Doctoral Capstone Experience

My interest in Multiple Sclerosis care and research stems from watching my mom's progression with this horrible disease, and my desire to become a Multiple Sclerosis Care Specialist. Multiple Sclerosis is the common neurological disease diagnosed in young adults, with 3 in 100,000 receiving the diagnosis (Ma et al., 2014). This course calls to light the gap in Multiple Sclerosis research that is evident in all levels of care, from the neurologist to the rehabilitation staff. There is no set, proven method of treatment that works. It is often nicknamed the snowflake disease as each case is different. I share my capstone experience and provide details of my day-to-day activities. My capstone was based on the desire to help individuals advocate for their needs and find resources. I worked on the healthcare access and advocacy team under Suzanne Carron, an OT by background with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In this position, I led self-help groups, conducted literature reviews, wrote an editorial, spread awareness of the disease and the Society’s resources through general neurology outreach, and learned about public policy and legislative bills. It has furthered my desire to work in neurological research all while advocating for a cure.