| Bush Addresses "Congress" | |
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| Key head-pain awareness leaders seen here holding the letter MAGNUM delivered from the White House issued to International Headache Congress [IHC] 2001 in New York City last weekend. Pictured at the WHA booth (left to right) are American Michael John Coleman, Executive Director & Founder of MAGNUM, with one of England's top Migraine & headache disorder experts, Dr. Tim Steiner, M.D., Esq., (both Coleman & Steiner serve on the World Headache Alliance's [WHA] Board of Directors), and World Health Organization [WHO] pain & disability expert, Italian Dr. Matildi Leonardi from WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. |
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June 29, 2001, was a day of "firsts:"
- It was the first time President George W. Bush sent a formal address to "Congress" in New York City.
- It was the first day of the Tenth Annual International Headache (Migraine and head-pain disorder) Congress, known as IHC 2001, Liberty from Headache.
- President George W. Bush became the first U.S. President to go on record addressing the serious nature of Migraine disease and headache disorders.
This congress is designed for neurologists, family practitioners, internists, anesthesiologists, dentists, physical therapists, psychologists, nurses, and other health professionals who treat Migraine disease and headache disorders. As nearly 5,000 health care professionals gathered for the opening ceremony, the world’s leading head-pain Epidemiologist, Dr. Richard Lipton, President of the American Headache Society, and keynote speaker, announced that the President of the United States sent a message for them.
That message was a letter, hand-delivered by Michael John Coleman, founder and Executive director of MAGNUM, The National Migraine Association. President Bush recognized that,
"Each year, millions of Americans suffer from Migraines that hinder their social lives and work capacity ... Through educational efforts and sharing information about treatment options, organizations like yours enable many individuals who suffer from Migraines and other head-pain disorders to significantly alleviate their painful symptoms ...I applaud your commitment to raising public awareness about the nature of Migraines and other head-pain disorders. By increasing public understanding of these conditions, you contribute to the well-being of our Nation’s citizens."
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| Keynote speaker & Leading Epidemiologist, Dr. Richard Lipton, reads a White House letter issued by President George W. Bush on the serious patient needs for better care with Migraine disease and headache disorders during the opening ceremony at Liberty From Headache, IHC 2001. Dr. Fred D. Sheftell, Organizing Chair and President of the American Council on Headache Education is seen to the left of Lipton. |
Coleman and Terri Miller Burchfield, MAGNUM’s Legislative Director and Co-Founder, have been working with legislators and White House officials since MAGNUM's inception to bring the needs of headache disorder sufferers to national attention. MAGNUM’s Washington, DC office worked on head-pain issues with members of both Houses of Congress including Senator Bill Frist, M.D. (R-TN), the President’s Congressional Liaison on Health Issues. With the assistance of additional members of Congress including Senator John Warner (R-VA), Congressmen James P. Moran (D-VA), and Cliff Stearns (R-FL), as well as working with Virginia Governor Gilmore's Office, MAGNUM was able to open up a working dialog with the White House on Migraine disease and head-pain patient concerns. Ms. Burchfield remarked, "I believe this bipartisan co-operation with Congress helped lead to President Bush issuing this groundbreaking letter read to thousands of the world’s leading head-pain medical experts this week.”
Though disappointed that Bush's schedule did not allow him to address the congress in person, Coleman was quite pleased by the President's letter, "The President’s attention to Migraine and headache disorders is admirable, and will hopefully lead to better government involvement on research. Just the fact our new President ‘gets it’ regarding the burden of Migraine and headache disorders — will have a dramatic effect on 30 million sufferers and their loved ones in America. We at MAGNUM thank President George W. Bush for his consideration of this critical health issue, as well as his serious response to our request at such a busy time in his new Administration."
Dr. Fred D. Sheftell, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 10th Congress of the International Headache Society’s IHC 2001, President of the American Council of Headache Education, and MAGNUM’s Medical Advisor Chair, noted as mentioned in the original letter he signed issued to the President this past spring, "Bringing attention to this issue via brief opening remarks made by you would move the United States of America, Canada and the international community in the right direction of a better understanding of such pain issues and the terrible cost they inflict on people, as well as the health costs and impact they have on workplaces throughout the world."
President Bush closed his letter praising the work of major non-governmental organizations working to lessen the burden of head-pain disorders and improve the quality of life of those touched by these diseases, "The work of the International Headache Society, the American Headache Society, and [MAGNUM] the National Migraine Association points the way to a brighter future for countless individuals and their families."
After having a Lexis Nexus search run, Susan Moeller Denny MAGNUM's Information Officer noted, "President George W. Bush to our understanding is the first U.S. President to address the serious nature of Migraine disease and headache disorders, and millions of Americans are grateful for his courage to go on the record on major pain issues."
Here are essential links to more information:
- The full text of President Bush's letter
- Complete press releases from MAGNUM
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