Ask the Expert: From Awareness to Action - Updates on CurePSP's Advocacy Efforts

About the Webinar

We have been steadily building CurePSP's legislative and public policy programs and resources over the last two years, from joining multiple advocacy coalitions to attending rare disease day on Capitol Hill to forming an advocacy steering committee, and more. Our efforts accelerated after former Rep. Jennifer Wexton partnered with CurePSP to host the first-ever PSP Congressional briefing, introduce a federal resolution recognizing May as PSP Awareness Month and mobilize our community to help pass the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act. In this webinar, we will discuss what is going on in DC and its impacts on our work, as well as share updates on CurePSP's policy priorities and how you can continue to translate hope into action with us!

Julie, Nisha and Jessica will have time at the end to answer viewers' questions. Submit your questions via registration or email to events@curepsp.org.

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About the Speakers

Elizabeth Cooper 

Elizabeth Cooper has been working on Capitol Hill since 2021 and started out in the Office of Senator Tammy Baldwin. She is passionate about policy surrounding neurodegenerative disorders and moved over to the House of Representatives to work for Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. There she helped the Congresswoman’s health care team in passing the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act and introduce the HEALTHY BRAINS Act for the first time. She has continued working on health care policy for the Congresswoman’s successor, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, and is working to reintroduce and pass the HEALTHY BRAINS Act.

Julie Balasalle, MSW

Julie Balasalle, MSW, is the Chair of the CurePSP Advocacy Steering Committee, where she is excited to work on initiatives to empower the CurePSP community to become legislative advocates. She is a social worker specializing in legislative advocacy, community organizing, and government relations. Professionally, she also works in this realm as the Manager of Community Organizing at I AM ALS. Julie's drive comes from her mother, who passed away with a probable diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration in 2023.

Nisha Quasba

Nisha Quasba is a seasoned government and regulatory affairs professional at Faegre Drinker Consulting with a proven track record of navigating the legislative landscape to drive meaningful policy reforms. Through her advocacy, she has successfully built bipartisan, bicameral support for critical legislation, shaping policies that resonate with diverse stakeholders. Her work has made a significant impact on the rare disease community, the telehealth sector, and the practice of pharmacy. A dedicated public health policy advocate, Nisha is committed to safeguarding public health and safety through informed policymaking. Before joining Faegre Drinker, she served as a public policy specialist with the Association of Public Health Laboratories, where she facilitated collaboration between government agencies, policymakers, and association members to advance key public health initiatives.

Jessica Shurer, MSW, LCSW

Jessica Shurer, MSW, LCSW is the Director of Clinical Affairs and Advocacy at CurePSP, where she oversees the Centers of Care network and our programs and resources aimed at increasing support, education and awareness of PSP, CBD and MSA. In her prior role, she served as the Center Coordinator & Clinical Social Worker of the Movement Disorders Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a CurePSP Center of Care and Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. During her tenure at UNC, she developed a particular passion for working with those living with PSP, CBD and MSA through the support groups she facilitated, the interdisciplinary clinic she coordinated and the countless patients and families from which she had the honor of learning. She was a member of the CurePSP Board of Directors from February 2020 until joining the team at CurePSP in October 2021. She holds degrees in psychology, gerontology and human development & family studies from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill. Her clinical and research interests include the psychosocial needs of navigating neurodegenerative disease, integrated healthcare models, and palliative and end-of-life care.