Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, and the ALS Network embraces the National Women's History Alliance’s theme: “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”
Across the ALS community, many outstanding women are leading change by advancing the search for prevention strategies, treatments, and cures while championing efforts to raise ALS awareness and support.
Throughout the month, we will share inspiring stories that spotlight remarkable women whose leadership and dedication are helping shape a stronger future for the ALS community — and honor all who inspire hope, courage, and action in the fight against ALS.
A Message From ALS Network President & CEO, Sheri Strahl, MPH, MBA
We invite you to take a few minutes to watch this special message from ALS Network president & CEO, Sheri Strahl, MPH, MBA, honoring the impact of women within our ALS community.
Meet ALS Network Care Managers, Josephine Poirier and Shannan D. Sonnicksen
Josephine and Shannan support individuals and families living with ALS—Josephine across the Hawaiian Islands, and Shannan in the San Jose and San Francisco Peninsula area—bringing compassion, expertise, and a deep commitment to providing critically needed care.
"It is a privilege to serve the ALS ohana in Hawaii. The clients and their families are an inspiration to me everyday. In the face of uncertainty and adversity, they show up with incredible courage, tenacity, and resilience. Remember, ALS has not taken the best parts of you ~ your spirit, your heart, your soul, your smile. You are still you! So live with intention, do what gives you joy, be kind to yourself, and remember that hope is medicine,"
- Josephine Poirier, PT, DPT
"You are on an immensely challenging and unique journey - one that I am inspired by every day. In supporting your physical and emotional health, I bring an extensive background in public health and as a licensed psychotherapist. Entering into my 8th year with the ALS Network, I continue to learn from those we serve, and from my skilled and compassionate colleagues. I’ll be here to help you identify and use your strengths, while connecting you with a variety of tools to enhance your quality of life."
- Shannan D. Sonnicksen, LCSW, MPH
Meet Brooke Eby, ALS Advocate & Founder of ALStogether
Meet Brooke Eby, ALS advocate and founder of ALStogether, whose leadership continues to transform the ALS community. The online Slack group she built to connect and uplift people living with ALS has joined the ALS Network family, which was announced in February 2026.
This new chapter expands opportunities for connection, support, and advocacy — strengthening the community Brooke championed with broader reach, trusted resources, and integrated services for people living with ALS.
The day before the official announcement, Brooke shared a message with the ALStogether community about this exciting next step.
Meet Jone López-Erauskin, PhD, ALS Researcher
Jone López-Erauskin, PhD, Assistant Project Scientist, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, UCSD was honored in 2019 with our Barber ALS Research Award. This year, the ALS Network proudly named Dr. López-Erauskin's as the inaugural recipient of the Fred Fisher Excellence in Research Award for 2026. The award honors the remarkable legacy of Fred Fisher, MSW, LCSW, President Emeritus of the ALS Network, whose visionary leadership and steadfast dedication to the ALS community helped shape the ALS Network’s commitment to bold, high-impact research.
Watch this video of Dr. López-Erauskin as she reflects on her journey in ALS research and highlights the urgent need for effective treatments and cures.
The Barber Family and ALS Network annually present three awards of $1,000 to each of the top Summit poster presenters, along with a special memento recognizing their accomplishments. The awards were created in honor of Jim Barber. During his nearly decade-long battle with this disease, Jim became an instrumental voice in the ALS community. Since the award’s inception, 23 women have been honored with the Barber ALS Research Award for their outstanding efforts in ALS research.
This year, two out of the three 2026 winners are women. We recognize:
- He Lilian Gao from UCSD, who discussed "Mechanisms of TDP-43 Proteinopathy in Frontotemporal Dementia Determined with Multimodal Spatial Transcriptomics."
- Briana Ondatje from the Barrow Neurological Institute, who discussed "Molecular profiling of microglia-astrocyte crosstalk in C9orf72 ALS/FTD reveals dysregulation of critical signaling pathways."
He Lilian Gao
University of California San Diego
