Support Groups

By | December 17, 2018

 

Support Group Leaders
 

Support Groups

Support Groups are critical to service delivery in the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. (MGFA). These groups provide support, education, and mutual aid. Please see below to find a support groups in your area. 

 

Don’t see a Support Group near you? MGFA offers patient-to-patient phone support through our MG Friends program. Our MG Friends are trained volunteers that provide practical advice, an understanding ear, and emotional support. Services are available to MG patients, care givers and family members anywhere in the United States and is free of charge. If you would like to be connected with an MG Friend, click here.

Is there not a Support Group in your area? Click here to learn more about how you can start the journey on creating your own MGFA Support Group

 

Myasthenia Advocacy for Young Adults (MAYA)

Join us for the young adult Virtual Support Group series: ‘Managing School with MG’ and ‘Starting a Family and Parenting with MG’. Series will be facilitated by MGFA’s Myasthenia Advocacy for Young Adults #MAYA who supports MG patients between 18-35 years old! To RSVP, visit: https://goo.gl/forms/Tlepa74lvxTGkRlP2

Get to know other young adults living with MG!

ARKANSAS

Arkansas MG Support Group

When: TBA

Where: The Old Bank Sports Bar and Grill 218 W. Main St Russellville, AR 72801

Speaker: Susan Newton, Pharm D. will discuss medications, side effects and safety

RSVP: Contact Vickie Henderson

P: 479-970-3775 E: kvhen@hotmail.com

ARIZONA

TUCSON

Tucson MG Support Group

Meets: Third Saturday in February, March, April, September, October, November
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Martha Cooper Library
                 1337 North Catalina Avenue
                 Tucson, AZ 85712
Contact: Gene Casagrande at MGTucsonSupport@aol.com or 520-594-5315

CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles MG Support Group

When:     TBA

When:     9:30 – 11:30 AM
Where:   Culver City Senior Center, 4095 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232, Los Angeles, CA

PALO ALTO

Palo Alto MG Support Group

Meets:    Click here to see the 2018 SG meeting dates and times

Location: Stanford Hospital, Neuroscience Center
                1st Floor, Wellness Room
                213 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, California.

Contact: Jennifer Fisher at jnfisher@stanford.edu  or 650-497-5934 to be added to the invitation list
 

COLORADO

DENVER

This SG is forming, for more information please contact Kristina Voskes at kvoskes@gmail.com.
 

CONNECTICUT

West Hartford/Bloomfield

Connecticut MG Support Group

Time: 11am – 2:30pm

Location: Curtis House, 506 Main Street, Woodbury CT.

For more information about the CT MG Support Group contact: Terri Adams (203) 206-9532 or terri@mailplexct.com, Toni Brown at 203-589-3105 or tonibrown2010@gmail.com and Edward Czaczkes at 860-721-8060 and ed@candclaw.com.

DELAWARE

DOVER

When:  TBA
Where: Bayhealth Hospital
            640 S State Street
            Room PDR 3 (Private Dining Room) by cafeteria
            Dover, DE 19904
Contact: Donnalee Whitaker & Kevin Hakes, MyastheniaGravisofDe@gmail.com or 302-363-0336. 
 

FLORIDA

ST. PETERSBURG

St. Petersburg MG Support Group

Meets: 1st Thursday of each month

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location:  St. Anthony’s Hospital

                 1200 Seventh Avenue North

                 Auditorium, (located on the ground floor)

                 St. Petersburg, Florida

MIAMI

Miami MG Support Group

Next meeting: TBA
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: University of Miami
Clinical Research Building, Room 1381
1120 NW 14th Street
Miami, FL 33136
Contact: Mary Ingram-Schatz & Keara Martinez, miamimggroup@gmail.com or mischatz@me.com or 646-573-3354

ORLANDO

Orlando MG Support Group

Supporting: Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake Counties
Meets: 2nd Saturday of even months.

