Join us for Community Offerings

Book Club

Join us every other month in 2025 for book club meetings with the John A. Schafer, MD Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center. Read/listen to all or a portion of the book and connect with others in the MS community to discuss or just listen in! The meetings will be held virtually via Zoom.

Book Club is free and open to members and non-members of the John A. Schafer, MD Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center.

• Monday, June 2nd, 1-2pm = The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware
• Monday, August 4th, 1-2pm = Horse, by Geraldine Brooks
• Monday, October 6th, 1-2pm = The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
• ***Monday, December 1st, 11a-12p = The Women, by Kristin Hannah

Contact us to be added to the invite list and for details of our next Book Club meeting!

To register, contact: 916.453.7966 or [email protected]

*** Please note the time difference of December’s meeting

Values vs. Goals

Dr. Susan Payrovi, certified in Functional Medicine and Medical Acupuncture, is the founder of TRUE Medicine, an online wellness program for people living with multiple sclerosis. She is a physician practicing Integrative and Functional Medicine at Stanford’s Center for Integrative Medicine. Currently she is a clinical assistant professor at Stanford University in the department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine.

KT Sloan is the creator and host of MS. UNDERSTOOD, a podcast dedicated to better understanding MS and learning to live well with MS. After her own diagnosis of MS, and as a former teacher, trainer and coach, she has turned her attention to helping teach others in the MS community about tools and strategies to alleviate MS symptoms.

This series will be offered virtually via Zoom.

Monday, June 2, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm (PST)

• Registration is required and a ZOOM link will be emailed to registrants. 
• Space is limited.
• Please register by May 26, 2025.
• To register: call 916.453.7966 or email [email protected]

Cannabis and MS

Jordan Tishler, MD is a Cannabinoid Specialist physician. He is the President of the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists & faculty at Harvard Medical School & Mass General Brigham. He was awarded Clinician of the Year by Americans for Safe Access & Marfan’s Society. He is appointed to the Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Council and is advisor to Council for Federal Cannabis Regulation. His research focuses on cannabinoid medication safety and use of cannabinoids for human sexual dysfunction.

There are many questions about cannabis, and regulation of cannabis is not universal. Dr. Tishler will address the current regulations, risks and benefits of use, recreational vs. medicinal use, and how to have open conversations about use with your healthcare provider.

This series will be offered virtually via Zoom.

Monday, June 16, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm (PST)

• Registration is required and a ZOOM link will be emailed to registrants.
• Space is limited.
• Please register by June 9, 2025.
• To register: call 916.453.7966 or email [email protected]

MS Education Summit: Save the Dates

VISION & MS

July 22, 2025
Mercy Medical Group - Midtown (6th Floor)

BLADDER & MS

September 16, 2025
Mercy Medical Group - Midtown (6th Floor)

Writing as Healing

Have you ever considered expressive writing as a form of healing? Writing has been proven to have a positive, healing effect, and we are pleased to welcome John Crandall, author, educator, and artist, to facilitate this free writing workshop. Join us virtually to experience a creative, artistic, and confidential form of sharing the written voice.

Writing As Healing is open to members and non-members of the John A. Schafer, MD Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center.

Every 2nd Monday of the month
1:00 - 3:00 PM (PST)

• Registration is required to receive a ZOOM link.
• To register:  916.453.7966 or [email protected]