Brian Wallach is a prominent American lawyer and a powerful advocate in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Once a staff member in the Obama White House and a skilled legal mind, Wallach gained national recognition not only for his professional work but for his advocacy after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
As a public figure who has turned his personal health challenge into a movement for change, many people wonder: Is Brian Wallach still alive? What is the status of his health, and what is he doing today? This article provides a comprehensive update on Brian Wallach’s life, career, and legacy.
Is Brian Wallach Still Alive?
Yes, Brian Wallach is still alive. Despite receiving a devastating ALS diagnosis in 2017 and being told he had only six months to live, Wallach has defied the odds. As of the most recent updates, he continues to live with the disease while advocating for faster drug development, expanded patient access, and reforms in healthcare policy.
His presence at public speaking engagements, virtual forums, and legislative hearings confirms that he remains an active and powerful voice in both the legal and medical advocacy communities.
Brian Wallach’s ALS Diagnosis and Medical Journey
In 2017, just after the birth of his second daughter, Brian Wallach was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS leads to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually impacts the ability to breathe.
The diagnosis was shocking, especially given Wallach’s age and professional momentum at the time. Doctors initially gave him six months to live, a prognosis he has outlived by several years. His ongoing survival is attributed to a combination of early intervention, personal determination, medical treatment, and consistent advocacy.
Though his speech and movement have been significantly affected, Wallach continues to speak through assistive technology and remains actively engaged in campaigns to improve ALS research and care.
Early Career and Legal Background
Brian Wallach earned his law degree from Georgetown University and quickly built a respected career in law and public policy. He served as a federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Illinois and later joined the Obama White House as Associate Counsel.
His legal expertise spanned constitutional issues, government ethics, and legislative affairs. Known for his analytical mind and ability to handle complex policy, Wallach gained the trust of senior officials and played a vital role in several legislative initiatives during his tenure.
Even before his diagnosis, Wallach was recognized as a rising star in both legal and political circles. His experience in the public sector gave him a unique perspective on how government systems could be used to serve the public good—an insight he would later use in his advocacy for ALS.
Founding an ALS Advocacy Movement
Following his diagnosis, Brian Wallach and his wife, Sandra Abrevaya, co-founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating ALS research and improving patient access to life-extending treatments. Their work has significantly reshaped how ALS is discussed in both medical and legislative communities.
Wallach’s advocacy has been marked by several core strategies:
- Demanding faster clinical trials for ALS drugs
- Fighting to reduce FDA approval barriers for terminal patients
- Expanding federal funding for neurological disease research
- Creating a patient-centered advocacy network
His legal training has made him uniquely capable of navigating the policy landscape. He uses this skill to craft legislative proposals, testify before Congress, and work directly with lawmakers.
National Recognition and Media Appearances
Brian Wallach’s story has garnered national attention. He has been featured in numerous interviews, documentaries, and news programs that highlight both his personal struggle and his professional fight for change. Through these platforms, Wallach has helped raise national awareness of ALS and the systemic challenges patients face.
Unlike typical advocates, Wallach presents both a lived experience and a legal understanding of healthcare policy. This combination has earned him the respect of public health leaders, patients, researchers, and policymakers alike.
His efforts have helped redefine what it means to live with a terminal illness—not merely surviving, but actively shaping systems that once seemed immovable.
Challenges Living with ALS
Living with ALS is a daily battle. The disease gradually weakens muscles, making ordinary tasks like speaking, eating, and breathing difficult. Brian Wallach uses a wheelchair and speech-generating technology, yet continues to write, participate in interviews, and appear at conferences.
His condition requires full-time care and support, but that hasn’t slowed his passion for change. In fact, the progression of the disease has only added urgency to his work.
He speaks openly about the physical, emotional, and logistical burdens ALS places on individuals and families, using his platform to demand a more humane healthcare system.
Legal Advocacy in Healthcare Reform
Wallach’s approach to ALS activism isn’t just emotional—it’s strategic. He uses his legal background to address the systemic delays in drug approvals, insurance denials, and healthcare regulations. His advocacy is aimed not only at treating ALS but at reforming how terminal illnesses are handled in the broader healthcare system.
His efforts contributed to bipartisan support for ALS-related bills and amendments in Congress, leading to increased funding and policy reform for terminally ill patients. Wallach has proven that lived experience, when combined with legal expertise, can influence national policy.
By making complex issues understandable and urgent, he has brought new voices and resources into the fight against ALS.
Family Life and Support System
Throughout his journey, Brian Wallach has remained grounded by his family. He and his wife, Sandra, have two daughters, and their relationship has been a pillar of strength throughout his diagnosis and advocacy work.
Sandra, also an experienced public servant, plays a critical role in managing the nonprofit, organizing campaigns, and supporting Brian’s daily medical needs. Together, they represent a model of resilience, partnership, and purpose in the face of unimaginable adversity.
Their family story is one of love, action, and unbreakable commitment—a central element of what continues to inspire so many around the world.
Influence on Other Disease Communities
While his main focus is on ALS, Brian Wallach’s work has also had an impact on other disease communities. His strategies around access, patient voice, and urgency have been adopted by organizations dealing with conditions such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and rare diseases.
He has helped shift the national dialogue toward a more patient-first approach in research, emphasizing the value of lived experience in guiding medical priorities.
Wallach’s influence continues to ripple beyond ALS advocacy, reshaping how advocacy is done in modern healthcare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brian Wallach still alive?
Yes, Brian Wallach is still alive. Despite being diagnosed with ALS in 2017, he continues to advocate for patients and drive healthcare reform through public speaking and nonprofit leadership.
What does Brian Wallach do now?
He co-leads a national ALS advocacy movement that fights for faster drug approval, expanded patient access, and increased funding for neurological disease research.
How has ALS affected Brian Wallach physically?
Brian uses a wheelchair and speech-generating technology due to the progression of ALS, but he remains intellectually active and deeply involved in public policy and advocacy work.
What is Brian Wallach’s professional background?
He is a trained attorney who served in the Obama White House and worked as a federal prosecutor before becoming an ALS advocate.
Why is Brian Wallach important in ALS advocacy?
His legal experience and personal journey give him a unique platform to influence national healthcare policies, making him a key figure in the push for faster treatments and patient rights.
Conclusion
Brian Wallach is still alive—and still fighting. Despite facing one of the most devastating diagnoses possible, he has transformed personal adversity into a national movement. His story is not just one of survival but of meaningful, transformative impact in healthcare, legal advocacy, and public awareness.
As an American lawyer turned patient advocate, Wallach continues to use his voice to demand better systems, stronger policies, and a more compassionate world. For many, he represents courage in action, proof that determination can reshape even the most rigid institutions.
His fight is ongoing, his legacy already profound, and his voice—mechanical or not—continues to lead a movement that refuses to accept silence or slow progress.