ALS United NC Welcomes Jerry Stalls to the Board

ALS United North Carolina is thrilled to welcome longtime partner and advocate Jerry Stalls to its Board of Directors. Jerry, President of Stalls Medical, has spent decades supporting the ALS community—not just through business, but through hands-on advocacy, volunteering, and collaboration.

As Board Chair Douglas D. Noreen shared, “We are very excited to have Jerry join the Board. While many of our pALS and cALS have known Jerry through Stalls Medical, Jerry has been a very important advocate and part of our mission for years, working hand-in-hand with our staff on the loan closet, attending walks, and attending advocacy days in Washington DC with us. He has a deep commitment and passion for our cause and we’re excited to have him in this new role to continue our fight against ALS.”

Known for his heart, expertise, and decades-long dedication to improving the lives of people living with ALS in North Carolina, Jerry now steps into a formal leadership role within the organization—and brings both compassion and industry insight to the table.

Jerry, what inspired you to join the board of ALS United? And what’s the personal connection or motivation behind this?

First and foremost, it’s a real honor to be asked to serve on the board. Stalls Medical has been in business for 35 years, working in complex rehab—custom manual and power wheelchairs—and we also help with accessible vans and home modifications so people can remain independent in their homes and communities. We’ve had a very close partnership with ALS organizations for nearly 30 years.

Thankfully I haven’t had a family member diagnosed personally, but through our work we build long-term relationships with our ALS customers. We get to know the individuals, their spouses, their children—we really walk the journey with them. We see how devastating this disease is—not just physically, but emotionally. And because ALS is so progressive, the needs are constantly changing. The equipment has to change along with the disease—electronics that can adapt from joystick use to head array or eye gaze, as the person loses mobility. Those connections and seeing that heartbreak up close is what motivates me—to do everything humanly possible to support these families and hopefully help lead us to a cure.

Obviously, Stalls Medical has been a longtime partner of ALS United. How does this new board role allow you to deepen your impact on the ALS community in North Carolina?

I’m hoping I can bring both experience and practical resources to the board. We see firsthand how many barriers patients face—especially with insurance companies denying equipment even before they read the medical necessity letter. In the past, I served as an ALS ambassador, which helped me really understand the importance of combining resources and working together so we can advocate for change—especially for coverage of essential items like attendant controls or communication devices.

Now, as a board member, I want to bring not only my experience but the collective expertise of our 49 employees—who have over three decades of experience—to help make a positive impact. I’m also excited to learn from the other board members and understand what more I can be doing. If there are new initiatives or areas I can contribute to that bring us closer to a cure, I absolutely want to be part of that.

In your opinion, what are some of the biggest needs facing people living with ALS today, and how do you hope to help tackle those through the boardroom?

From my perspective, the needs revolve heavily around access—to equipment, to mobility, to the ability to function day-to-day. There’s incredible work being done in medication and research, especially at places like the Duke ALS Clinic. But where I focus is medical equipment and making sure people can position themselves properly, get around, and maintain their quality of life.

I want to be an advocate—especially in cases where insurance denies equipment that is clearly medically necessary. Rather than get frustrated, we focus on educating insurance personnel and case managers. For example, denying a pressure-relieving cushion that costs $400 makes no sense if a skin breakdown leads to a $400,000 surgery. Once you explain that, they often understand. So I want to bring those real-world examples and advocacy to the board so we can address these issues at a systemic level.

You recently made a generous donation in partnership with Quantum Rehab. Can you talk about how collaborations like this can really move the needle for ALS awareness and support devices?

Absolutely. In my role, we’re in between the customers and the manufacturers—and when we work together, everyone wins. Quantum has really stepped up and embraced opportunities to support the ALS community. They’ve collaborated beautifully with other organizations to enhance quality of life.

My goal is to build on that and bring in even more manufacturers or partners—public or private—who want to make a difference. If we can coordinate and collaborate like that, we can expand support, expand innovation, and make a real difference for ALS United’s goals.

Speaking of goals, looking ahead, what is the one goal or initiative you’re most excited to champion as part of the ALS United board?

What excites me most is being able to amplify the real challenges families are facing—especially around access to medically necessary items. I hear stories like one from my friend Chris Burgess about a patient who was on a ventilator for two years, and suddenly the coverage was denied out of nowhere. That’s just unacceptable.

I want to bring those issues forward so we can educate people, advocate for common-sense coverage, and make sure these families aren’t left fighting alone. I also want to learn from the board and expand my own awareness of where else I can help. At the end of the day, if I can bring these challenges to light and help shift policy or understanding—even a little—that’s what I’m most excited about.

On a lighter note, what’s something people might be surprised to learn about you? Do you have any hidden hobbies or talents?

Well, my wife and I raised two boys and now we have three granddaughters, which has been an absolute joy. I also really enjoy gardening and working in the yard—it’s actually therapeutic for me. Some people dread mowing the lawn, but I love it. Planting flowers and taking care of the yard brings me a lot of peace.