Rockville, MD (October 29, 2008) -- The Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) welcomes two dedicated interstitial cystitis (IC) advocates to its Board of Directors, Barbara Zarnikow of Buffalo Grove, Illinois and Paula Whelan of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Zarnikow, a leader and mentor in her professional life as a special education teacher, also became a leader and mentor for people with IC in the Chicago area. Knowing that there were many others like her who needed help finding local resources, getting good IC information, and sharing their experiences, she started an IC support group in the northwest suburbs of Chicago in 2006. The group has grown to 50 members, meets monthly, and hears from a wide range of researchers, healthcare professionals, and inspiring fellow patients, such as golf pro Terry-Jo Myers. She also garnered important publicity for IC by prompting a story in the Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper with wide readership.
Zarnikow wants to empower those with IC to get the help they need so they can live their lives. After starting a support group to help do that, “getting involved with the ICA was just the next, natural progression,” she said.
“I look forward to helping the ICA deal with the issues they’ve been working on so hard -- getting more recognition for IC and providing patient advocacy and support -- and to raising money to accomplish that mission.”
Whelan, a former human resources executive and consultant in the computing, insurance, and investment services industries, had her career interrupted by IC but not her drive to serve and to bring change. Not long after her diagnosis, she began helping others with IC find the best available treatment and developed a business plan for an IC treatment center. Now, she aims to help the ICA bring about changes like those on a nationwide scale.
“My dream and my vision,” Whelan said, “is to make state-of-the-art treatment available to IC patients and deliver education about the disease to the next generation of doctors coming out medical school and postgraduate training.”
Whelan is determined to build such strong support for the ICA that IC comes to the forefront of healthcare awareness. “Then, people will understand that this is not a little problem that a few people have.”
The ICA gives heartfelt thanks to Susan Presberg-Greene, MD, who has completed her term on the ICA Board. Dr. Presberg-Greene worked tirelessly to raise IC awareness, advocate for research on Capitol Hill, and raise funds.
Learn more about the ICA Board of Directors.
The Interstitial Cystitis Association is committed to finding more effective treatments and a cure for interstitial cystitis, a painful, chronic bladder condition. The ICA promotes and funds research; educates the medical community and public; advocates for IC patients, healthcare providers, and researchers; and offers support for IC patients and their families.