The Marilyn Hilton MS Achievement Center at UCLA is a collaborative program offered by the UCLA Department of Neurology and the Southern California & Nevada Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The philosophy of the MS Achievement Center is that people with MS can be empowered to take control of their health and well-being with the help of educational and experiential programs. To this end, the center's programming is designed to provide wellness interventions that complement participants' medical management of their disease.
Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been living with MS for some time, we offer a program to help you achieve your wellness goals.
On this page:
The REACH to Achieve program is designed for people who have been living with MS for some period of time, are facing one or more life challenges related to their MS symptoms, including mobility, ability to cope, memory changes and deconditioning, and who are ready to take control and make personal changes.
In a setting of shared support, REACH to Achieve provides tools and strategies for you to improve and/or maintain your functional independence. REACH focuses on four main areas:
"Members" attend the program one day a week on an ongoing basis. Our program is offered on a sliding fee scale and is accessible to everyone. To complete your program application and take the first step toward optimizing your health and wellness, please finish the application below:
Application for REACH Program (PDF)
To contact Center staff with additional questions, please email Elise Herlihy at eherlihy@mednet.ucla.edu.
For those newly diagnosed with MS, the Living Well with MS program offers an integrative approach to wellness and MS that introduces participants to information, strategies and tools they can use to develop a lifestyle program that optimizes their well-being. Over the course of the 12-week program, participants will:
Living Well with MS blends interactive, online learning and activities with exercise, educational and emotional wellness sessions that are held at the Center on Saturdays in order to accommodate busy work and school schedules. The program is facilitated by Center health professionals as well as National MS Society staff, and delivers different program topics with targeted educational and experiential sessions such as managing stress, understanding fatigue, complementary and alternative therapies, taking control of your personal health and strategies for sustained success. Participants develop fitness practices to enhance strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance by engaging in a variety of educational and experiential physical health workshops, ranging from exercise to manage stress to yoga sessions. Living Well with MS participants receive a comprehensive notebook of educational materials and handouts on a variety of exercise topics, MS education, nutrition and spirituality.
Download and complete your program application (PDF) and take the first step toward optimizing your health and wellness.
To contact Center staff with additional questions, please contact Elise Herlihy at eherlihy@mednet.ucla.edu.
CogniFitness
CogniFitness is a multi-session interactive program for individuals living with MS and experiencing mild cognitive problems. It provides strategies and tools for dealing with common memory and cognitive challenges that can accompany MS. Topics addressed in CogniFitness sessions include focus and concentration, organization and memory, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. Please email us to inquire about our next CogniFitness program.
Free From Falls
Free From Falls is a new eight-week fall prevention program designed specifically for people with MS who are able to walk, but may be at risk for falling. There are two levels of the program: one for those who walk with or without a cane, and a second for those who use a walker.
In just eight weeks, you will
In a fun, supportive group atmosphere, expert instructors in rehabilitation, health and wellness will help you develop a personal plan to maximize your safety and well-being. Please email us to inquire about our next Free From Falls program.
LEAP
"LEAP," our Lifestyle Education and Assessment Program, provides a comprehensive, one-time evaluation of neurologic and functional status. The goals of LEAP are to assess each individual's unique needs, identify areas for potential improvement and establish a plan for interventions that may be helpful to living optimally with MS. The program is designed to be accessible to residents of outlying areas where there is little access to MS specialty care, with all of the assessments taking place in a single half-day visit.
Patients receive a one-on-one consultation with each member of the Center's multidisciplinary MS team during the visit: our neurologist, nurse specialist, physical and occupational therapists, exercise specialist, recreation therapist, dietician, speech and language pathologist, mental health practitioner and a staff member from the National MS Society. At the conclusion of the assessment, both the patient and his/her physician are provided with a comprehensive report based on our experts' findings. Please email Elise Herlihy, executive director, to inquire further about LEAP.
Staff and volunteers
MS Achievement Center Board
Mailing address:
Marilyn Hilton MS Achievement Center at UCLA
1000 Veteran Avenue, Suite 11-62
Box 714722
Los Angeles, CA 90095-7147
Contact information:
Phone: 310-267-4071
Fax: 310-267-4075
Email eherlihy@mednet.ucla.edu
Do you have a passion for wellness and special skills to share?
Please email Stacy Nonoguchi to inquire about our volunteer opportunities.
Our center is fully supported by donations and nominal program fees.
Email us to find out how you can contribute to our efforts.
