Our Presenters:

Calaneet Balas, President & CEO, ALS Association

Calaneet Balas became CEO and President of The ALS Association in December 2017. She joined the organization in June 2016 as Chief of Strategy, leading all three mission areas including global research, public policy and care services, which work in an integrated fashion to find a cure, advance treatments and enhance the quality of life for people living with ALS.

Prior to joining the fight against ALS, Calaneet served as Chief Executive Officer of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA). In this leadership role she had numerous accomplishments, leading advocacy and awareness efforts while advancing research initiatives including collaborating with a partner organization to create the largest global organization dedicated to ovarian cancer research, advocacy and patients, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, which merged in January of 2016.

Ms. Balas also worked at the Arthritis Foundation, where she was part of an executive team that integrated and restructured four separately incorporated chapters into one region representing the Arthritis Foundation.

She served as Chief Strategy Officer of the newly created Mid-Atlantic Region of the Arthritis Foundation from 2010 until September 2012. Previously, she led as President and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation’s Metro DC Chapter from 2005-2009, bringing financial stability to the chapter and increasing its fundraising efforts.

Calaneet joined the Board of Directors of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations in December 2017 and was elected Chairwoman in December 2018. She also sits on the board of the Truman State University Foundation.

Ms. Balas holds a Master of Business Administration from Herriot-Watt University, a Master of Science in Human Movement Science Education from the University of Memphis, and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Truman State University.

Michael A. Elliott, MD, FAAN, Executive Medical Director, Providence-Swedish Neuroscience Institute

Experienced physician executive with over 25 years of clinical practice, research, and leadership service in the Puget Sound Region. I have worked at several organizations across the Greater Seattle Area to include Madigan Army Medical Center, the University of Washington, Virginia Mason, Evergreen Health, and Providence-Swedish. I was at Virginia Mason for nearly 20 years, where I served in several leadership roles and gained experience with both Lean and the Toyota Production System. At Swedish, as the Executive Medical Director for the Neuroscience Institute (SNI)/Neurology for the last 5 years, I have been fortunate to work with a team of hard working, professional, and trusted colleagues who prioritize patient care. During my time at Swedish, SNI has continued to be a regional leader promoting clinical research, novel therapeutics, and quaternary clinical services for patients. My clinical area of interest is neuromuscular medicine with a focus on ALS. At Swedish I have served at the site PI for several therapeutic trials in ALS, an area I continue to find both interesting and professionally meaningful.

Erik Schroder-Misson Moment Speaker

Erik Schroeder grew up in rural Minnesota and graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School. He did a family medicine residency in Ogden, Utah, then a sports medicine fellowship in Salt Lake City. He and his wife, Andrea, moved to Whitefish, Montana, in 2008. Erik was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, and he retired in 2013 and joined Andrea teaching home school for their daughter and twin boys. Team Schroeder has raised over $415K over 12 ALS walks. Erik has served on the Evergreen Chapter Board of Directors (now Leadership Council) and care services committee for many years. He runs on batteries these days and is thankful for technology including an eye gaze computer and Ability Drive, which has enabled him to drive over 100 miles with just his eyes. His motto is, “Today is the best day I have today.”