ML Del Bene, MS, RN. NP-P, Clinical Administrator of the ALS Center, was honored as the Distinguished Lecturer for the 4th Annual Vicki Appel MDA/ALS Patient Care Conference 2002, at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Mrs. Del Bene delivered the keynote address, "Quality of Life in ALS," and participated in an "Ask the Experts" panel with previous recipients of this award. Michio Hirano, MD has been tenured as an Associate Professor of Neurology at Columbia University. Dr. Hirano, co-director of the MDA Clinic at Columbia University is active in basic science research and clinical care of patients related to mitochondrial disease. Sheila Hayes, MS, PT, Senior Physical Therpaist at the ALS Center, has resigned her position after several years of service. Ms. Hayes, well known in the ALS community, provided excellence in patient care and clinical research at the Center. We wish her well in her future endevours and are thankful for the commitment, dedication and professionalism she provided during her time with us. She will be missed by all.