Dr. Maria Adelita Reyes-Velarde actively collaborates with the National MS Society as an
    independent contractor/consultant for Hispanic outreach projects while working on her doctorate
    degree on Education, specializing on Online Education and Teaching for special populations. She
    holds a medical degree from Ecuador and a master in Public Health - Administrative Medicine
    Management from George Washington University, DC.

    On 2001 she created the website "Hablemos de Esclerosis Multiple"-Let's talk about MS the first
    website to provide practical health information in Spanish a way to empower people living with MS.
    Today, it continues to brings up-to date information on the disease.

    When she worked as Director of Multicultural and Clinical Initiatives in the Department of Research
    and Clinical Programs at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (USA), she had the opportunity to:
  • develop and edit eighteen national Spanish client publications and four new Spanish web cast,
    making sure they reflected the corresponding English publications or information available and
    were culturally appropriate;
  • develop the Spanish glossary web pages, editing the English Spanish MS terms and
    definitions, and establishing best practises for the delivery of culturally and linguistically
    appropriate programs and services including developing tools like “Best practises on
    translations” and “On Spanish language, usage and style”, providing a uniform way to convey
    complex information to clients with diverse levels of understanding;
  • initiate and roll out the National MS Society Spanish information web pages;
  • author first web based MS information kit in Spanish “Tome control de su esclerosis múltiple”,
    and the Society flagship Spanish MS book for newly diagnosed “Con los pies en la Tierra” now
    on its third edition;
  • staff volunteer driven national Hispanic and African American advisory councils promoting
    collaboration and identifying / developing strategies that address the needs of the
    multicultural communities living with MS.
  • lead teams of health care professionals (i.e.social workers, nurses) to promote collaboration
    that enhance the National MS Society strategic response and develop opportunity to
    showcase the 6 Paediatric MS Centers of Excellence accomplishments;
  • be a spokesperson for the National MS Society; Developing and maintaining relationships with
    national and international Hispanic organizations for collaboration in outreach efforts; and
     

    On Jan. 2010, looking for an innovative way to improve knowledge on MS, Dr. Reyes-Velarde
    launched Desde Mi Balcon (from my balcony), a bilingual blog to address in a unique way everyday
    topics and concerns of the Hispanic person living with MS. Dr. Reyes-Velarde is also the author of
    the only book in Spanish for persons with MS now on its 3rd edition.  (Publications by Dr.Reyes-
    Velarde)

    For motivational or educational talks about MS to the Latin community you can contact Dr. Reyes-
    Velarde.    

    Conferences and training given by Dr. Reyes-Velarde:

  • "Finding the inner strength of the familia through communication" (in Spanish), National MS
    Society, NYC Chapter, Dia de la famila hispana que vive con EM, 11/2011
  • "New Treatment Options - Things to consider" (in Spanish), National MS Society, Southern
    California Chapter & Nevada Chapter, 6/2011
  • "Living Well with MS", (in Spanish) Renacer Fundación Dominicana contra la EM, Sto Domingo,
    República Dominicana, 05/2011
  • "Emotions and Intimacy in MS" (in Spanish) National MS Society, NYC Chapter, Day for
    Hispanic Families Living with MS, 11/2010
  • "Creating a positive impact on MS Care: Understanding the Hispanic Culture", National MS
    Society Georgia Chapter, 7/2010
  • "Wellness in MS", (in Spanish) National MS Society Southern California Chapter, 5/2010
  • "Pain in MS", (in Spanish) National MS Society telephone support group "Cafe con Leche",
    3/2010
  • "Managing Pain in MS" (in Spanish) National MS Society, NYC Chapter, Day for Hispanic
    Families Living with MS, 11/2009
  • “Increasing Diversity in Hiring and Volunteer Engagement”, Field Ops University, National MS
    Society cultural competence staff training, 12/2008
  • “Understanding the multicultural communities in your area”, National MS Society national  
    conference, Chicago, 11/2008
  • “Importance of belonging to a support group”, (in Spanish) Mexican Federation National
    Conference, Guadalajara, Mexico, 10/2008
  • “Opening New Horizons – involving multicultural diverse volunteers”, National MS Society
    cultural competence staff training, recorded and posted on the Society Learning Management
    System for on-going staff training, 05/2008
  • “Working with Volunteers in Advisory Councils”, National MS Society national conference,
    Dallas,11/2007
  • “Living with MS” – motivational speech at the Hispanic Family Living with MS Day, New York
    City, 09/2007
  • “Engaging communities to reach culturally diverse communities”, National MS Society cultural
    competence staff training, 08/2007
  • “Reaching Hispanics/Latinos with MS”, National MS Society cultural competence staff training,
    08/2006

    Interviews:

  • Vivir con EM, El Nuevo Dia newspaper, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 8/2011
  • “La EM e invitación a celebrar día mundial EM” (About MS and invitation to program celebrating
    World MS Day) live broadcast radio program ‘Con Los 5 Sentidos’, CDN, Sto Domingo,
    Dominican Republic, 5/2011
  • “La EM en la Republica Dominicana e invitación a celebrar día mundial de EM” (About MS in DR
    and invitation to program celebrating World MS Day) live broadcast TV program ‘Esto No
    Tiene Nombre de la Nota Diferente’, Sto Domingo, Dominican Republic, 5/2011
  • “ La EM” (About MS in DR and invitation to program celebrating World MS Day) live broadcast
    TV program El día de Huchi Lora, Canal 11, Sto Domingo, Dominican Republic, 5/2011
  • "Esclerosis múltiple, condición a identificar y tratar" interview newspaper El Diario Libre, Sto
    Domingo, Dominican Republic, 05/2011
  • "La enfermedad Esclerosis Múltiple se celebra el Día Mundial", video interview, Noticias SIN,
    Sto Domingo, Dominican Republic, 05/2011
  • “Sobre la EM? (About MS)”, recorded interview to create consciousness on the Hispanic
    Community on MS, Telemundo Atlantla TV,  7/2010
  • “¿Qué es EM? (What is MS?)”, live interview to create consciousness on the Hispanic
    Community on MS and invitation to the Day living with MS, Univision New York TV,   11/2008
  • “Esclerosis Múltiple es un tema tabú en los hispanos / Multiple sclerosis is often a  taboo
    subject among Hispanic families”, bilingual interview published on El Hispanic News, El dia
    news, Impre.com, y Metro Latino USA , 7/2008
  • “Esclerosis Múltiple en los Hispanos”(MS in Hispanic Community), live interview to create
    consciousness on the Hispanic Community on MS during MS Awareness week, Univision New
    York TV, 3/2008
About the author
HABLEMOS  DE
ESCLEROSIS  MULTIPLE
©2001-2012maria a. reyes-velarde