Time: 10 a.m. to NOON

Location:  Orlando Regional Medical Center

                 North Tower (new building)

                 Classroom NT1 & NT3 (classrooms are on 1st floor behind Subway restaurant)

                 Free Parking in Garage on Underwood across from the Cancer Center.

BOYTON BEACH

Boynton Beach MG Support Group

Meets:  3rd Saturday of each month January – May and September – June

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location:  Bethesda Memorial Hospital

                2815 Seacrest Boulevard South

                Sand Dollar Room  

                Boynton Beach, Florida

Contact: Bob Averack, 203-980-3558

Ft. LAUDERDALE

This SG is forming, for more information please contact the MG home office at MGFA@Myasthenia.org.
 

Read More:  What yogurt is on keto diet

JACKSONVILLE

Jacksonville MG Support Group

Meets: 1st Saturday of even months

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location:   The Towers (Across the Street from Shands Hospital)

                  Blue Room – First Floor

                  580 West 8th Street

                  Jacksonville, Florida

MELBOURNE

Melbourne MG Support Group

Meets:      2nd Saturday of odd months
Time: 10:00 a.m. – NOON

Location:  Wuesthoff Medical Center

                 Classroom Room #1

                 250 N. Wickham Rd. Melbourne FL 32935

TALLAHASSEE

Location: Ashford Club at Betton Hills, Common Room – 2055 Thomasville Road Tallahassee, FL

*Meeting takes place in the Common Room (located next the swimming pool)

Meetings: 1st Tuesday of the month

Time: 7PM

Please contact Ted Monica for additional information at P: 850-274-4492 E: billsbeliever@comcast.net

OCALA

Meeting: Next meeting TBA
Location: Blitchton Station Apartments, The Community Center – 1741 NW. 7th Street Ocala, Fl. 34475
Em: mg.snowflakesofocala@gmail.com
 

PORT RICHEY

New MG Support Group Forming

Contact: Rosemarie Mcnamara-Roberts at writerchick.rose@gmail.com

TAMPA

GEORGIA

ATLANTA

Atlanta Area MG Support Group

Meets: 1st Monday of every month (except July and September)

Time:  6:30 p.m.

Location: Chamblee United Methodist Church

                4147 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

                Atlanta, GA 30341

ILLINOIS

While not affiliated with the MGFA, Conquer Myasthenia Gravis offers a Patient Assistance Program for MG patients with financial needs who are residents of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The program helps with medical and prescription drug costs up to $ 1,000 per person per year.
Conquer Myasthenia Gravis has many support groups throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana. For a list of their 2018 meetings and locations, please click here.

 
 

IOWA

DAVENPORT & BETTERNDORF

Conquer Myasthenia Gravis has many support groups throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana. For a list of their 2018 meetings and locations, please click here.

Iowa Virtual MG Support Group via Facebook 

Click HERE to enter, or copy and paste the address below into your browser.

KENTUCKY

LOUISVILLE

Louisville MG Support Group

Meets: 1st Saturday of every month except in May and July

Time: 12 NOON

Location:  Norton Suburban Hospital*

                 1st Floor, Room 1A

                 4001 Dutchmans Lane Louisville, KY 40207

                 *Please enter through the east parking garage (across the street from Hooter’s)

SOMERSET

Meets: 3rd Thursday of every month; first meeting 10-18-2018
Time: 6 – 8 PM

Location: TBA

Contact: Frankie Bray, 941-276-7882.
 

LOUISIANA

BATON ROUGE

This SG is forming, for more information please contact the MG home office at MGFA@Myasthenia.org.

