The Huntington's Disease Society of America, Northeast Ohio Chapter, will hold its Annual Open Medical Forum and Meeting on Saturday, May 12, 2007. The event begins with a reception and luncheon at 11:30 a.m., followed by the program at 12:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, OH.

The speaker for this forum is Melany Danehy, M.D., and her topic will be 'Psychiatric Care in Huntington's Disease". Dr. Danehy is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at Rush University in Chicago and serves as the psychiatrist for the Huntington's Disease Center of Excellence at Rush. Dr. Danehy specializes in medications. She spoke at the 2006 HD National Convention about psychiatric medications and when an HD patient should see the psychiatrist and why. In addition, Dr. Danehy sees Parkinson's Disease, ataxia, and many other types of movement disorder patients in her clinic at Rush University for medication management.

Dr. Danehy also maintains a private psychiatric practice in the western suburbs of Chicago, where she see general psychiatric patients without movement disorders. This includes functioning as a hospital psychiatrist at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and at the Elmhurst Partial Hospital.

The program is free and open to the public. All Huntington's Disease patients, their family members, caregivers and medical personnel are encouraged to attend.

Reservations can be made by contacting the Chapter office at 440-423-4372, or in Lakewood by calling 216-226-6633. The Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) funds research provides HD family services as well as educates professionals and the general public about this brain disorder.