NatCapLyme Spreads the Word

March 26, 2026

NatCapLyme Spreads the Word

The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP) returned to northern Virginia for their annual three-day conference,  March 19-22, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Reston, VA. The National Capital Lyme Disease Association (NatCapLyme) was pleased to be an exhibitor and host ILADS Executive Director, Sarah Quillen at their exhibit table. A big shout out to our members Almas Eftekhari, Kathy Boileau, Marjorie Veiga, Maria Circosta, and Gregg Skall for volunteering.  Close to 400 nurse practitioners and healthcare workers attended general sessions on a variety of topics including tick-borne diseases to enhance practice and patient care.

For the past 15 years NatCapLyme has exhibited and presented at VCNP’s annual conferences.  Always well received and appreciated we continue to look forward to attending and educating attendees on Lyme and tick -borne diseases in the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners with over 1,500 members is a statewide professional organization for nurse practitioners licensed in Virginia, NP students, and retired NPs. Their main goal is to increase the awareness of and the impact of the role of nurse practitioners on healthcare and on the professional, educational, and political systems.

NatCapLyme Advocates on Capitol Hill for Stronger Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Programs

July 30, 2025

NatCapLyme Advocates on Capitol Hill for Stronger Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Programs
Last week, NatCapLyme’s Monte and Gregg Skall joined the Center for Lyme Action on Capitol Hill to educate Members of Congress about the urgent need for increased FY26 federal funding for Lyme and tick-borne diseases, as well as the reauthorization of the bipartisan Kay Hagan Tick Act. These initiatives are vital to our community at both the state and national levels.
Why the Kay Hagan Tick Act Matters
The Act:
1. Directs HHS to create and regularly update a National Vector-Borne Disease Strategy, improving coordination, expanding research, and advancing diagnostics.
2. Provides grants to state and local health departments to strengthen prevention, surveillance, and rapid response efforts.
3. Reauthorizes the Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease, ensuring ongoing leadership and innovation in this critical area.

NatCapLyme and McLean Scout Troop 128 Partner at McLean Day 2025

May 18, 2025

Lewinsville Park, McLean, Virginia

McLean Day Festival 2025, McLean’s biggest annual event, drew a large crowd despite drenching rain.  Event attendees were still able to enjoy music, games, a petting zoo, amusements, exhibitors, information booths, gourmet food trucks, carnival rides, and much more!

NatCapLyme and McLean Scout Troop 128 shared an information booth and spent the day educating children and their families as well as the public-at-large about tick awareness and prevention.

Service to others is an important part of the Scout Oath: “….to help other people at all times.” Each year tens of thousands of scouts strive to achieve the coveted Eagle Scout rank by applying character, citizenship, and scouting values in their daily lives.  A big salute goes out to the young men who manned the booth and made it a priority to educate their fellow classmates, families, and friends about Lyme and Tick-borne diseases at McLean Day 2025!

Fairfax Board of Supervisors Presents NatCapLyme with Proclamation Declaring May 2024 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month

May 21, 2024

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has once again proclaimed May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in the county of Fairfax.

The National Capital Disease Association is grateful to Supervisor Pat Herrity and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for its continued commitment to raise awareness and prevention of tick-borne diseases.  For the past 14 years, Supervisor Herrity has been a leading partner to NatCapLyme and the public-at-large in its effort to bring awareness of Lyme and tick-borne diseases to Fairfax County. Laura Granato, Almas Eftekhari, Jake Broughton and Melissa Lubin joined NatCapLyme Executive Director Monte Skall to accept the proclamation.

This proclamation is of great benefit to the citizens of Fairfax County.  It creates official recognition of the problem, encourages Virginians to learn and take seriously tick-borne diseases, to take aggressive prevention measures and to seek early treatment.

Virginia Senate Passes Landmark Lyme Disease Bill

February 10, 2016

The National Capital Lyme Disease Association (NatCapLyme) today announced that the Virginia Senate passed landmark legislation relating to a patients right to treatment under guidelines listed in the National Guidelines Clearinghouse (the “NGC”).

Dear Friends: 2015 Accomplishments

December 31, 2015

As we begin a new year at NatCapLyme, I would like to thank our community as well as our friends around the country for their support during the past year, and wish them all health and happiness in 2016. As a multi-purpose organization, our efforts are focused on helping people with tick-borne diseases through increased awareness, education, support, advocacy and research.

Dear Friends: 2014 Accomplishments

December 31, 2014

As we begin a new year at NatCapLyme would like to thank our community as well as our friends around the county for your support and help during the past year and wish you health and happiness in 2015. As a multi-purpose organization our efforts are focused on helping people with tick-borne diseases through awareness, education, support, advocacy, and research.

Natcaplyme Announces Grant Program For First Time Attending Physicians To Attend The Ilads Fundamentals Of Lyme Disease

September 10, 2014

NATCAPLYME is pleased to announce a grant program for first time attending physicians to attend the upcoming ILADS Fundamentals of Lyme Disease.