You Are Here: Interstitial Cystitis Network : Newsroom : Dec 2001

Fall IC Educational Forum Unites Patients in Boston Area

The ICN Honors Molly Glidden, Joan Shure and team for putting together a very special event

It is so important for us to recognize patients who are doing great things! Our congratulations to Molly Glidden, Joan Shure, Kara Reese, Anna Toro-Bernard and Jeanne Madden for putting together the Natick, MA 2001 BladderMatters Conference. Held in late October, more than one hundred IC patients gathered together to hear a dynamic panel of speakers.

(L-R) Sally Berman, Joan Shure, Kara Reese, Molly Glidden, Dr. Friedman, Anna Toro-Bernard & Gaye Sandler

Dr. Emanuel Friedman (Metrowest Medical Center) was the keynote speaker and set the stage for a lively active discussion on IC and his work with various IC treatments. Gaye and Andrew Sandler, authors of "Patient to Patient: Managing IC and Related Conditions", flew in from New Orleans to present a husband and wife presentation on IC. Andrew discussed "Living with IC: A Family & Spouses's Perspective" (currently available for review on our site).. while Gaye spoke on how IC effects the body, such as how to find comfort sitting, working, and moving.

Molly Glidden, co-chair of the event, reports "The Boston IC Fall Educational Forum was one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. To see other IC patients come together in an atmosphere of hope and understanding was so meaningful. Many were able to take home with them new and useful information. It made me realize that the hours it took our team to put this together was worthwhile." One side benefit was that their local paper, the Natick Bulletin, did a huge story on the conference and IC.

The ICN was privileged to work with this team by sponsoring the conference. Co-sponsors included AkPharma (Prelief), Desert Harvest (Makers of Aloe Vera), Edwards Lifesciences Research Medical (Rimso-50 DMSO), Medtronic, Inc. (InterStim), Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals (Elmiron), and the ICA.

We would especially like to thank the ICA for allowing Ann Chestnut, ICA Communications Coordinator, to moderate the event, covering for ICN Founder, Jill Osborne, who was unable to travel from California to attend. Thank you Vicki and Ann!

A note to other support group leaders. The ICN would be happy to help you develop events like this. In addition to sending needed funds as a co-sponsor, we can guide you in planning the conference, locating speakers, as well as providing conference materials, books and useful freebies for your participants! For additional information, please contact jill@ic-network.com Molly would also be happy to talk with others and help them plan their conference. She can be reached at: salon17@aol.com.