MDA is leading the fight to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harm of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases that take away physical strength, independence and life. We use our collective strength to help kids and adults live longer and grow stronger by finding research breakthroughs across diseases, caring for individuals from day one and empowering families with services and support in hometowns across America.
MDA's legacy of progress has always started with families at the heart of all we do. For more than 65 years, we have been committed to saving and improving the lives of kids and adults living with muscular dystrophy and related life-threatening diseases. We are proud of our rich history and grateful to the dedicated families and supporters who have made today's progress possible. The victories of our past will lead to tomorrow's treatments and cures.
In June 1950, Paul Cohen, a prominent New York business leader living with muscular dystrophy, invited a group of individuals to meet in his Rye, New York, office. Each had a personal connection to muscular dystrophy, and the gathering focused on the urgent need to raise funds to advance research seeking treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy. The group — so vested in the fight against neuromuscular diseases — formed the organization that became the Muscular Dystrophy Association. That year, MDA’s first research grant for $1,500 was awarded to neuromuscular disease pioneer Ade. T. Milhorat, M.D.
If you’re seeking to start or advance your career with a purpose, MDA is an employer that will enable you to #LiveUnlimited. MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases that weaken muscle strength and mobility. Join us on this journey that defies daily limitations and enables the MDA families we serve to live life to the fullest. How do you #LiveUnlimited? Apply now.
MDA is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please email your request to recruiting@mdausa.org.
Hugo, Resource Specialist
“One of the things that I love about MDA is that the organization is constantly growing. It’s constantly changing and listening to the needs of patients.”
Volunteers are the driving force that enables MDA to support families in hometowns across America. Our volunteers are the heart of MDA's programs, making experiences like Summer Camp, support groups, seminars, special events and many other initiatives possible for families who are counting on us.
Here are just a few ways you can make a difference.
MDA understands the importance of having a diverse workplace. Different backgrounds and characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, gender, disability, culture and sexual orientation bring innovative viewpoints and skills to a company.
Integrating diversity and inclusion initiatives across the Company is essential to our business strategy and long-term success. Therefore, the Company has established resources and measurable diversity objectives which focus on:
Families are at the heart of MDA's mission. We wake up every morning to create more hope and answers for families living with muscular dystrophy and related diseases that take away physical strength and mobility. We do this by finding research breakthroughs across diseases, caring for kids and adults from day one and empowering families with services and support in hometowns across America.
MDA is using the money we raise to accomplish the following goals by 2020:
Here are the ways we’re helping achieve these goals so families can live longer and grow stronger:
At MDA, we take a big-picture perspective across the full spectrum of neuromuscular diseases to uncover breakthroughs that accelerate treatments and cures. The power in our research approach is that we can often apply learnings from one disease to achieve progress in others to bring urgently needed answers to our families.
We know that early diagnosis, highly specialized care and access to promising clinical trials help ensure the best possible outcomes for individuals and families facing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related life-threatening diseases. That’s why MDA is here to provide care for kids and adults from day one. Our MDA Care Centers offer families best-in-class, comprehensive care from a wide variety of health care specialists at one location on the same day, while our trained information specialists and educational resources are available to offer guidance and support through every step of the journey.
MDA is here for our families in hometowns across America to empower the kids and adults we serve. From offering support groups and educational seminars that help caregivers, parents and individuals through their journey — to assisting families with durable medical equipment to maintain independence — to giving kids with muscular dystrophy the best week of the year at MDA Summer Camp, MDA is here to help families maintain and improve their health while actively pursuing education, passions, careers, dating, marriage and other goals associated with living independently.