The Multiple Sclerosis Peer Wellness Program pairs people with MS who have an interest or need to engage in activities to better their health and wellness, but do not have access to them or the financial means to participate. Click here to read a newspaper story about the launch of the program. Developed by Dr. Brant Oliver, a practicing multiple sclerosis specialist, who established the program in 2013 at Concord Hospital in New Hampshire, through grants from the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. The program pairs participants with people with MS who serve as peer mentors and is directed by a team of peer mentors trained by the National MS Society (NMSS) and supervised by Dr. Oliver.
With the help of a peer mentor, participants formulate an individual wellness plan and then carry it out with support from the peer mentor over a one-year period. Limited grant funding is also provided to cover costs for activities, resources, and transportation needed to help participants to complete individual wellness plans. In addition, the program also includes a facilitated peer network of current and past mentors and mentees which meets monthly as a peer wellness community to share, learn and support each other in their ongoing wellness journeys.
The program was based at Concord Hospital from 2013-2025 and led by a team of dedicated volunteer peer mentors who have mentored many in the New England MS community. The program will transition to the Elliot Health System Multiple Sclerosis Center in 2026, and will expand to include additional wellness offerings which have "spun off " of the Peer Wellness Program in recent years, including Yoga for MS, Nutrition for MS, MS book and writing clubs, the innovative patient-led Locke's Promise program, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs developed for the New England MS community.
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