The Rocky Mountain MS Center team is heartbroken to share the loss of our close colleague and friend, Brooke Valdez.
Brooke Valdez
Brooke worked as a Program Manager for 12 years at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Department of Neurology and was a passionate advocate for individuals living with multiple sclerosis and related neurological diseases. She played an integral role in many of the Rocky Mountain MS Center’s research efforts, managing studies and trials, and helping train many of our research staff.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado Boulder and was pursuing her Master’s in Program Management from the University of Southern California. Brooke spearheaded many key programs in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain MS Center including the Patient Reported Outcomes program, MS wellness pilot program, and research initiatives including brain volumetric studies, home infusion studies, rapid infusion studies, MS treatment Switch studies, MS and pregnancy studies, and Stiff Person Syndrome epidemiological studies.
Brooke also served as an instrumental leader for the Rocky Mountain MS Center’s Tissue Bank. Her kindness and compassion were at the heart of all her interactions, especially when she was providing essential support to families whose loved ones had volunteered to be tissue bank donors. Brooke was also a tissue donor herself, and believed deeply in the power of the Tissue Bank to help with critical research. Brooke’s generosity was boundless, and she was always quick to lend her support, understanding, and encouragement to anyone in need of help.
A truly wonderful person who made every single person feel important, cared for, and valued, Brooke’s bright smile and laughter would fill a room instantly and make everyone feel happier and more joyful. She had the incredible power to turn conversations or meetings into a genuinely delightful experience, which is no small feat. Brooke’s tremendous leadership and wholehearted dedication to improving the lives of individuals living with MS and other autoimmune neurological diseases positively impacted countless lives throughout her career.
Brooke will be deeply missed by our entire Rocky Mountain MS Center at University of Colorado family and by all those who had the honor of knowing her. Our hearts are with Brooke’s husband, family, friends, and loved ones. Brooke will forever be with us all through her enduring legacy of impact and her loving and compassionate spirit.