learning center
Board
Meet the dedicated, all-volunteer Board of Directors governing Mission MSA. Comprising MSA patients, care partners, family members, healthcare professionals, research scientists, and business experts, our diverse team collaborates with unique skill sets to make meaningful strides in the fight against multiple system atrophy.
Liz’s mother, Eileen Kavanagh Dyas, began experiencing Parkinsonism-like symptoms in 2013, leading to a probable MSA diagnosis in July 2017. After her passing in October 2017, a brain autopsy confirmed MSA-P.
Though Liz only discovered Mission MSA after her mother’s death, the 2018 conference offered her family vital knowledge, connection, and closure. She joined the General Advisory Committee in 2019 and the Board in 2021, balancing her professional life with family and personal interests.
Liz is proud to serve as the 2025–2026 Board Chair. Her goals align with Mission MSA’s to support patients, educate the medical community, and fund global research. She is committed to advancing earlier diagnosis and research that wil lead to disease-modifying treatments and more substantial support for the MSA community.
Based in The Netherlands, Liz holds an MBA , owns a marketing agency, and has worked internationally in marketing and revenue enablement.
Dawn’s involvement with multiple system atrophy (MSA) began when her father-in-law, Richard Dexter, faced balance difficulties and falls in 2015. After seeking medical opinions, a confirmed MSA diagnosis led Dawn and her wife to research and advocate for Richard’s well-being. Discovering Mission MSA early in their journey provided crucial guidance on managing symptoms and fostering a supportive community through Patient and Family Conferences. Dawn, a Midsouth native with a background in business administration, holds a position as Vice President and Fiduciary Strategist at Comerica Bank & Trust, N.A. Passionate about sports, she enjoys outdoor activities with her wife and two Labrador Retrievers, Adler and Lucia in her free time.
Amy is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner with subspecialty training in movement disorders, as well as cognitive and behavioral neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Her clinical and research interests involve neurodegenerative diseases. She provides care for patients with Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s Plus disorders, Huntington’s disease, and various dementia. Amy was first introduced to multiple system atrophy in the research setting, and quickly became interested in the disease and its many complexities. Amy hopes to help educate providers on the unique challenges MSA poses for both the patient and caregiver.
Andre’s mother, Isabelle, was diagnosed with probable MSA-P in 2019 after initially being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018. As a young caregiver, Andre has supported his mother in her daily tasks, visits to neurologists across North America, and her clinical trial in New York City. Andre says that Mission MSA has provided his family with educational resources and supportive communities which enable his mother and family to flourish in new ways. He hopes to share his experiences and advocate for care partners as a member of the Board of Directors. Andre currently serves as an Investment Banking Associate at Greenhill & Co. He lives in Toronto, Ontario with his wife, Emily, and shares caregiving duties with his father, Richard and sister, Margot.
Paul Beach, D.O., Ph.D. is a physician-scientist specializing in movement disorders and autonomic neurology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He directs a Clinical Autonomic Neurophysiology Lab and cares for patients with neurodegenerative movement disorders and autonomic failure. His research focuses on studying the mechanisms of orthostatic hypotension symptoms, the impact of supine hypertension on cognition and motor symptoms, and the use of wearable devices to monitor cardiovascular functions in patients with orthostatic hypotension. Dr. Beach’s expertise in both neurology areas will be a significant asset to Mission MSA’s mission.
Danielle Shpiner, MD is a neurologist specializing in movement disorders at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is the Director of the UM Parkinson’s Interdisciplinary Clinic, which provides comprehensive multi-specialist care to patients living with Parkinson’s Disease and Atypical Parkinsonian disorders including MSA. She also serves as Co-Director of the UM Movement Disorders Fellowship Program and has active teaching roles in the Neurology residency program and medical school. Her research focuses on optimizing interdisciplinary care models, improving patient outcomes, and expanding access to advance care planning for those with movement disorders.
Nadia Stefanova is Professor of Translational Neurodegeneration Research at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. After receiving her medical degree and PhD in Neuroscience, Nadia joined the Department of Neurology in Innsbruck. At that time, her scientific work focused on MSA. Gradually, Nadia’s research goal to understand and cure MSA became a life mission (Trends Neurosci 2005, Lancet Neurol 2009, Nature Rev Neurosci 2023). Her lab applies experimental models of MSA to study the disease mechanisms and to explore novel treatments for MSA and other synucleinopathies. Nadia’s MSA research has been recognized through multiple prestigious awards. Nadia has been supporting the research program of Mission MSA as a scientific expert since 2016 and she was recently appointed the Chair of the Research Steering Council.
