On Friday, May 26th, New York State (NYS) Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker emailed a letter regarding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) to eighty-five thousand physicians in NYS. In the letter he describes the illness, encourages physicians to consider ME as part of a differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with symptoms, and refers readers to Jen Brea’s TED Talk to learn more from a patient perspective. Additionally, he discusses the importance of taking patients seriously when presenting with problems and the harm that graded exercise therapy can cause to those living with this disease.
New York ME activist Terri Wilder said “I’m honored to live in state where my health commissioner recognizes ME as a serious public health issue and takes pro-active steps to educate medical providers about it. My hope is that New York physicians will read the letter and implement the information into practice, and that health commissioners around the country will follow in his footsteps by sending out their own letter to medical providers in their community.”
To read the letter in its entirety, go to: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B37JHmPXER6JZkZRd0hIalA2bUE/view
Want to thank Dr. Zucker? Contact him via snail mail and social media!
Sample message:
“Dr. Zucker, Thank you for highlighting Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in your May letter to physicians in New York. Millions of people with ME are grateful to have you as a public health champion.” Then add anything else you wish. If you are a New York resident please state that.
Snail mail:
Dr. Howard A. Zucker, M.D., J.D.
Commissioner, New York Department of Health
Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYSDOH
Twitter: @HealthNYGov
ACTION STEPS:
1. Save Saturday, July 8th on your calendar. Join us for our next #MEAction activist webinar focusing on local activist strategies just like the NYS Health Commissioner’s letter. Stay tuned for additional details regarding time, speakers, and topics!
2. Contact your US State or Territorial Health Official about sending out their own ME letter to state medical providers. For a list of US state and territorial health officials, go to: http://www.astho.org/Directory/
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2 thoughts on “New York State Health Commissioner Sends Letter to Physicians about ME”
Great! I will thank Dr. Zucker. I live in Florida and emailed Dr. Celeste Philip, our Surgeon General, suggesting she follow Dr. Zucker’s example. My heartfelt thanks to each of you at ME Action for your efforts to move mountains on behalf of all of us suffering with this devastating misunderstood illness. Go better, Arlyn
Thank you, MEAction for letting us know about Dr. Zucker’s letter. I hope others send his letter to top health officials in their states, or provinces. Without knowing the back story, it is amazing, and wonderful that a top health official would send out this super letter.
I sent a copy of Dr. Zucker’s letter to the top public health officer in our area, and he has kindly forwarded it to others. This was encouraging. Perhaps we will see some more progress from this.
Thank you again, MEAction, for your dedication to informing and supporting the ME community!
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