Honoring the Impact of Recognition and Advocacy in MS Care: Aprile Royal, RN, BA, MEd

WATCH TIME: 5 minutes

"I think we all do a little more, go the extra mile, listen more, and take things to heart a little more when we feel appreciated across the board. An award like this goes a long way toward creating that sense of appreciation and inspiring us to do more."

In partnership with the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), the Giants of Multiple Sclerosis award honors trailblazers, innovators, and visionaries acknowledged by their colleagues for their outstanding contributions to multiple sclerosis (MS) research. Established in 2021, individuals named to this prestigious program have made significant contributions to the field. Out of numerous nominations, 7 individuals have been selected to join the esteemed group of 2024 honorees.

The advisory board, who determine the finalists in each category, consists of MS health care professionals, each recognized for their significant contributions to the field. They offer guidance to NeurologyLive^® as it continues to develop and grow the recognition program. The selection committee, comprising over 30 MS professionals, then votes to determine the inductee from each category. At the 2024 CMSC Annual Meeting, held May 29 to June 1, in Nashville, Tennessee, Aprile Royal, RN, BA, MEd, manager of the BARLO MS education program at St. Michael's Hospital, received recognition for the award in nursing.

In a recent interview with NeurologyLive, Royal shared her reaction to being chosen by her peers as a "Giant" in the field of MS. She also described her time at the award ceremony in Nashville and her favorite portion of the event. In addition, she talked about her most proud career moment if she had to choose one and the most fulfilling part of working with patients with MS. She also spoke about the importance of recognizing others for their life's work with an award like this and explained why others should nominate their colleagues. Furthermore, she expressed what June Halper, MSN, ASPN-C, FAAN, MSCN, meant to her and the wider MS community.