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The same year that Dr. Yoon-Hee Cha began MdDS studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2010, the MdDS Foundation announced June as MdDS Awareness Month. The theme for 2019 is Shine a Light on MdDS.

We haven’t had a theme for every awareness campaign, but we have always had a clear mission and goals. To raise awareness of MdDS among both the general public and medical professionals. With increased awareness comes increased research interest and increased funding to support the research. Our mission to lessen the suffering of MdDS warriors, including those undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, remains steadfast.

Advancing Research

Since 2010, more than 50 research articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals and the trend is rising. Just recently, an independent group of physical therapists reached out to the MdDS Foundation with an informal proposal. We are guiding them through the research grant proposal process, securing an Institutional Review Board (IRB), and aiding them with experimental design. Properly conducted clinical studies ensure patient safety, and may produce data that is useful to the larger clinical practice community when shared through publications and/or presentations at conferences. 

At the recent American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting, for example, Dr. Cha collaborated with other well-known physicians in an educational session for medical professionals on chronic dizziness, including MdDS and PPPD. Details about the week-long conference can be found in our Spring 2019 newsletter.

Help Us Keep Trending

With our unrelenting awareness and education efforts, people are happily finding our online support groups. Our Facebook group, MdDS Friends, has grown by 150 in just the last 60 days, and this trend is rising as well. Many new members are asking for an MdDS treatment, or they seek MdDS specialists. We continue to add provider names to our Find-a-Doctor Professional Directory but, outside of research, there are no health care specialists whose primary focus is MdDS. This isn’t going to change without your help.

We ask that you give out brochures and quick reference cards on MdDS, free by request to brochures@mddsfoundation.org. Give one to your by primary care provider and every specialist you have seen. To make a real impact, send one to every ENT, neurologist, and otolaryngologist in your city. Remember, with every doctor educated on how to recognize and diagnose MdDS, another MdDS warrior may start getting their life back. Especially if you are requesting delivery to an address outside the US, please send your request today so volunteers can get the materials to you, to share throughout June Awareness Month.

Thank you for helping to Shine a Light on MdDS.

Call for Volunteers

We are seeking volunteers to work with us to improve our Find a Doctor tool. Requirements are as follows:
• must be willing to make phone calls
• must be comfortable using a spreadsheet program such as Excel
• must be a self-starter, able to complete assignments independently (guidance will be provided) and on a timely basis.
Contact us if you are interested in helping MdDS sufferers get their lives back.