Back to News Index
George H. Kraft, M.D., M.S., of Seattle, Washington Receives Decade of Achievement in MS Award
Honoree Makes Extraordinary Contributions to the MS Community
Washington, D.C., January 6, 2004 – The Betaseron® Champions of Courage SM program announces that George H. Kraft, M.D., M.S., is one of the top 15 winners of The Decade of Achievement in MS Award. Dr. Kraft and his fellow honorees were determined to have exhibited extraordinary dedication to the MS community within the last 10 years, and include people with MS, their friends and family, companies, and members of the MS medical community.
The award commemorates the 10th anniversary of the availability of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Betaseron® (interferon beta-1b), and is sponsored by the Betaseron Champions of Courage, a program that supports people with MS who have inspiring goals, and who have made significant contributions to their families, community, or the lives of those affected by MS.
"Dr. Kraft stood out for his outstanding contributions to the MS community," said Eric Simons, chairman of the Betaseron Champions of Courage Advisory Board. "His ongoing contributions as a rehabilitation researcher who has dedicated himself to MS deserve special recognition," Simons added.
Dr. Kraft’s Contributions
George H. Kraft, MD, MS is the director of the Western Multiple Sclerosis Center and Electrodiagnostic Medicine and co-director of the Muscular Dystrophy Clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, where he is professor of Rehabilitation Medicine and adjunct professor of Neurology.
Dr. Kraft's interests are in the areas of multiple sclerosis, neurological rehabilitation, and electrodiagnosis. He is a well-known expert in the field of multiple sclerosis and serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He has chaired study Section C of the NMSS and has served on numerous national and local committees. In addition he is principal investigator of the Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center at the University of Washington. He has received the Krusen award from the AAPM&R, the Distinguished Researcher award from the AAEM, and the Distinguished Academician award from the AAP. In addition, he has been a keynote speaker at both the Consortium of MS Centers and the European organization, RIMS.
"An urgent need exists for rehabilitation research into ways to improve function and allow individuals with MS to participate more fully in desired life roles," Kraft said. "We are very proud that the University of Washington Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (UW MS RRTC) recently was awarded a second 5-year grant to identify and evaluate interventions to enhance the independence of people with MS."
Dr. Kraft has led many research projects devoted to improving the care of patients with multiple sclerosis and is the author of a popular book for MS patients, Living with MS: a Wellness Approach. He is also the co-editor of a text, Chronic Disease and Disability, and author or co-author of over 230 articles and chapters on multiple sclerosis, electrodiagnosis and rehabilitation.
Dr. Kraft believes that the last decade has seen tremendous progress in the development of new treatments for people with MS. "I am very optimistic that future research will bring additional breakthroughs that will substantially help people with MS and their loved ones," Kraft added.
Award Specifics
The Betaseron Champions of Courage received more than 160 nominations for the award. All nominees received an award certificate, as well as a Decade of Achievement in MS Award t-shirt and a letter of congratulations from the Betaseron Champions of Courage Advisory Board. From these 160 nominations, 15 were chosen for an additional level of recognition.
The 15 top award winners received a plaque and a letter of congratulations from the Betaseron Champions of Courage Advisory Board. They also will have their story featured on the www.championsofcourage.org web site, and in other materials.
About the Betaseron Champions of Courage
Funded by a grant from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Betaseron Champions of Courage program provides grants to people who are coping successfully with MS and who have a project that will inspire others. Since the program was introduced in 1999, more than 30 individuals have received grants to underwrite motivating projects.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that randomly attacks the brain and spinal cord, wearing away control over the body. Symptoms may range from numbness to paralysis and blindness. Though no cure yet exists, therapies are now available that affect the underlying disease course, as well as manage symptoms. MS affects more than a third of a million people in the U.S. alone, with someone being newly diagnosed virtually each hour.
For more information about applying for a Betaseron Champions of Courage grant or the Decade of Achievement in MS Award visit www.championsofcourage.org.
###
Contact: |
Sheila Marmion
|
