16 msfocusmagazine.org By Tony DiGerolamo “My father is a pharmacist and I grew up working in his pharmacy. Chemistry and math always came very easy to me – biology, not so much – so becoming a pharmacist was an obvious decision!” Ellen Whipple, a member of MS Focus’ Medical Advisory Board, is a pharmacist and our resident expert on disease-modifying therapiess and other helpful drugs. She has been affiliated with MS Focus for more than fifteen years. Ellen contributes to every issue of MS Focus Magazine with her own column, the “RX Update,”which keeps ourreaders up to date with important information surrounding MS drugs. Ellen currentlyserves as an assistant clinical professor for the University of Georgia. Her early start in the pharmacy field gave her an excellent head start on her education. “I received my bachelor of pharmacy degree from the University of Georgia in 1993, and then earned my doctorate of Pharmacy through the University of Georgia, the Medical College of Georgia, and Emory University.” Her path to assisting the MS community, and joining MS Focus, was less expected. “In 1999, I started working at the Shepherd Center. At the time, approximately 30 percent of the patients there had MS, but I wasn’t familiar with the disease at all.” While at the Shepherd Center, Ellen met Dr. Ben Thrower, senior medical advisor for MS Focus. “Dr. Thrower became the medical director of MS Institute. He liked teaching and I liked learning. Seriously, he would answer all my questions and never made me feel stupid for asking them. Through my experiences at Shepherd Center, I was introduced to MS Focus in August 2002. I guess the rest is history!” Ellen recalls her early interactions with MS patients as a very positive experience. “When I was a practicing pharmacist, the MS patients were my favorite to work with. I always enjoyed those interactions, but I also felt like I was making an impact on their care. I would make suggestions that simplified their treatment regimens, educated them about their medications, and got to answer their questions as well.” Ellen Whipple, Pharm.D MS Focus Activities