The following list of national organizations is provided to help you plan local initiatives surrounding season two of Second Opinion. Each offers a network of local affiliates that may be helpful in identifying regional experts or publicizing your event to their members. We suggest contacting your local affiliate to determine their interest and explore the best way to work together.
American Association of Eye and Ear Hospitals (AAEEH)
www.aaeeh.org
The AAEEH is comprised of the premier centers for specialized eye and ear procedures in the world. Association members are major referral centers, offer some of the most innovative teaching programs in the country, and routinely treat the most severely ill eye and ear patients. These specialty institutions maintain leading-edge technologies, enabling them to provide highly specialized services not available in general acute care hospitals.
Get Local: For a list of AAEEH member locations, please visit http://www.aaeeh.org/locations.html .
American Cancer Society (ACS)
www.cancer.org
The ACS is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization. It is the largest source of private, not-for-profit cancer research funds in the United States, second only to the federal government in total dollars spent. Local programs established by ACS serve to educate the public about cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, survival and quality of life.
Get Local: The ACS has a network of state divisions and more than 3,400 local offices. To find a local office please visit http://www.cancer.org/asp/search/mla/mla_global.asp?navToScreen=mla_0 .
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
www.diabetes.org
The ADA is the nation’s leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. “Make the Link Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke,” an initiative with the American College of Cardiology, aims to increase awareness of the link between these related conditions. A National Call Center (1-800-DIABETES) provides information on diabetes and ADA programs and events.
Get Local: The ADA conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities. To find a local chapter, please visit http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/whatslocal.jsp .
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
www.diabetes.org
The ADA is the nation’s leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. “Make the Link! Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke,” an initiative with the American College of Cardiology, aims to increase awareness of the link between these related conditions. A National Call Center (1-800-DIABETES) provides information on diabetes and ADA programs and events.
Get Local: The ADA conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities. To find a local chapter, please visit http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/whatslocal.jsp .
American Dietetic Association
www.eatright.org
The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Thirty dietetic practice groups focus on a variety of health and medical issues including diabetes care, oncology, psychiatric disorders, HIV/AIDS, physical rehabilitation, weight management, women’s health and reproductive nutrition. A Spokesperson Network offers 30 media-trained registered dieticians based in locations across the United States.
Get Local: There are 52 U.S.-based ADA affiliates. To find a local chapter visit http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/career_491_ENU_HTML.htm .
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
www.heart.org
The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. They provide expertise and information on a variety of related health conditions and diseases including arrhythmia, cholesterol, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease, metabolic syndrome and more.
Get Local: The organization includes the national center (located in Dallas, TX) and 12 affiliate offices that cover the United States and Puerto Rico. To find a local office, please visit http://www.heart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3005688 .
American Hospital Association (AHA)
www.aha.org
The American Hospital Association (AHA) aims to advance the health of individuals and communities. The AHA leads, represents and serves hospitals, health systems and other related organizations that are accountable to the community and committed to health improvement.
Get Local: For fast-facts about America’s hospitals, to find an AHA member hospital near you and to learn more, please visit
http://www.aha.org/aha/resource_center/statistics/statistics.html .
American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org
The American Lung Association is the oldest voluntary health organization in the United States. Founded in 1904 to fight tuberculosis, the American Lung Association today fights lung disease in all its forms, with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and environmental health.
Get Local: To find a local chapter, please visit
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22555
Arthritis Foundation
www.arthritis.org
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, and the cause of most types is unknown. The Arthritis Foundation is the only national not-for-profit organization that supports the more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions with advocacy, programs, services and research. The online “Joint Surgery Center” provides information about the different types of surgery, including details about the benefits and risks, preparing for surgery and recovery.
Get Local: Local chapters provide exercise and self-help programs, information about upcoming events and educational forums, referrals and support group. Please visit
http://www.arthritis.org/communities/Chapters/ChapDirectory.asp .
Association of Academic Health Centers (AHC)
www.ahcnet.org
More than 100 institutions are members of the AHC. They each consist of an allopathic or osteopathic school of medicine, at least one other health profession school or program, and one or more teaching hospital(s) at major universities throughout the United States. AHC programs include the Access to Healthcare Initiative why not EVERYONE? and the American Network of Health Promoting Universities, a coalition of 72 AHC members that embrace the concept of health promotion.
Get Local: To find an AHC member in your area, please visit http://www.ahcnet.org/about/members/index.php .
Cancer Information Service (CIS)/National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov
CIS provides the latest cancer information to patients, their families, the public and health professionals through its online resources as well as personalized, confidential responses to specific questions about cancer through its toll-free number 1-800-4-CANCER.
Get Local: Its network of regional offices serves the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Islands. To find a CIS office near you, please visit http://cis.nci.nih.gov/community/regions/regions.html .
Epilepsy Foundation
www.epilepsyfoundation.org
The Epilepsy Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and to prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy and services. Typical of the Foundation’s national programs are its Epilepsy Gene Discovery Project, H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People with Epilepsy) Mentoring Program, JobTech, Public Policy Institute, Elderly and Women’s Health Initiatives, and Research Grants Program.
Get Local: Local affiliates in nearly 100 communities provide information and referrals, counseling, patient and family advocacy, school alert, community education, support groups and camps for children. To find the Epilepsy Foundation in your community, please visit
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutus/AffiliateLookup.cfm .
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
www.nami.org
NAMI is a grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Its Web site and toll-free Information HelpLine 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) provide information and referrals on a variety of mental health conditions. In Our Own Voice educational speakers bureau is presented by trained consumers living with mental illness.
Get Local: NAMI chapters in every state and in over 1100 local communities across the country identify and work on issues most important to their community and state. To find a NAMI chapter in your area, please visit http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?section=your_local_NAMI .
National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
www.nmha.org
NMHA’s Campaign for America’s Mental Health works nationally and locally to raise awareness that mental illnesses are common, real and treatable, and to ensure that those most at-risk for depression and anxiety disorders receive proper, timely and effective treatment. Through public education and outreach to primary care providers, the Campaign seeks to increase the number of Americans who receive treatment for mental illnesses and to improve the manner in which mental illnesses are detected and treated in primary care settings.
Get Local: With 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA’s local network provides the grassroots connections for many services and programs and develops programs geared toward the specific mental health needs of individual communities. To find a local NMHA affiliate, please visit
http://www.nmha.org/affiliates/directory/index.cfm .
