I'm always happy to pass along any notices about special events observing lupus:
Patients Inspire Doctors, Enable Medical Advances at Hospital for Special Surgery
“Honoring Lupus Heroes” event will recognize patients’ remarkable contributions to lupus research and care on September 24
New York, Sept. 18, 2013— As part of Hospital for Special Surgery’s 150th
anniversary celebration, the Division of Rheumatology will honor the
thousands of lupus patients who have inspired each member of the
healthcare team. “Honoring Lupus Heroes,” will celebrate patients’
wisdom, generosity and invaluable contributions to lupus research and
care on Tuesday, September 24, from 5 PM to 7:30 PM.
The event will take place in the Richard L. Menschel Education Center
on the second floor of the hospital’s main building in New York City .
“Our
patients are the unsung heroes who have helped transform lupus care,”
said Dr. Jane E. Salmon, Director of the Lupus and Antiphospholipid
Syndrome Center of Excellence at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).
“They donate blood and tissue samples for research, take investigational
drugs in clinical trials, provide personal insights to improve how we
care for them and for others. They are philanthropic and volunteer as
peer counselors. They sacrifice time, energy, personal resources and
their own privacy to advance science and clinical care.”
An
auto-immune disease that can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, heart
and other organs, lupus affects 600,000 people in the United States .
HSS is internationally known for research into the disease and treats
one of the world’s largest populations of lupus patients.
“When
I started out as a physician many years ago, the average survival rate
was around three years. Today it is rare to lose a patient to lupus,”
said HSS rheumatologist Dr. Michael Lockshin. “Advances in lupus
treatment have transformed it from a fatal disease to a chronic illness,
enabling many people to lead normal lives. ‘Honoring Lupus Heroes’ will
help us acknowledge the many patients who have helped HSS lead the way
in gaining a better understanding of this disease.”
One
such patient is Rachel Grodzinsky, one of the first people to
participate in a study at Special Surgery challenging the widely-held
belief that women who had lupus should not become pregnant.
“I
felt somewhat honored to be a part of it. I felt it was really
important,” she recalls. “Pregnancy was something I had been struggling
with for a few years before I actually got into the study. It felt very
dear to me because it was something that I felt would help people after
me.” Grodzinsky later became the proud mother of two sons.
At
the event, Dr. Lockshin will present an historical timeline of lupus
and HSS, including important milestones representing significant
breakthroughs in research and treatment. Several lupus patients and
their family members will reflect on their experiences at Hospital for
Special Surgery and how they were inspired to make a difference in the
lives of other patients. In addition, HSS team members - including
physicians, nurses, social workers and others - will pay tribute to
specific “Lupus Heroes.”
At
the conclusion of the event, HSS physician-in-chief Dr. Peggy Crow will
unveil a plaque honoring these heroic pioneers and all of the HSS
patients who continue to help advance the field.
“Our
‘Lupus Heroes’ are extraordinary people whose contributions have helped
improve the lives of thousands of individuals with the disease,” said
Dr. Crow. “They have taught us poignant lessons about compassion,
service and excellence in care. We are deeply grateful that they have
allowed us to learn from their journey and grow as caregivers, and we’re
thrilled to have this opportunity to honor them.”
About Hospital for Special Surgery
Founded
in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in
orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked
No. 1 in orthopedics, No. 4 in rheumatology and No. 5 in geriatrics by
U.S. News & World Report (2013-14), and is the first hospital in New
York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing
Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center three consecutive
times. HSS has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. From
2007 to 2012, HSS has been a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint
Replacement Excellence Award. HSS is a member of the New
York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell
Medical College and as such all Hospital for Special Surgery medical
staff are faculty of Weill Cornell. The hospital's research division is
internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of
musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is
located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.
For more information contact:
Tracy Hickenbottom
212-606-1197
Robin Frank
(646) 797-8454
Martin Blair
212-576-2700
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