THE ADVOCATES: Ken Friedman Ph.D
One of the people at the 2007 IACFS conference I was hoping to meet was Ken Friedman. A member of the federal advisory board for CFS (CFSAC: 2003-2006) he was plainly not satisfied at the state of affairs at the Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS). While he was polite at times there seemed to be an edge to his questions. At some points I thought I could feel his personal frustration. As I learned more I discovered it was personal with him; he has a daughter who’s had CFS/FM for almost fifteen years.
Ken's been a very active advocate. He co-authored the New Jersey Consensus Manual For the Management and Treatment of CFS, he’s a certified trainer of the CDC’s CFS physician education program, and he played a vital role in the Vermont CFIDS Associations recent legislative efforts. He is an Associate Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology at the New Jersey Medical School.
Over the past few years Ken has produced several papers aimed at engaging CFS patients in the issues they face at the federal and state levels. Through these papers he gives us an inside look at what we have accomplished, the many things what we still need to do and the means to do them.
Speak Out! The Life You Save May Be Your Own!
Fish or War? Background Information for the CFSAC Recommendations