Lived Experience Working Group
Dr. Nora Renthal
Dr. Nora Renthal, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician in the Division of Endocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital. She serves as the Medical Director of the Bone Health Program and Director of the DXA Program for Pediatric Bone Density at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Clinically, she is an attending physician in endocrinology and directs key programs related to bone health and pediatric bone density. She leads endocrine care in the PPMD Certified Duchenne Care Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Renthal’s research has two primary branches: basic science exploring the genetics of growth plate chondrocyte maturation and health equity research focused on understanding and improving sexual health care delivery for young adults with musculoskeletal disabilities.
Dr. Renthal chairs the Boston Children’s Hospital Collaborative for Disability Health Equity and Inclusion (CDHEI) and the Disability Health Equity Research Collaborative. She is the founder of the Endocrinology Network for Diversity, Openness, Awareness, Respect, and Community (EndoARC). As co-chair of the OPTIMIZE DMD Sexuality and Fertility Working Group, Dr. Renthal focuses on developing and refining care protocols related to sexual health and fertility for individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Patrick Moeschen
A human being since 1972, Patrick Moeschen recently retired after 28 years of teaching music at the middle school level in a public school setting. He was diagnosed with Becker Muscular Dystrophy in 1985, and re-diagnosed with Limb-Girdle 2E MD in 2012. In addition to his Bachelor of music, Mr. Moeschen also holds a Master’s degree in counseling and human relations with a specialization on adolescence.
Today, Patrick works with the non profit Parent Project muscular dystrophy, where he advocates for individuals living with muscular dystrophy and manages the Patient Adult Advisory Committee (PAAC), a group that elevates the lives of others through advocacy, connection, mental and social health. Patrick is also an instructional coach for new teachers throughout the United States, as well as an international motivational speaker.
Mr. Moeschen lives with his wife Vanessa, and two sons, Timothy and Teddy in a handicap accessible home that they designed in New Hampshire, where he continues to instruct kids in percussion, and the art of making music. Patrick joins the OPTIMIZE DMD Consortium as a patient advocate.
