Samantha Masterson, CEO and President of Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA), discusses the organization’s mission and areas of focus.
Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness of the skeletal muscles. Common symptoms include weakness of the muscles that control the eyes, eyelids, facial expressions, chewing, talking, and swallowing. The condition is usually due to the presence of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction.
As Ms. Masterson states, the mission of MGFA is to “create connections, enhance lives, improve care, and cure [myasthenia gravis.]” They do this by funding patient/community services, providing education through many avenues, facilitating a sense of community by offering a number of patient networks, and more. Beyond helping patients and their caregivers, MGFA also has tools for physicians and researchers, and has funded a lot of research in myasthenia gravis.
To learn more about myasthenia gravis, visit our Myasthenia Gravis Learning Center here.
