Sessions and Speakers

2025 Global Myositis Patient Conference

September 18–21, 2025
Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Dallas, TX

Engaging and exciting content will unfold over three-plus days while we celebrate our worldwide myositis community. Stay tuned for details to come!

Conference Program Format

• General sessions: All conference attendees gather to be inspired by keynote speakers and awardees
• Breakout sessions: Attendees gather in smaller groups, based on interest or diagnosis
• Virtual breakout sessions: Held prior to the conference on Zoom
• Orientation and special welcome for first-time attendees
• Exhibit floor
• Networking opportunities

Our Distinguished Speakers

More than 50 speakers will enlighten and entertain TMA attendees this year, with experts and fellow myositis patients addressing the hottest topics. Presenters include:

• Helene Alexandersen, PhD, RPT, Associate Professor (Docent) of physical therapy, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine; TMA Medical Advisory Board
• Salman Bhai, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Director, Neuromuscular Center, Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
• Suur Biliciler, MD, Professor of Neurology and Co-Director, Neurology Residency Program, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Laurie Boyer, MBA, Cofounder and Former Vice President of Team Tommy Foundation; Chair, TMA Board of Directors
• Rich DeAugustinis, Senior Advisor, Frontline; Vice Chair, TMA Board of Directors
• Paula J. Eichenbrenner, MBA, CAE, Executive Director, TMA
• Floranne Ernste, MD, Associate Professor of Rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN; former TMA Medical Advisory Board member
• David Fiorentino, MD, PhD, Professor of Dermatology, Stanford Medicine; TMA Medical Advisory Board
• Richard (Chip) Galloway, Jr., Staff Accountant, Cantey, Tiller, Pierce & Green, LLP; TMA Board of Directors
• Namita A. Goyal, MD, Professor of Neurology, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine; Co-director, UC Irvine-MDA ALS and Neuromuscular Center; Director, Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship; Chair, TMA Medical Advisory Board
• Lindsay Guentzel, award-winning radio journalist & producer for CBS Radio affiliate WCCO Radio and Minnesota Public Radio; TMA Minnesota Support Group Leader and Myositis Advocate
• Cheilonda Johnson, MD, MHS, Assistant Professor of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania; TMA Medical Advisory Board
• Janine Lamb, BSc, DPhil, Reader in Complex Human Genetics/Genomics, Programme Director for MRes in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, University of Manchester; TMA Medical Advisory Board
• Thomas Lloyd, MD, PhD, Chair Department of Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine
• Margherita Milone, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; former TMA Medical Advisory Board member
• Melissa Morales, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at SUNY Binghamton
• Tahseen Mozaffar, MD, Professor of Neurology, Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, Irvine; TMA Medical Advisory Board and Liaison to TMA’s Board of Directors
• Kanneboyina Nagaraju, DVM, PhD, Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at SUNY Binghamton; former TMA Medical Advisory Board member
• Julie Paik, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University; Co-director of the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center; Director of Clinical Trials, Johns Hopkins Myositis Center; Vice Chair, TMA Medical Advisory Board
• Rhonda Rogers, TMA Southern California Myositis Support Group Leader; TMA Flying Solo Affinity Group Leader; The Myositis Warrior
• Lesley Ann Saketkoo, MD, MPH, Director and Founder of New Orleans Scleroderma and Sarcoidosis Patient Care and Research Center; TMA Medical Advisory Board
• Julie Sanfilippo, RDN, Diabetes Prevention Program Healthcoach, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare
• Eleni Tiniakou, MD, Associate Professor of Rheumatology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• Victoria Werth, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Veterans Administration Medical Center; TMA Medical Advisory Board

Breakout Sessions

Concurrent sessions offer attendees many options to gather in smaller groups to learn about the latest science and living well with myositis. Highlights include:

• Aging Research, Senolytic Drugs, and Relevance to IBM
• Effects of Exercise on Physiological, Physical and Psychological Aspects of Health
• Finding Strength through Faith
• Flares, Sun Safety, and Preventive Measures
• Genetics, Autoimmune Disease, and Myositis
• Latest Research and Clinical Trials in IBM
• Latest Research and Clinical Trials in Other Forms of Myositis
• Myositis Medications and Management

Conference Content by Form of Myositis

Some sessions are organized by diagnosis and delivered to support you specifically. Wherever you are in your myositis journey, TMA has a medical advisor who can answer your most pressing questions.

• Back to Basics
• Ask the Experts
• Physical and Occupational Therapy
• Latest Scientific Findings
• Living with Myositis