CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Mary Lou Ballweg
Mary Lou Ballweg is President and Executive Director of the Endometriosis Association, an organization she co-founded in 1980 after being bedridden with endometriosis and related illnesses. The non-profit organization provides support and information for families affected by endometriosis, educates the public and medical community about the disease, and promotes and conducts research. Ms. Ballweg founded and has led the Endometriosis Association for nearly 27 years where she has overseen publication of four books, three educational videotapes, an extensive body of literature on the disease, two million-dollar-plus educational awareness campaigns, four public service announcement campaigns and numerous articles and chapters in journals and textbooks. She is editor of the Association’s popular bimonthly newsletter and coordinates the Association's international activities, including development of affiliates worldwide and literature in 29 languages.
The Endometriosis Association was the first organization in the world to address the support and education needs of women with endometriosis (endo) and to carry out ongoing research. With international headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A., the Association has more than 162 chapters and support groups in the U.S. and Canada alone; and affiliates, members, Advisors, and funded scientific projects worldwide. The Endometriosis Association has facilitated research in many ways. A dedicated research program was established at Dartmouth Medical School in 1994. Since then various research projects have been funded. In 1998 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine entered into a partnership with the Endometriosis Association and committed $2 million to create a research facility dedicated to finding the cause, new treatments, and a cure for endometriosis.
Mary Lou Ballweg
Endometriosis Association
8585 N. 76th Place
Milwaukee, WI 53223 USA
E-mail: support@endometriosisassn.org
