National Fibromyalgia Association

Mission

The National Fibromyalgia Association's mission is to help people affected by FM by organizing awareness events, media coverage, support and training for support group leaders across the United States. The NFA produces informational materials, hosts patient and health care provider web sites, and publishes the magazine Fibromyalgia AWARE.

Development

First known as the National Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign, the NFA was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1997 in Orange, California, by Lynne Matallana{{cite news

Through 2006, the NFA hosted six international conferences, featuring authorities on fibromyalgia who presented their research and expertise to attendees, including patients and health care professionals. More than 1,000 people attended the 2006 FAME (Fibromyalgia Awareness Means Everything) conference.

The NFA partnered with Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Institute of Johns Hopkins Nursing in 2007, to form "The Fibromyalgia Circle of Care", a collaboration that hold three annual initiatives that work to assist healthcare providers in diagnosing fibromyalgia,{{cite news|url= http://www.thefreelibrary.com/'Circle+of+Care'+Collaborative+Aims+to+Reduce+Barriers+To+Recognition...-a0172087482 |access-date=2009-07-21}} raising awareness of the condition,{{cite news |access-date=2009-07-21}} and taking care of patients diagnosed with the illness.

The NFA has been covered by various media sources, including National Public Radio,{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NR&d_origin=transcripts&z=NR&p_theme=nr&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F82242353ABC0F5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Interview: Karen Lee Richards discusses ways to deal with holiday stress |access-date=2009-07-19}} Newsweek,{{cite news |access-date=2009-07-19}} The Gazette,

Founders

Co-founders Matallana and Richards have both been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. They first met in 1997 through discussions in online fibromyalgia chat groups, and shared similar concerns over incorrect diagnoses as well as a lack of available information and patient support. Matallana had first experienced symptoms of pain and fatigue in 1993, and by 1997 had visited 37 doctors before being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. |access-date=2009-07-20}} |access-date=2009-07-20}} Richards said that she had become ill in 1989, but did not receive a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia until 1996. |access-date=2009-07-20}} After the two met, they organized gatherings with other fibromyalgia patients who wanted to increase public awareness of the issue, initiating the National Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaign, |access-date=2009-07-20}} |access-date=2009-07-20}} which developed over the following five years to become the NFA.{{cite web |access-date=2009-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501214059/http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_nfa#history |archive-date=2009-05-01 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-07-20}} Richards served as NFA's vice president from 1997 through 2006.

References

References

1. (January 6, 2002). "Fibromyalgia sufferers learn to manage pain". [[Washington Times]].
2. Twedt, Steve. (July 13, 2008). "Fibromyalgia patients fight insurers over medication coverage". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
3. (July 7, 2004). "Checkup:Fibromyalgia". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
4. (July 17, 2008). "Living with Fibromyalgia, Drugs Approved to Manage Pain". [[Food and Drug Administration (United States).
5. Allen, Jane E.. (July 8, 2002). "Media Mix". [[Los Angeles Times]].
6. Comcowich, William. (January 24, 2008). "CyberAlert Awards Annual PR Grants to 29 Non-Profit Organizations: 2008". Cyber Alert.
7. "Web Archive". The Way Back Machine.
8. (November 17, 2004). "Symptom improvements with Parkinson drug found in fibromyalgia trial". Immunotherapy Weekly.