BEAUMONT

Southeast Texas MG Support Group (also servicing Southwest Louisiana)

When: 2nd Thurs of every month from 6:30 -7:30PM beginning in February (1st Thursday in the month of May)

Where Howell’s Furniture Community Room, 6095 Folsom Drive Beaumont, TX 77706

RSVP: Tracey Young and Sarah Ricks

NEW ORLEANS

Contact: For meeting location date and times please contact Tommy Santora at 504-376-7474 or tommy.santora@gmail.com

MARYLAND

OCEAN CITY

When: TBD
Where: Worcester County Library, Ocean City Branch
            10003 Coastal Highway
            Ocean City, MD 21842
Contact: Brian Cosgrove, oc.easternshoremg1955@gmail.com P: 410.202.6224
 

MICHIGAN

While not affiliated with the MGFA, the MG Foundation of Michigan has many support groups throughout Michigan. For a list of their 2018 meetings and locations, please click here.
 

NEW ENGLAND

Email: info@mgane.org Phone: 508-435-3808
 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

New MG Support Group Forming
Join the Facebook group! MG Granite Haven
Contact: Deb Correia at (603) 312-6294 or deblcorreia@yahoo.com
 

NEW JERSEY

JERSEY CITY

Meets: Every second Thursday in 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Location: Christ Hospital, Staff Room A&B, 176 Palisade Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07306 

Dates: May 10, June 14, September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13. 

Parking: Enter the parking garage at 142 Palisade Avenue Jersey City, NJ.

**Parking will be validated

RSVP to Janice Greenberg at E: morjan1027@gmail.com or P: 732.690.5987
 

NEW MEXICO

ALBUQUERQUE

New Mexico MG Support Group

Meets: 10am – 3rd Saturday of the month

Time:  Varies

Location: For the location of the meetings please visit www.mgnm.org
                Dale McCan at (505) 890-3346 or dale@mgnm.org

NORTHERN NEW MEXICO

New Support Group Forming

Read More:  Hospitals Can and Should Support Employees Who Are Victims of Domestic Violence: Here’s How

When: TBA

Where: TBA

NEW YORK

LATHAM

Upstate New York MG Support Group

Meets: 2nd Saturday of every month

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Location: Latham Fire House

                226 Old Louden Road

                Latham, NY 12110

Contact: Barry Levine (518) 439-5377

MANHATTAN

Manhattan MG Support Group

Dates: DEC 11
Jan 8, 2019
Feb 12, 2019

March 12, 2019
April 9, 2019
May 14, 2019
June 11, 2019
Sept 10, 2019
Oct 8, 2019
Nov 12, 2019
Dec 10, 2019

Time: 6:00 P.M – 8:00pm

Mount Sinai Downtown Beth Israel Medical Center

Phillips Ambulatory Care Center

10 Union Square East –between E 14th and E 15th Streets

Conference Center – Second Floor

Conference Room One

Parking Garage entrance on E 15th St, with direct

elevator access to building

Union Square 14th Street Subway Station for the

4,5,6,L,N,Q,R trains – handicap accessible

For information, please contact the support group facilitator and MGFA board member

Or the MGFA office 800-541-5454

Kingston – MG Association of Western PA

When: Second Saturday of the month

           11am – 12:30pm

NORTH CAROLINA

CHARLOTTE

Charlotte MG Support Group
Meets: Saturday, August 26
Time: 2PM
Where: Ronald McDonald House
1613 E. Morehead St
Charlotte, NC 28207
Facilitator: Rachel Pegram adamrach@gmail.com
 

RALEIGH

Central North Carolina MG Support Group

Meets: 2nd Saturday of each month

Time: 12 NOON

Where:  Golden Coral at the intersection of Tyron and Fayetteville rd.

3551 GRENELLE STREET

RALEIGH, NC 276030000

 

OHIO

CLEVELAND

Greater Cleveland Area Support Group
West Side

Meets:     TBA
Time:       1-3 p.m.
Location: Metro Health Middleburg Heights Campus
                1st Floor in the November Room
                7800 Pearl Road Middleburg Hts., OH 44130

East Side 

Meets: TBD

Time: 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Location: Mayfield Library (Large Meeting Room)
               500 SOM Center Road
               Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143

Contact: Rebecca Molitoris at clevelandmggroup@gmail.com or 440-732-2181
 

COLUMBUS

Central Ohio MG Support Group

When: TBD

Time: 12:00-1:30 PM

Where: The Dempsey Family Education and Resource Center at the OhioHealth Neuroscience Center at Riverside Methodist Hospital

