Meet the MG Hope Board

Melinda Whetstone has a background in consulting, research, and education. She has spent the past several years researching the use of personal and electronic health records in medical care and teaching in her health informatics courses about the importance of collecting quality data in order to ensure it can be used for sound decision making. 

Melinda primarily focused on the use of health technology for adults with Type 2 diabetes, but recently found that she had to quickly learn about Myasthenia Gravis when a family member was diagnosed following a severe Myasthenic crisis that required prolonged intubation. Her role as an advocate and caregiver served to fuel her passion for research and the topic of using technology to improve health and care management. She looks forward to sharing her insights.  

 Melinda earned a Ph.D. in health informatics from Florida State University, a master’s degree in biomechanics from University of Maryland, and bachelor’s degrees in exercise science and athletic training from Miami University of Ohio. She has taught for several major universities in the Southeast, co-authored a book chapter, and published in health care and health technology journals.

Her vision for Myasthenia Gravis is that patients receive timely diagnoses, support to become informed partners in managing their disease until a cure is found, and access to safe, effective, and quality care. 

James L. Sheets, Pharm.D., is a partner, founder and CEO for CSI Pharmacy.  He has a passion for developing clinical programs that add value to the homecare setting for infusion patients. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Pharmacy. His pharmacy experience includes practice in community, hospital, nuclear, compounding, and the home infusion settings.

 James has over 15 years’ experience working with Immune Globulin (IG) Therapy and administration in the home. He is an active member of the Immune Globulin National Society (IgNS) and National Home Infusion Association (NHIA). He contributes as a member of the IG standards Committee for IgNS. He also serves as a board member on the Managed Health Care Associates (MHA) Alternate Site Advisory Board.  Most recently, James has been appointed to the medical advisory board of the Myasthenia Gravis Hope Foundation.

 James has a passion for IG Therapy and for the disease states it is used in. He serves as an expert speaker in the use of Immune Globulin Therapy for different diseases before professional and patient organizations. James’ goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of others and he views the patients he works with as members of his family…the CSI Pharmacy Family. He is passionate that all patients’ therapies should be individualized to meet their specific needs.  James enjoys sharing knowledge and helping others through supporting and hosting local, regional, state and national patient organizations. He frequently speaks at local Myositis Keeping in Touch (KIT) meetings and Myasthenia Gravis patient support group meetings in the various regions across the nation.  He often remarks that the people he meets at these groups are truly inspirational and that they motivate him to grow and improve as a person.  

 In addition to his pharmacy degree, James is certified in Sterile Intravenous Compounding and has his Nuclear Pharmacy Education from the University of New Mexico Health Science Center. He has received special recognition by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Arkansas Academy of Science for his research work in medical chemistry, in which he studied the chemical structures of carcinogens. He was a recipient of the Nelson Voldeng Research Fellowship at The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He is also the recipient of several awards and honors for his leadership and outstanding academic achievement. 

Genice is a mother of two children, a skilled nurse and a Myasthenia Gravis patient. Raised in New York City, she began her career in management. Dedicated to helping others, Genice pursued nursing in order to bring support and healing to those who neded it most.  After graduating from Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, she started her nursing career as a critical care nurse. Genice works as a traveling skilled nurse throughout Florida and occasionally California and New York where she is also licensed. In addition, Genice has extensive experience working in fertility, pain management and emergency physician clinics.

Genice has been accredited by the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) for Myasthenia Gravis Education.

After becoming critically ill in 2016 Genice’s knowledge and compassion not only came from extensive training and patient encounters, but that of her own personal experiences with Myasthenia Gravis. Moments of paralysis that are unpredictable and inconsistent makes this rare disease baffling, often under diagnosed and challenging to treat. She is a firm believer that, with appropriate intervention and increased knowledge, patients can have improved outcomes.

She brings her expertise, experience and passion to serve others in the unique role of both patient and clinician.

Her vision for the Myasthenia Gravis community is is to be a resource between healthcare professionals, caregivers and the Myasthenia Gravis community in helping to gain understanding, live a better quality of life and manage disease through improved developmental education materials and more positive, safe and appropriate clinical practice.

Cory Hughes, began his career in 2012 and has extensive experience in the emergency room and on an ambulances.

He earned his EMT certificate from the Central Florida Fire Academy and his Paramedic certification from Orlando Medical Institute. He also obtained his ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life  Support) and his PHTLS (Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support).

 Neurology has been a core focus of study and interest throughout his education and training, fueling his vision to improve the effectiveness, education, training and awareness of EMS services for our patients with Myasthenia Gravis to help ensure safer emergency encounters.

Erin Brantley has been a practicing physical therapist since earning her Master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1993. The first ten years her work focused on orthopedic therapy, but during that time she also obtained a certification in Lymphedema Management and assisted in a Pulmonary Rehab Program. 

With a goal of being more available to her family, she then transitioned to a home health agency covering a largely rural area treating people with a variety of therapeutic needs.  For the last 6 years she has found her passion working in a private practice clinic that specializes in Myofascial Release.

  However, all work came to a screeching halt in January of 2017 when Myasthenia Gravis made it impossible for her to walk greater than 50 feet with a rolling walker without stopping to rest and unable to use her arms well enough to shower or dress, let alone to be able to treat patients.  The diagnostic process was particularly frustrating due to knowing the muscle weakness and fatigue she was experiencing was real and not typical of any diagnosis she has encountered previously. 

Thankfully through a network of excellent physicians the diagnosis was made. 0nce the proper medications were started she has responded well and is now slowly returning to the work she loves.

 Her vision for the Myasthenic community is to continue learn alongside the patients and their families and to educate other therapists in the many presentations of Myasthenia Gravis, enabling them to properly participate in the rehabilitation needs of those who are challenged by this diagnosis.