Dan Clark

Hello Michiganders! My name is Dan Clark, and I would like to introduce myself as your AlphaNet Patient Services Coordinator and tell you a little about me.

I currently live in West Bloomfield, just northwest of Detroit, but was born and raised in the Royal Oak area. As a child I spent many summer nights in the 1960s, watching cars race on Woodward Avenue. I married my patient, kind, and wonderful wife in 1973. We have two grown sons and two of the very best grandchildren. In 1972, I went into the military until 1977, when I left to join the City of Troy Police Department. In 2003, I retired and went to work part-time for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office in Court Services.

In my youth, I experienced asthma, several lung collapses, and numerous bouts of sickness and pneumonia, until I was finally diagnosed as an Alpha in 1983. At that time there was no available treatment but at least I finally had a name for the problem.

I am currently, and have been, on weekly augmentation therapy since 1999. I lead as active a life as I am able and I love to golf and ride my motorcycle, even if my oxygen tubing sometimes gets in the way. I believe I am very lucky to be surrounded by a loving family, a supportive community and a lot of good friends. As an AlphaNet Coordinator I hope to help others with Alpha achieve the best quality of life they can. My favorite quote, and I don’t remember who said it to me, is “I have Alpha-1—it doesn’t have me.”

I will call you at least once a month to discuss current topics that may affect your Alpha-1. AlphaNet has a wonderful Disease Management Program that you may find beneficial. Because it is so reader-friendly and chock full of information, great lifestyle tips and medical facts, we’ve named it the Big Fat Reference Guide. You can also find it on our website at www.alphanet.org. If you don’t have access to a computer, just give me a call.

I have been privileged to learn so much from my years of regular contact with so many other Alphas. Please know that you can call me or e-mail me anytime with any question you have about Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. If I don’t know the answer, I can find it for you or get you to a person who does have the answer, like one of our specially trained RNs or nationally renown (but totally accessible) Medical Director, Dr. Robert “Sandy” Sandhaus. You can also contact me about your Prolastin® therapy, medical supplies or insurance issues, because I work with the professionals at our pharmacy everyday.

Occasionally, we feel as though no one knows what we are going through with Alpha-1. Sometimes we just need the comfort of talking to someone who does. So, if there is an occasion when you have a question or an issue you want to discuss, please call me.