Page 15 - Fall 2020 CMTA Report

INNERVATORS

DAN CHAMBY

energy and excitement for the student and Aïko, 24, a clinical
research, he pointed out, quoting researcher in cancers—have both
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words: been instructing him on basic ACCORDING TO THE DICTIONARY,
“Nothing great was ever achieved biological science. an innervator is a nerve stimulator. According to the
without enthusiasm.” Dan’s CMT journey started CMTA, an INNERVATOR is an action-oriented donor
who gives monthly to the organization, sustaining
In deciding to join the fairly recently. Now 60, he played
STAR (Strategy to Accelerate Research), our premier
CMTA’s quest, Dan was also rugby in his early 30s until he
research initiative, as well as important community
influenced by its four-star, or blew out one knee and had to initiatives like Camp Footprint, Patient/Family
exceptional, rating from Charity have it reconstructed. He blew out Conferences and educational programs. All of these
Navigator, indicating that the his other knee while skiing at the programs require steady, reliable support from
CMTA exceeds industry standards age of 50, requiring a second committed donors. Please join the Innervators today!
and outperforms most charities in reconstruction. Afterward, he www.cmtausa.org/cmta-innervators
its cause. The CMTA pays close developed foot drop and noticed
Tracy Adamson Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Meloni
attention to costs, he observed, he wasn’t running quite as well
Scott Allen Ronnie Mendoza
and really knows how “to make and his balance wasn’t great, but Brendan Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Mersing
a little bit of money his sports injuries Lorna Brand William Millar
scream.” masked the neuro - Deborah Breuer Mrs. Susan Moore
Ms. Alba Moratinos
Dr. and Mrs. William Buchanan
Above all, it was “This is pathy. He began to Ms. Cynthia Carroll Ms. Cara Natale
the organization’s a serious suspect CMT after William Chandler Mr. Gary Oelze
Strategy to Accelerate his French father was Mr. Peter Cherpes Mr. and Mrs. Pamela Palmer
Research (STAR) that organization diagnosed at the age David Coldiron Jeannie Palmero
Ms. Cristina Penas
Peter Cole
appealed to his sense of 80, by chance at Cheryl Collins Jonathan Preston
of business strategy. full of people La Pitié-Salpêtrière in Patti Condon Susan Rems
James Copeland Raymond Roth
The global partner- with serious Paris, where Drs. Jean- John Cordonnier Mrs. Margery Sayward
ships it has fostered Martin Charcot and Diane Covington Karen Scacco
with leading acade- backgrounds.” Pierre Marie worked Laura Dillon Mario Scacco
mic, pharmaceutical, in the late 19th cen- Grace Dipisa Donald Schlosser
Ms. Marilynn Dodge Seina Searle
biotech and service tury. That led him to Mr. and Mrs. Rick Fansler Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Smith
companies using the latest genetic the CMTA Center of Excellence James Fiorentino Mr. Bruce Spackman
and neurological technologies at the University of Pennsylvania, Tim Garmager Ms. Joyce Steinkamp
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Giles Mr. and Mrs. Jim Stetor
strikes him as a remarkably disci- where Dr. Scherer confirmed his
Amy Grey Mrs. Patricia Tedford
plined approach to solving CMT. diagnosis of an unidentified Mr. Randy Gunn Mr. David Thomas
All in all, Dan says he has a Type 2. Mr. and Mrs. William Helmke Mr. and Mrs. William Tilburg
Diann Jackson Mr. and Mrs. Ophir Trigalo
strong sense that he is joining an Dan was no stranger to the
Mark Johnsen Payton Turner
organization just hitting its sweet University of Pennsylvania, where Mr. Doug Kampe Lynn Upton
spot of momentum and impact. he earned his MBA in 1988. Heather Kercher Ms. Patricia Van Riper
While some organizations develop Afterward, wanting to learn an Drs. Craig and Andrea Kesack Angela Vandersteen
Holmquist Koula Bruce Vieira
a sense of complacency after suc- Asian language, he moved to Ella Lafara Steve Williard
cess, he believes the CMTA has Japan, where he taught English in Jennifer Larkin Robert Wills
the excitement and enthusiasm to a rural public school, and he met Rosemarie Littleton Mr. Daniel Woltjer
Alice Markley
sustain the existing momentum. his wife Etsuko. Today, they live
“The extremely heavy lifting has in Princeton, New Jersey.
been done,” he notes, though While Dan won’t be watching “Monthly giving is the easiest
there is still a long way to go. a lot of sports in retirement, he way to stand up and fight,
Dan called the task of learn- says that the CMTA’s match without fail, for STAR and the
ing about CMT both a “daunting against CMT “has all the excite- mission of the CMTA.”
challenge” and an interesting ment of a good sporting event.”
—Joyce Steinkamp
opportunity. His two daughters— He’s sure it’s a contest the CMTA
Anna, 26, a second-year medical will win. h

FALL 2020 THE CMTA REPORT 15