Deana Simpson
Partner info
About Deana Simpson
Deana Simpson received her associate degree in nursing from Ferris State University, her BA Magna Cum Laude from Oakland University and is currently pursuing her Masters in Nursing. She started her nursing career at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan caring for patients on a medical unit. As computer technology became more prevalent in the healthcare arena, she became involved in Healthcare Informatics. She currently works at St. John Providence Health System as the Chief Clinical Transformation Officer which involves setting the vision and strategic plan for integrating computer technology into clinical practice across the care continuum in order to reach optimal patient outcomes.
Ms. Simpson’s involvement with CJD is one of a personal nature. Her mother died of familial CJD at the young age of 64 (1998), a brother at 57 and her family has lost 13 family members spanning five generations to the disease. Following her mother's death, she was compelled to provide support to other families afflicted with familial CJD by becoming the founder and director of CJD Insight.
Ms. Simpson partnered with Dr. Paul Brown to create CJD Insight. The objective of CJD Insight is to provide information about familial CJD and support to families impacted by familial CJD. She has corresponded with numerous families throughout the U.S. and other countries across the world. She wants to use CJD Insight to assure people that they do not have to feel helpless and alone when facing the realities of this horrible disease. As the CJD Insight logo indicates, we are "In this together."
Ms. Simpson is a member of the CJD Foundation Board, an active member of the CJD International Support Alliance, participates in fundraising activities for CJD research, and provides education to healthcare professionals and physicians through educational presentations and hospital grand rounds. She also co-authored an article with Florence Kranitz, “Using non-pharmacological approaches for CJD patient and family support as provided by the CJD foundation and CJD insight.” CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2009 Nov;8(5):372-9.
Ms. Simpson’s involvement with CJD is one of a personal nature. Her mother died of familial CJD at the young age of 64 (1998), a brother at 57 and her family has lost 13 family members spanning five generations to the disease. Following her mother's death, she was compelled to provide support to other families afflicted with familial CJD by becoming the founder and director of CJD Insight.
Ms. Simpson partnered with Dr. Paul Brown to create CJD Insight. The objective of CJD Insight is to provide information about familial CJD and support to families impacted by familial CJD. She has corresponded with numerous families throughout the U.S. and other countries across the world. She wants to use CJD Insight to assure people that they do not have to feel helpless and alone when facing the realities of this horrible disease. As the CJD Insight logo indicates, we are "In this together."
Ms. Simpson is a member of the CJD Foundation Board, an active member of the CJD International Support Alliance, participates in fundraising activities for CJD research, and provides education to healthcare professionals and physicians through educational presentations and hospital grand rounds. She also co-authored an article with Florence Kranitz, “Using non-pharmacological approaches for CJD patient and family support as provided by the CJD foundation and CJD insight.” CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2009 Nov;8(5):372-9.
Deana Simpson
CJD Foundation, CJD Insight
CJD Foundation Board Member, Founder of CJD Insight
