Join us for a discussion about Lyme and associated diease with Lyme disease specialist Dr. Lyn Durand MD, and Kathie Fife, Lyme Exologist and patient advocate. Kathie will share her knowledge and experience as a patient, natural resource specialist, and her legislative work advocating for better patient care and physician education. Dr. Durand will talk about the challenges of diagnosis and treatment of chronic Lyme disease and how folks can try to get appropriate treatment. 

In this one house discussion, we will learn the natural history and ecology of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Why are tick populations and rates of tick-borne diseases increasing every year? We will look at how forest and wildlife management, essential predators, plants and wildlife behavior play a significant role in human and ecosystem health. Lyme disease is the number one vector-borne disease in America, so why are Lyme and tick-borne infections often misdiagnosed? We will close the discussion talking about the Lyme disease testing bill Kathie wrote which was signed into Law by Governor Chris Sununu. 

Speaker Bios: 

Dr. Lynn Durand is a long time family physician in the Concord area having had a primary care practice for 35 years which was focused on treating tick-borne diseases. Dr. Durand has retired from his role as a primary care physician, now focusing only on treating patients with chronic infectious problems like Lyme disease, other tick-borne diseases as well as long COVID. 

Kathie Fife is a Lyme and tick-borne ecologist and patient advocate living with late stage vector-borne illnesses. This challenging health experience motivated her to delve into extensive research to help other suffering with the diseases, including writing a bill and testifying at the State House. In 2019 her Lyme disease testing bill was signed into law by Governor Chris Sununu. Kathie shares her knowledge and experience at presentations to encourage citizens to advocate and empower themselves with knowledge, and to understand the important connection with wildlife and land use management, essential predators, plants, and wildlife behavior for human and ecosystem health.