About Us
We value your input and would very much like to hear from you. Please feel free to email the site team at msactivesource@vision360.com
About the Authors
Gareth Hughes
Gareth graduated from University with a first class degree in computing and has gone on to gain experience in both the pharmaceutical and media industries. Gareth currently enjoys working for a media agency which requires him to interface with customers and travel internationally as both support and company representative.
As the webmaster of MSActiveSource.co.uk Gareth is responsible for keeping the site live, adding new functionality and publishing new content. As well as being the webmaster for MSActiveSource.co.uk Gareth is a programmer creating dynamic websites and management tools.
Being a carer for a stroke victim Gareth appreciates the need for making medical information more public and thinks MSActiveSource.co.uk is a fantastic way to achieve this.
Cheryl Currie
Cheryl is the new webmaster of the site and has been responsible in the background assisting the upkeep of the site.
History:> I left school knowing I wanted to go into an industry where I could do graphic design. I started my first job as a Junior paste-up artist in 1989 at an agency that specialised in lithographic print design and slide production. As myself and technology progressed within the conference industry I became senior graphics operator/studio manager at a conference production company. My interest in all things web were put into practice when I joined Vision 360 Ltd in April 2000 as a Web Developer.
- Qualifications:> University of Life
- Interests:> Horses, Horse Riding, Swimming, Cars, Cooking
As the webmaster of MSActiveSource.co.uk Cheryl is responsible for keeping the site live, and publishing new content. As well as being the webmaster for MSActiveSource.co.uk Cheryl creates websites and online post production archives following live webcasts - keeping her powerpoint skills upto date.
Cheryls husband is a sufferer of Chronic Pancreatitis and feels the more information and support you can access online about any particular condition or illness makes it so much more bearable for the patient, their families and carer's. Just knowing that there are people in much the same situation can be a huge help in not feeling isolated.
Ed Rowe
Ed is a established freelance copywriter with a background in journalism and publishing. After leaving University, Ed went travelling in Europe. He spent the next half-decade training and working as a Registered General Nurse, which explains his interest in health and illness. Next a postgraduate qualification in periodical journalism led him out into the big wonderful world of the media. After several wide-eyed years, Ed retreated to the wilds of Sussex, where he can usually be found wandering through local fields clutching a pair of binoculars and a field guide.
Ed says that msactivesource is a fascinating project to work on because it combined two of his long-standing concerns: providing good-quality information for patients and making the Internet relevant to ordinary people.
Dr Michael Smyth
Dr Symth is the author of the glossary section of msactivesource.co.uk, plus some smaller pieces
of the site and was the initial medical advisor for the site content.
History: Liverpool Medical School, Surgical and General Practice training. Moved
into Health Authority work involving managing the entry of new drugs into the NHS. Started work in
Pharmaceutical Industry in 1998 as Medical Adviser to Bristol Myers Squibb. Joined Biogen in 2002
as UK medical Manager. Now working for Biogen Idec International in Zug, Switzerland
- Qualifications:> MB ChB FRCS MRCGP MBA
- Interests:> Family, trying to get fit
- Quirky fact:> Ran London Marathon in 2004 for Children's Wish
Why does this site relate to me?> I enjoy Medical Education and helping make complex medical information more accessible and relevant to patients and the public.
Lindsey Voakes
Lindsey is the Community Manager of the site and was responsible for the initial research of the
site and the ongoing research for the eNewsletter. She also responds to all the emails on the site.
History:> After Wolverhampton University I worked in the marketing department of several
computer resellers. After I had children I went to work for a multimedia company called Vision 360
Ltd where I research & market websites. This online research and marketing has included
restaurants, medical, training and engineering companies.
- Qualifications:> BA Business Enterprise
- Interests:> Cooking, swimming and my family
- Quirky facts:> My father had a kidney transplant in 1982
- In April I did a parachute jump to raise money for the MS Trust, i’m not sure I’ll ever get in a plane again!
Why am I involved in this site?> It is often hard to find the information you are looking for on the internet, I enjoy doing the hard work of bringing that information together on this site so that our visitors don’t have to spend so much time trawling around online.