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"Illness lives in the mind, plays out in the body, and comes to a place of
peace in the spirit of wellness."
Dorothy Leone-Glasser, RPN. HHC. CEO
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Dorothy Leone-Glasser, RPN, HHC, has lived with
systemic lupus for over twenty-five years. As a result, she has overcome two
forms of cancer, disabling arthritis, kidney failure, a coma, one heart
attack, and three strokes. During this time she graduated from a wheelchair
to crutches to ultimately walking with her own two feet. Between the ages of
20 and 40, Dorothy received three death sentences imposed by her doctors.
Today she is not only alive, but she is living well and paving the way to
the future of wellness by creating the Wisdom of Wellness Project, LLC.
As Dorothy drove her wheelchair, she also drove her career. She earned
degrees in counseling, nursing, and theology to master the art of the mind,
body, and spirit connection. Although this holistic approach to healthcare
is popular today, for many years Dorothy has been a leader in its
implementation through her private practice in counseling. Empowering others
with her personal philosophy to success, Dorothy has taught countless others
how to “live wise and live well.”
As she simultaneously conquered her personal challenges and enlightened
individuals with chronic illness, Dorothy also designed and delivered the
tools that her patients needed to apply her lessons. One of these is a
comprehensive integrated wellness and stress management program so aptly
called, “The Coping Program®.” This program won Dorothy the Outstanding
Patient-Community Service Program Award by the National Arthritis Foundation
in 1990. In 1993, the Arthritis Foundation presented her with the Dorothy
Day Humanitarian Award for pioneering this program. Finally, in 1998, when
the Arthritis Foundation was celebrating its 50th year Anniversary, it
awarded her the honor of being one of only 50 selected Heroes Living with
Arthritis and appointed her one of three ambassadors representing all of the
heroes nationwide.
Dorothy is a hero among us. Not only for what she has endured and overcome,
but also for what she has consistently and generously given to others over
the years. She is a twenty-three year member of the Board of Directors at
the Arthritis Foundation, Georgia Chapter. Dorothy provides advocacy
consulting to numerous organizations and societies, including the Medicines
Work Coalition, the Society of Integrative Medicine, and the Holistic Health
Nurses Association. She has published countless materials educating patients
about harmonizing the mind, body and spirit. Dorothy is frequently seen and
heard on TV, radio, and print media.
After completing both Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Applied Science
from City University in New York, Dorothy completed a three-year internship
in Chronic Illness and Family Counseling from Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital
in New York. She is also ordained and certified with a ministry degree in
comparative religions, in the order of St. Francis. Dorothy resides in
Atlanta, Georgia where she founded the Wisdom of Wellness Project, LLC. Once
a counselor, Dorothy is now a motivational speaker, author, media
personality, and healthcare advocate.
The Wisdom of Wellness Project, LLC has been actively involved in advocating
full access to medications and medical care through the Medicare Today
program and The Partnership for Prescription Assistance program.
On July 22, 2005, Dorothy was asked to speak to a crowd of 4,200 citizens,
legislators, and community and civic leaders, at the Atlanta Civic Center,
in Atlanta, GA, with President George W. Bush. They discussed the new
Medicare Modernization Act and Dorothy’s experiences and insights educating
people on the new Medicare benefits and enrollment for Part D prescription
drug coverage.
-Leadership