Susan Woolner, CPXP, holds a BA in Community Advocacy and Social Policy from Arizona State University. She has been a member of the board since 2016 after becoming familiar with MG-MI through her position as neuroscience patient support at Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hauenstein Neuroscience Center. Susan has been MG-MI board president since 2020. Her work experience as a business development, marketing, nonprofit, and healthcare professional gives her a diverse background. She has served as a board member of several neuromuscular organizations and volunteers with other neurogy-related community organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, the National MS Society, and the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. Susan, her family, and her dogs reside in Southeast Michigan.
Esther Land co-founded our organization in 1976. An MG patient for over 58 years, she serves as a consulting resource to MG patients and as an encourager on their MG journey. Esther volunteers several hours a week in our office and is involved with fundraising and support group gatherings. She retired from Rapistan (now Dematic) after 45 years of service in the marketing department. She resides in Grand Rapids.
Priscilla Walden started volunteering with MG-MI after her diagnosis in 2009. She joined the MG-MI board in 2011 and has served as Treasurer since 2012. With a degree in education and graduate courses in public administration, she has 23 years of experience in township administration, and currently works for Ionia County as their Human Resources Specialist. Priscilla, her husband Mike, and dog Lucy live in Rockford.
James Booth Burr, Jr has served as a board director and our ardent and always watchful legal counsel since 1987. Following the MG diagnosis of a friend and former fire chief in Grand Rapids, Jim became interested in our cause. He is a semi-retired attorney and counselor at law with practice in elder and probate law, real estate, and small business law. Jim provided MG-MI with legal counsel on incorporation processes and bylaws revision. He has presented Durable Power of Attorney and Medical Directives sessions at several of our support group meetings. His semi-retired law practice and residence are in East Grand Rapids.
Mallary Johnson Cole holds a BA in Advertising and Public Relations from Loyola University. She is a marketing/branding consultant who has assisted in various areas of marketing for our organization. She was introduced to us through a friend and former director and subsequently joined our board in 2011. As Rockford residents, Mallary and her husband, Greg, are the parents of two young sons.
Janet Gentle received her master’s degree in nursing administration from Oakland University. Her career was primarily in staff and management in critical care, ER and ICU. Janet was diagnosed with MG in 2014. Wanting to give back to others for the support and encouragement she received from MG-MI, she joined the board in 2023. She is looking forward to serving our northern Michigan patients through information, support and resource sharing as well as developing connections with local and regional physicians who treat MG. Janet lives in the Petoskey area.
Lisa received her JD degree from the University of Detroit School of Law, serving the State of Michigan for over 25 years. She is currently an adjunct law professor in Michigan and Florida. Lisa is the author of the “With Courage I Can” series books and originated the Coraggio Spirit Award annually presented by MG-MI. She attributes the information and support MG-MI has provided her to being able to live a full and positive life with MG and rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years. Recognizing MG-MI’s invaluable role, she has volunteered through the years with planning the MG-MI Annual Conference and support groups around the state. Lisa lives in the Detroit area.
Dr. Amit Sachdev, MD is Assistant Professor; Director of the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine at MSU. He leads clinical trials in dementia, MG and CIPD, and sees MG patients regularly and at the monthly MDA care center. He considers his biggest achievement to be his efforts to bring patients with rare diseases together in the community and provide them with new treatment options. Dr. Sachdev has served on our board of directors and medical advisory board since 2016. The Sachdev’s are proud parents of three children.
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