Jocelyn M. Jiao, MD MS is a dual-appointed movement disorders specialist and palliative care specialist. At Stanford University School of Medicine, she is the Physician Lead for the Neuropalliative Program. Dr. Jiao’s clinical and academic interests surround implementation of palliative care for people and families living with serious neurological diseases.
Maggie Ivancic, MSW, LCSW is the clinical social worker at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Movement Disorders Center. She facilitates support groups for people with Parkinson’s Disease, PSP & CBS/CBD, MSA, and deep brain stimulation. She coordinates two specialty interdisciplinary clinics for people with Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism. Prior to joining the UNC Movement Disorders Team, Maggie worked as a hospice social worker.
Jocelyn M. Jiao, MD MS is a dual-appointed movement disorders specialist and palliative care specialist. At Stanford University School of Medicine, she is the Physician Lead for the Neuropalliative Program. Dr. Jiao’s clinical and academic interests surround implementation of palliative care for people and families living with serious neurological diseases.
Jocelyn M. Jiao, MD MS is a dual-appointed movement disorders specialist and palliative care specialist. At Stanford University School of Medicine, she is the Physician Lead for the Neuropalliative Program. Dr. Jiao’s clinical and academic interests surround implementation of palliative care for people and families living with serious neurological diseases.
Jeanne was the primary care partner for her husband Peter, who was initially diagnosed with MSA after experiencing a foot drop and corresponding nerve pain in 2018. Over the next several months Peter received multiple opinions confirming an MSA diagnosis. The disease progressed quickly and Peter passed away in the spring of 2021. He was 57. Jeanne and Peter found Mission MSA to be an invaluable resource during their MSA journey. Jeanne continues to have a passion about Mission MSA’s critical work, including education, advocacy, and research funding. Jeanne has her law degree from Boston University and spent several decades as an intellectual property attorney, specializing in patent and trade secret litigation. She was a partner at Ropes & Gray in New York City and her clients included pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Jeanne currently resides in Kent, CT.
Bonnie Mahl, M.A. is the Senior Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator at the Virginia Commonwealth University Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center (PMDC). She joined the Center in 2023, bringing over 20 years of experience in education, community development, and outreach. At PMDC, Bonnie leads patient and caregiver engagement efforts, develops educational programs, and builds partnerships that connect the community to resources and research in movement disorders.
In his late 20’s, while beginning his legal career and own family, Josh became primary caregiver for his father, Steven, when he began experiencing MSA symptoms. It took over a year and half, however, to receive his diagnosis despite visiting many of the best hospitals in the Northeast. Steven’s battle with MSA lasted over eight years ending in 2015. Josh joined Mission MSA’s Board in 2024 to share his experience as a caregiver and serve as a support for families of those afflicted with MSA. He seeks to spread knowledge and awareness of the disease. Josh is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a degree in History, and Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts, where he obtained his juris doctorate magna cum laude. He is a trial attorney at the law firm of Todd & Weld in Boston where his practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and health care and regulatory law. Josh lives with his wife, three daughters and their dog Augie. When not in the courtroom, you will most likely find Josh rock climbing, on the ski slopes, or hiking in the mountains.
Kate, a former restaurant owner in Arizona, faced the onset of multiple system atrophy after experiencing symptoms such as balance issues and a weakening voice while on the job. Despite a diverse career in the tech sector, aviation, education, and publishing, her focus shifted to advocacy, serving over 50 boards and commissions with a commitment to addressing violence, disease, and economic insecurity. Kate, holding a B.A., M.P.A., and various certifications, passionately leads a 501c3 organization dedicated to youth development.
Motivated by personal reasons and admiration for Mission MSA’s purpose, Kate is proud of its impact beyond MSA sufferers, reaching caretakers, friends, and the medical community. She is dedicated to eradicating MSA, understanding disease processes, and providing compassionate spaces for those in need. Kate’s involvement exemplifies Mission MSA’s broader role in uniting stakeholders against this elusive disease.
To learn more about Joe Lindahl, visit missionmsa.org/staff.