Community Advisory Board (CAB)

Carlton Bradley lives in Hobart, Indiana where he works as a Mechanical Engineer, and focuses on living his best life for his wife and four children. His alma mater, Purdue University, taught him to make a positive impact on the world, which motivates him to strive for improvement in all aspects of his life. Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in college, he has been searching for ways to feel better each day and has learned that there isn’t a single solution to this question.

Dan Digmann works as a Lead Copywriter at Ruffalo Noel Levitz and maintains a nationally recognized blog, ACoupleTakesOnMS.com, with his wife, Jennifer. After meeting at a National MS Society event in 2002, they fell in love, got married in 2005, and now serve as each other’s primary caregivers. Together, they are District Activist Leaders, leading members of the Government Relations Committee for the NMSS in Michigan, and have been inducted into the NMSS Volunteer Hall of Fame for Advocacy. 

Alanna Johnson Steaple is a board-certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Speech-Language Pathologist, who works in Tallahassee, Florida, providing primary care. She serves as the Ryan White Part C practitioner for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and those wanting to initiate Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PReP). Ms. Steaple is involved in the Florida Nursing Association and the American Academy of HIV Medicine and has been featured in the publication “HIV Specialists” for her contributions to the field.

Elysa Lanz holds Masters degrees in both economics and education and has served as a patient advisor for the MS Association of King County and UW Medicine and on several advisory boards representing individuals with disabilities in the workplace. Since being diagnosed with MS in 1989, Elysa has turned to her long-standing passion for art for its therapeutic benefits. After living in the Pacific Northwest for 38 years, she will continue her pottery work and effort to build community in her new home in Illinois, near her daughter.

Elisha Rain lives in Indianola on the Kitsap Peninsula where she is medically retired from her profession as a registered dietitian nutrition therapist, specializing in intuitive eating and eating disorders. She is a proud member of the motivational interviewing network of trainers and earned a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from Bastyr University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Tufts University. Elisha lives in a cohousing community with her family which teaches her the value of community as an integral part of whole-person health.

Rob Sacoman of Seattle rediscovered his love for strength sports after being diagnosed with MS in 2022. Since then, he has established a new relationship with his body and become a competitive powerlifter, holding several state, American, and world records. After leaving his career as a Business Intelligence Specialist and Data Engineer, Rob turned his focus to his nonprofit organization, the Adaptive Athlete Power Association (AAPA) which is dedicated to helping adaptive athletes find community, independence, and empowerment through athletics.

Patty Solis is a retired nurse living in Klamath Falls, Oregon, who has prioritized advocacy throughout her career. Since being diagnosed with MS in 2012, Patty has served on advisory boards at UW Medicine and Auburn University, worked with the Accelerated Care Project and iConquerMS, volunteered with the NMSS as a Peer Connection for MSFriends, and started a blog. Patty is also a member of the RIDE Council where she participates in meetings focused on underserved communities affected by MS.

Jon Strum is the host of RealTalk MS, the award-winning podcast for the MS community, reaching listeners in over 100 countries. Jon’s wife, Jeanne, was diagnosed with progressive MS in 1997, and Jon served as her caregiver until Jeanne lost her battle with the disease in 2020. A past member of the International Progressive MS Alliance Scientific Steering Committee and the National MS Society’s Community Review of MS Research Committee, Jon currently serves as a Trustee for the National MS Society and chairs the Society’s California Government Relations Advisory Committee.

Kristine Werner Ozug’s patient engagement focus stems from her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2012 in Atlanta, GA. Since then, she has been involved with patient and clinician education and advocacy initiatives aimed at patient-centered, team-based care. Kristine is passionate about communicating MS research to the public by volunteering with RealTalk MS, the most listened-to MS podcast in the world.