New members have been appointed to the federal CFS Advisory Committee.

The federal government’s CFS Advisory Committee (CFSAC) meets inWashington, D.C. two to four times a year to advise the Secretary for Health on policies and programs that serve people with chronic fatigue syndrome. At the most recent meeting, held on September 12, 2005, six members of the CFSAC stepped down from service as their terms expired. Earlier in the year nominations had been solicited to replace these individuals, but it wasn’t until late January 2006 that invitations were received by those appointed to serve. The CFIDS Association congratulates four individuals who have accepted an invitation to join the CFSAC. We’ll provide an update when the names of the other two new appointees are known.

Rebecca Artman is Vice President for Public Policy and a founding board member of P.A.N.D.O.R.A., a patient-led advocacy organization in Florida. Ms. Artman was diagnosed with CFIDS in 1999 and became active in a support group and other advocacy efforts soon after. She has participated in CFIDS Association lobby days and has also testified before the CFS Advisory Committee.

Dr. Lucinda Bateman is an internist in Salt Lake City who specializes in the treatment of CFS and fibromyalgia. She is on the Board of Directors of the CFIDS Association of America and the International Association of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Dr. Bateman founded Organization for Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Education and Research (OFFER) and has hosted several successful conferences for patients and health care professionals.

Dr. Morris Papernik is an internist at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. In addition to caring for many CFS and fibromyalgia patients, Dr. Papernik has been a clinical collaborator for CFS research projects led by Dr. Leonard Jason’s group at DePaul University.

Kristine Healy, P.A., is a physician assistant (P.A.) and instructor in the P.A. program at Midwestern University in Downers Grove , Ill. , outside of Chicago . Kris has worked to educate health care professionals about CFS since joining the staff of the Illinois Area Health Education Program, the organization that led the earliest CFS education efforts under contract to the Health Resources and Services Administration in the mid-1990s. Kris has continued her affiliation with CDC-led efforts and helped develop curricula, case studies and other instructional materials. Kris has also been instrumental in engaging the interest of the American Association of Physician Assistants. In May 2006 that group will feature a CFS presentation at its national conference.