Meet Board Member - Deb Gregoire

Why I Joined the MSA

Hello Everyone. I am the Stroke Program Coordinator at Maine Medical Center, a Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center. This role has propelled me into many interesting and wonderful projects in the pursuit of making stroke care at MMC and in Maine the best in the country. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most dedicated and passionate stroke care professionals and experts. Because of my role, joining the Maine Stroke Alliance was an expectation, but also an honor. I have been a member of the MSA since 2017 and have been able to witness the steady progress we are making toward improving stroke care in Maine. My professional roles are not the only thing driving me in this quest to improve stroke care. My mother suffered a large vessel occlusion stroke in 2015. Her stroke was a “wake-up” stroke and although she lived only 5 minutes from MMC, unfortunately, she was not eligible for any acute treatments. She now lives with me and is left with devastating expressive aphasia. It is hard to explain how debilitating this condition is, and the impact that it has had on her personal life, ability to function in society, and on my life as well. As hard as it is to accept, I believe that things do happen for a reason, as I find myself surrounded by amazing and dedicated people who are passionate about stroke awareness, stroke research, acute and long-term treatments, and making expert stroke care available for every citizen of Maine.