children Inflicted by Lyme Disabilities Act 2021,” or “CHILD Act 2021” will amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by adding “including Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases” in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) after “other health impairments.”
We need your help immediately. We have a two-day window to act to help get Co-Sponsors on an important bill. Congressional Lyme Caucus Co-Chair, Christopher Smith, is introducing the “Children Inflicted by Lyme Disabilities Act 2021,” or “CHILD Act 2021,” this week into the US House of Representatives. The bill is “To amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to recognize more clearly that Lyme disease can cause disabilities that affect the education of children and to enhance educational services and related services for children with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and for other purposes.”
Frontiers in Neurology, 10 May 2021, published a study examining multiple molecular detection techniques to effectively identify Borrelia burgdorferi in the autopsy specimens of a patient with a history of neurocognitive disease. The individual was a post-mortem donor from the brain repository of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Joseph J. Burrascano Jr. MD is a physician who was an early innovator in the field of tick-borne diseases, having begun his clinical research in the mid-1980s in cooperation with several other key pioneers. In addition, he is well known for his educational presentations and for his monographs on diagnostic and treatment guidelines for Lyme and related tick-borne illnesses – a classic series that has been freely circulated around the world since 1989.
A new center at Columbia University will open this summer to patients. The Cohen Center for Health & Recovery from Tick-Borne Diseases has been established through a $16M grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation to Columbia. Brian Fallon, MD, will be Center Director, Shannon Delaney, MD, Co-Director.
Pat Smith’s Letter on How LDA’s Work Has Helped Lyme Patients. Dear Lyme Community & Those Concerned about Lyme and TBD, This year has been a challenge for all of us, and in particular, for those with chronic conditions such as Lyme disease, which is still unrecognized by the federal government. The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA) has been working for Lyme and tick-borne diseases (TBD) for 30 years, with individuals who are patients and family members of patients driving the programs…
LDA Doctor Referral System © Terms & Conditions and Guidelines
Save this Information for Your Records:
About LDA DOCTOR REFERRAL SYSTEM ©
Welcome to the Lyme Disease Association’s LDA Doctor Referral System ©. LDA made updates and enhancements to its prior system and has launched a new site to provide patients with information about doctors, other practitioners, testing labs, and pharmacies that are knowledgeable about chronic Lyme disease and often about many other tick-borne diseases (TBD). Many of the doctors listed are often referred to as Lyme Literate Physicians/Doctors (LLMD). Tens of thousands of patients have successfully used the prior LDA system to locate Lyme and TBD resources.
Terms & Conditions and Guidelines
Because there is a negative political climate surrounding Lyme disease, many LLMDs do not want their names posted outright on the internet. LDA has tried to balance the doctors’ wishes with patients’ need to find a doctor. This new system is a result of that compromise and therefore:
Because of the limited number of physicians treating chronic Lyme disease nationwide, some states, and in some instances, entire regions, may not have any treating physicians who follow flexible treating approaches such as those in the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Guidelines, Evidence Assessments and Guideline Recommendations in Lyme Disease: The Clinical Management of Known Tick Bites, Erythema Migrans Rashes and Persistent Disease. In the event that the LDA Doctor Referral System © contains no Lyme or TBD resource listings in a given area, the closest possible option(s) will populate based on the location entered and specaialty/ies selected. The LDA appreciates any changes in provider information that you may find and make us aware of so we can investigate.
Some providers may not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to address those specific symptoms. Contact the provider to confirm.
It is your responsibility to contact the provider’s office to confirm the current address, directions, nature of services provided, and all other provider information before you make an appointment.
DISCLAIMER: The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. provides referrals to health care providers who treat Lyme disease, and often other TBD, as a courtesy to those seeking Lyme Literate Physicians (LLMD). However, some of the providers included do not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to address those specific symptoms. We do not evaluate the professional competence or qualifications of health care providers on our referral list or the costs of services provided. Accordingly, the LDA neither warrants nor endorses the health care providers contained on this list nor the quality of care you will receive from those providers. We do not make recommendations, only referrals. LDA does not receive any monies from physicians to be included on this list nor does LDA provide any monies to physicians. Because of the limited number of physicians treating chronic Lyme disease nationwide, some states, and in some instances, entire regions, may not have any treating physicians who follow flexible treating approaches such as those in the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Guidelines: Evidence Assessments and Guideline Recommendations in Lyme Disease: The Clinical Management of Known Tick Bites, Erythema Migrans Rashes and Persistent Disease. In the event that the Doctor Referral System contains no Lyme or TBD resource listings in a given area, the closest possible option(s) will populate based on the zip code entered and category/ies selected. The LDA appreciates any changes in provider information that you may find and make us aware of.
LDA does not accept or reply to any comments on:
We cannot guarantee that the information provided will be timely and accurate or that physicians on the list are accepting new patients, or that they accept insurance. The selection of a physician should be made by you after careful consideration. There are two approaches in the treatment of Lyme disease. Our list contains physicians who generally follow more flexible treatment approaches than those advocated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). LDA is not responsible for incorrect information on the website. BEFORE DOCTOR VISIT: Please contact the physicians’ offices directly to confirm their current address, directions, and any other necessary information before scheduling an appointment. Do not rely only on the maps provided on this site. The maps on LDA’s Doctor Referral System are for informational purposes and provide an approximate locality of the listing based on the addresses we are provided with at the time of site updates. Practitioners often relocate and addresses can change. Notification of changes in listed information can be updated on our Dr. Referral Contact Form. Thank you, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA)
Subscriber information will not be shared outside of the Lyme Disease Association, Inc. nor used for donor solicitation.
The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. reserves the right to unsubscribe anyone from this service without cause.