Address: 3535 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43214

 

OREGON
 

MEDFORD

Medford MG Support Group
When: TBD
Where: The Smullin Center Room 106
            2825 East Barnett Road
            Meddford, OR 97504
Contact: David Ball, dlball63@yahoo.com

PORTLAND

Portland Area MG Support Group

Location: Beaverton Library

               12575 SW Fifth Street

                Beaverton, OR

PENNSYLVANIA 

BEAVER MG Association of Western PA

Where: Heritage Valley Health System – Beaver Campus, ADM -B 2 Conference room

When:  1000 Dutch Ridge RD

             Beaver, PA 15009

DANVILLE

Danville MG Support Group

When: New Dates TBA

Location: Geisinger Woodbine Lane Community Room 115 Woodbine Lane Danville, PA 17821

Contact: Jennifer Yucha, RN P: 570-214-1146

HERSHEY

Hershey MG Support Group

When: New Dates TBA

Location: Hershey Medical Center-Penn State Room 2005 building B (second floor) 30 Hope drive, Hershey PA 17033

Contact: Jennifer Yucha, RN P: 570-214-1146

  

PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia MG Support Group

Meets:      Future dates TBA

Location:  Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

                 Wright Saunders Building

                 Medical Conference Room

                 51 N. 39th Street

                 Philadelphia, PA 19104

Contact: For meeting times, please contact Christine Hosay at 610-564-2772.

PITTSBURGH – MG Association of Western PA

MGA of WPA Support Group Meetings

When: 1pm – 2:30pm – third Saturday of the month

Where: Allegheny General Hospital – Singer Library

             320 East North Avenue

             Pittsburgh, PA 15212

SCRANTON

Scranton MG Support Group

Meets: 1st Saturday, every other month

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Location:   Allied Services

                  Charles Luger Outpatient Center – Community Room

                  475 Morgan Highway

                  Scranton, PA 18508

SOUTH CAROLINA

MOUNT PLEASANT

Low Country MG Support Group

Meets:      3rd Saturday of every month

Time:        10:30am

Location:  East Cooper Medical Center

                  2000 Hospital Drive

                  Mount Pleasant, SC

MYRTLE BEACH

Myrtle Beach MG Support Group

Meets: 2nd Saturday of each month

Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Lakeside Crossing Development Community Room

140 Lakeside Crossing Dr. Conway, SC 29526                                                                                   

Contact: Beverly Watrous E: beverly-w@live.com P: 843-504-8063 and for directions contact Poutre P: 843-855-0076 
 
 

TENNESSEE

Knoxville

When: Last Tuesday of the month, 5 – 7 PM
Where: St. Paul United Methodist Church
4014 Garden Drive, Knoxville TN 37918
Contact: Sharon Ford, 865-256-9035, mgknoxville@yahoo.com
Facebook: Knoxville MG Support Group
 

Read More:  Groups sue over Alabama abortion law; judge blocks Mississippi ban

Nashville

TEXAS

Austin

Myasthenia Gravis Support Group of Central Texas

When: 2nd Wed of every month from 7 -8PM

Where Spicewood Springs Library, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd. Austin, TX 78759 

RSVP: Linda Ann Joslin, Facilitator

Check out the Myasthenia Gravis Support of Central Texas website and Facebook page!

Beaumont

Southeast Texas MG Support Group (also servicing Southwest Louisiana)

When: Saturday, July 21, 10 – 11am

Where: 1605 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, TX 77706

RSVP: Sarah Ricks

Houston

Myasthenia Gravis Support Group of Greater Houston

When: 2nd Saturday of every month from 11-12AM

Where: Trini Mendenhall Community Center 1414 Wirt Rd Houston, TX 77055

RSVP: Meena Outlaw or Jenny Estala

Rio Grande Valley

MG RGV Support Group
When: First Saturday of each month at 10AM
Where: Knapp Medical Center Conference Building Room #1
            1401 E 8th Street
            Weslaco, TX
Contact: Karen Mau at maubillkaren@live.com or P: 956-254-3510 or Ruben Cuellar at rubencuellar@sbcglobal.net or P: 956-501-4211.
 

