Out & About

Nevada Center for CFS and Cancer: Something to Celebrate!

In June of this year, the state of Nevada approved funding for a state-of-the-art clinic and research center for CFIDS and cancer at the University of Nevada-Reno. Securing the necessary funding from the state was a labor of love for CFIDS advocates Annette and Harvey Whittemore whose daughter Andrea has struggled with CFIDS for more than 17 years. The Whittemores worked with CFIDS clinician/researcher Dr. Daniel Peterson and many local patients, including Jerry Crum and wife Coco and Anita Patton to secure support for the center. Jerry and Anita each testified twice before the state legislature, as did Natalie Whittemore, Andrea’s younger sister. Researcher-clinician Dr. Dedra Buchwald of the University of Washington also helped substantiate the need and potential benefits for the clinic, and several of Harvey ’s colleagues, Pete Ernaut, Billy Vassilliadis, Alfredo Alonso and Greg Ferraro, were instrumental in building support among lawmakers.

Governor Kenny Guinn and state Senator William Raggio were among the early supporters of the measure as it worked its way through the state’s legislative process. A long-running final session ended with passage of a funding bill providing $10 million for the center. The state’s funding is supplemented by more than $4 million in private funds raised by the Whittemores and a commitment from the University to generously expand the investment, promising a world-class facility and faculty for the center.

The Whittemores are hosting an event on September 8 to celebrate this shared dream becoming a reality. That evening they will honor a CFIDS researcher, Dr. Dharam Ablashi, and a CFIDS advocate, Jerry Crum, for their notable achievements and contributions to the field and to the creation of the center. You can read testimony provided by Harvey to the state’s Senate Finance Committee on May 23. Harvey and Annette worked on the testimony together, although Annette was unable to attend that hearing due to a family emergency.

The CFIDS Association extends its deep and sincere appreciation to the Whittemore family, Drs. Peterson and Buchwald, Jerry and Coco Crum, Anita Patton and the many others who have collaborated to bring life to this center -- now a symbol of hope for the community and soon a model for patient care and cutting-edge research in CFIDS. We will continue to present updates on the center through CFIDSLink and the Chronicle.

CFS Advisory Committee to meet on September 12, 2005

The Department of Health and Human Services CFS Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, D.C. on Monday, September 12 to hear federal health agency reports, review the status of previous recommendations and accept public testimony. CFIDS Association president & CEO Kim McCleary has been invited to speak and will report on the meeting in the Chronicle and CFIDSLink. For more information about the committee, visit http://www.cfids.org/advocacy/CFSCC.asp.