Lyme Disease Forum

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and a forum is being held at Ayer Town Hall Thurs., May 4, 6p.m. Hosted by Senator Jamie Eldredge, D-Acton, Rep. Sheila Harrington, R-Groton, Rep. Jennifer Benson, D-Lunenburg, and the Massachusetts Lyme Legislation Task Force, the forum will feature medical practitioners who specialize in diagnosis and/or treatment of Lyme Disease and additional tick-borne illness, as well as information on awareness and prevention, provided by the Nashoba Associated Boards of Health and the Lyme Legislation Task Force.

Panelists include N. Thomas LaCava, M.D, who practices in West Boylston, MA. Dr. LaCava specializes in treating complex chronic illness. He is board certified in Environmental Medicine, which focuses on defining and treating the causes of the disease.

Also speaking is Sheila Statlender, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice in Newton, with specialties in individual and family counseling. Dr. Statlender is a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences regarding Lyme Disease and is a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). She was also appointed to the Mass. Lyme Disease Commission in 2012 and is a member of the Mass. Lyme Legislation Task Force, formed in 2009 comprised of eight patient advocates from throughout the Commonwealth.

The Task Force has worked successfully with the State Legislature to achieve passage of the Lyme disease physician protection bill in 2010 and continues to work on legislation regarding insurance coverage for treatment of Lyme Disease. Local members include Donna Castle and Robin Lemieux.