San Angelo

San Antonio

Alamo Support Group of South Texas

When: 2nd Saturday of every month (Except July and August) from 11-12:30AM

Where: Baptist Health System – Health Link Fitness Center

Contact: Elroy and Gail Tschirhart

UTAH

SALT LAKE CITY

Utah MG Support Group

Contact: For more information and/or to be informed of future events contact Utah support group leader Kelly at mgofutah@gmail.com

VIRGINIA

MANASSAS

Manassas MG Support Group

Dates: TBA

When: 10:30am – 12:30pm

ROANOKE AREA

Roanoke MG Support Group
When:  Afternoon: 1 – 2:30 pm 2944 Orange Ave. NE, Roanoke, VA 24012.
             Evening: 7 – 8:30 pm Rehabilitation Auditorium at Carilion Clinic Outpatient Therapy – South Jefferson. The Auditorium is a round building on the NW corner of the Rehab Center Block. The address of the Rehab Center Block is 2017 S. Jefferson Street. The best entrace is off Crystal Spring Avenue.
 

Contact: Thomas Powers at 540-420-0847 or Tompowers56@gmail.com  for dates, times, locations and directions.

Winchester MG Support Group

When: Next date TBA

Where: Bowman Library
            871 Tasker Road
            Stephens City, VA, 22655

VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP

MG Association of Western PA

WASHINGTON

SEATTLE AREA

Seattle Area MG Support Groups

Location: Fairwood Library

               17009 140th Ave SE

Renton, WA

Location:  Mercer Island Library

                 4400 88th Ave SE

                 Mercer Island, WA

SPOKANE

Spokane Area MG Support Group

Meets: 2nd Thursday of each month

Time: 1:00 pm

Location: Holy Family Hospital

Contact: Sindie Price at 509-468-0507 or sindieprice@yahoo.com , Kathy Hallam, RN at 509-681-2276 or George Richardson, MD at 509-879-2177.

OLYMPIA & TACOMA AREAS

South Sound MG Support Group

Meets: Quarterly meetings

Location:  Alternates between Olympia and Tacoma, WA locations.

KITSAP AREA

Kitsap Area MG Support Group

Meets:  Quarterly

Time:  1:00 3:00 pm

Location: Poulsbo Library,

               700 Lincoln Road, Poulsbo, WA .

Contact: For meeting dates, contact Kathie Bibeau at nwmg2012@gmail.com  or 425-271-515 1for more information.

WISCONSIN

MENASHA

Northeast WI MG Support Group

Dates:  Dec. 12 ($ 5 gift exchange)
             Jan. 9, 2019
             Feb. 13, 2019
             March 13, 2019
             April 10, 2019
             May 4, 2019 – 5 pm MG Walk at Green Isle Park, Green Bay
             May 8, 2019

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location:  The Office Sports Bar & Grill / Starlite Club

                  W2091 County Road JJ
                  Kaukauna, WI 54130

MILWAUKEE

Milwaukee MG Support Group

Meets: Feb. 13, 2019

            March 13, 2019

            April 10, 2019

           May 4, 2019 – MG Walk!

           June 12, 2019 – Georgie Porgies MG Awareness Night

Time:   6:30 – 8 PM

Location: St Francis Outpatient Center
                First Floor, Center for Neurological Disorders

                3237 S. 16th Street, Milwaukee WI 53215
Please use the entrance off of 18th and Oho Street. Free parking available in the surface lot directly in front of the building.

Contact: Join us on Facebook! For more information call or text Maureen Willms at 414-909-9930 or email mgwisup@gmail.com.
 

JANESVILLE

Janesville MG Support Group

More info TBA

New Links on MedlinePlus