I am very excited to be writing to you from Baltimore, MD-I’ve officially become a Pittsburgh Girl in a Baltimore World and I’m also writing from new position with the Arthritis Foundation, Mid Atlantic Region.  It is such a great time to be a part of a Foundation that is dedicated to the mission of bringing awareness, advocacy, & hope for arthritis!  We are no longer working just on a chapter level-but on a regional level-which is great for you!  It means a staff from Delaware to South Carolina working together to brainstorm and collaborate on ideas that benefit, you! the patient, advocate, parent, sister, or friend of someone who is suffering some form of the over 100 types of arthritis.  It means a larger advocacy networking working on the same mission with a regional base of advocates and volunteers.  It means support groups that are regional based, so you might meet someone across the region who knows what you’re dealing with.  It means a community that you can count on for a shoulder to lean on, advice and support for the times when you need it most.  We’re here for you and we’re listening.  Let us know what you’re thinking and what you’d like to see as we come together as a region towards our mission.

So you know from the beginning of the blog that I’m a Pittsburgh girl, living in a Baltimore world, but I’d like to take a second to formally introduce myself.  Hello!  I’m Lisa and I’m proud to be the virtual voice for the Mid Atlantic Region.  I am committed to the mission not only through my work, but as an osteoarthritis and raynaud’s sufferer, I too want to hear about research, news and anything that is related to arthritis.

One of my passions in life is cooking and when I moved into my new office, I came across a cookbook that was chock-full of healthy recipes that were beneficial to overall wellness, but to arthritis sufferers too.  So don’t be surprised if you see recipes and fun cooking tips come across through this blog.  Although modern-man has created lots of wonderful medicines and cures, there is nothing quite like eating healthy and exercise to make your body smile.

So join me on this path to wellness and as I pass things along that I think you might find interesting and a few great recipes here and there.  And as with any blog or literature that you might find on the site, the Arthritis Foundation, Mid Atlantic Region does not endorse or promote any medical views or opinions that you’ll find on this blog.  Always consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise program or for any medicine related questions.