Dr. Maria Adelita Reyes-Velarde actively collaborates with the National MS Society as
    independent contractor for special 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 and as a means to empower people living
    with MS.

    During her work 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
    influence the Society outreach efforts by:
  • developing and editing 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;
  • developing 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;
  • initiating and rolling out the National MS Society Spanish information web pages;
  • authoring 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;
  • Staffing 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.
  • Leading 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;
  • Developing and maintaining relationships with national and international Hispanic organizations
    for collaboration in outreach efforts; and
  • being a spokesperson for the National MS Society.
     

    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. (Other 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:

  • "Wellness in MS", (in Spanish) National MS Society Southern California Chapter, May 2010
  • "Pain in MS", (in Spanish) National MS Society telephone support group "Cafe con Leche",
    March 2010
  • "Managing Pain in MS" (in Spanish) National MS Society, NYC Chapter, November 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
About the author
Latest news in MS
writings by Dr. Reyes-V.
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