2023 International Annual Patient Conference: Celebrating YOU Our Myositis Heroes

TMA is celebrating our 30th Anniversary, and we invite you to be part of the festivities at our 4-day in-person International Annual Patient Conference: Celebrating YOU Our Myositis Heroes. This year’s event takes place on September 7-10 in San Diego, California, and features myositis specialists and expert presenters on everything related to myositis, its treatment, and how you can live your best life with these debilitating diseases. We will have educational workshops, research-based presentations, breakout sessions for all stages of the myositis journey, a focus on care partners, networking opportunities, social activities, exhibitors, and much more!

Please note: This agenda is tentative.

10:00am – 6:00pm Registration Open
10:00am – 6:00pm Attendee Lounge Open
12:45pm – 1:15pm Conference Orientation 
1:30pm – 2:30pm Welcome Rhonda Buckley-Bishop, The Myositis Association Keynote Myositis is your 100-Miler | Brigadier General (Ret.) Bob Gaylord 
2:30pm – 3:00pm Break, Networking, Exhibitors
3:00pm – 4:30pm Getting Acquainted Sessions
  • Inclusion Body MyositisRicky Marks, Moderator
  • DermatomyositisKaniah Gunter, Moderator
  • Polymyositis/Necrotizing Myopathy Teri Ann Mosher, Moderator
  • Care Partners/CaregiversDr. Cynthia Marks, Moderator
4:30pm – 5:00pm Break, Networking, Exhibitors
5:00pm – 6:15pm Breakout Sessions
  • Session 1 – Myositis 101 – IBMDr. Tahseen Mozaffar
  • Session 2 – Myositis 101 – DM, NM, PM, ASySDr. Julie Paik
  • Session 3 – Exercise as MedicineDrs. Helene Alexanderson & Lesley Ann Saketkoo
  • Session 4 – Autoantibodies and their ImplicationsDr. David Fiorentino
  • Session 5 – Measuring function in myositis: Elevating clinical care and advancing research Dr. Lindsay Alfano and Dr. Stephanie Hunn
6:15pm – 7:30pm Sips and Snacks | A chance to mingle, sign up for support and affinity groups, and have some fun
 
8:00am – 9:00am Breakfast
9:00am – 4:00pm Attendee Lounge Open
9:00am – 9:30am Break, Networking, Exhibitors
9:30am – 10:45am Breakout Sessions
  • Session 1 – Heart Disease and MyositisDr. Christina Charles-Schoeman
  • Session 2 – Minding your Mental HealthDr. Nicole Voet
  • Session 3 – Care Partner Considerations, PanelDr. Cynthia Marks, John Layton, Meriel Parker
  • Session 4 – Finding Strength Through FaithChip Galloway
  • Session 5 – Deciphering the Pain of MyositisDrs. Helene Alexanderson & Lesley Ann Saketkoo
10:45am – 11:15am Break, Networking, Exhibitors
11:15am – 12:30pm Breakout Sessions
  • Session 1 – Staying on Top of Your Illness and Finding your VoiceShawna Nielsen
  • Session 2 – Make your Life Work for You: Sharing your Favorite Hints and HacksHoward Gerrin
  • Session 3 – Decoding the ABCs of ILD TestsDr. Sonye Danoff
  • Session 4 – Improving Myositis Symptoms with DietKaniah Gunter
  • Session 5 – From Wheelchair to Remission – My Journey with PolymyositisTeri Ann Mosher
12:30pm – 2:00pm Lunch
2:00pm – 5:15pm Exercise workshops
2:00pm – 3:15pm Breakout Sessions
  • Session 1 – Introduction to MedicationsDr. Iazsmin Bauer Ventura
  • Session 2 – Enhancing Emergency Support for Individuals with Physical Disabilities & Empowering Caregivers | TBD
  • Session 3 – Clinical Trials for DM and NMDr. Tahseen Mozaffar
  • Session 4 – When ILD Symptoms FlareDr. Robert Hallowell
  • Session 5 – Sing for HealthDr. Lesley Ann Saketkoo
3:15pm – 3:45pm Break, Networking, Exhibitors
3:45pm – 5:00pm Breakout Sessions
  • Session 1 – Considering IVIG and RituxanDr. Adam Schiffenbauer
  • Session 2 – Intimacy and Relationships – How Chronic Illness CAN Bring you Closer Rachel Bromley, Moderator
  • Session 3 – Unifying Myositis Voices through Diversity: A Panel Hosted by TMA’s Women of Color Affinity GroupHolly Jones, Moderator; Laurie Boyer, Kimberly Branche, Howard Gerrin, Jason Hophauf, Dr. Julie Paik, Rhonda Rogers, Fred Lazenby, & Dr. Iazsmin Bauer Ventura
  • Session 4 – Medicines for Myositis-ILD Dr. Cheilonda Johnson
  • Session 5 – Skin Changes and Hair LossDr. Victoria Werth
 
8:00am – 9:15am Breakfast
11:35am-5:00pm Attendee Lounge Open
9:15am – 11:30am MAB Town Hall with Medical Advisory Board Members
11:30am – 11:45am Break, Networking, Exhibitors
11:45am – 12:45pm MAB Q & A
  • Inclusion Body Myositis Rachel Bromley, Moderator; Drs. Elie Naddaf, Namita Goyal, Helene Alexanderson, Tahseen Mozaffar, Malin Regardt
  • Interstitial Lung Disease/NM Holly Jones, Moderator; Drs. Robert Hallowell, Cheilonda Johnson, Adam Schiffenbauer, Lesley Ann Saketkoo, Sonye Danoff
  • Dermatomyositis/Polymyositis Laurie Boyer, Moderator; Drs. Julie Paik & Lisa Christopher-Stine, David Fiorentino, Janine Lamb
12:45pm – 2:00pm Lunch, Networking, Exhibitors
2:00pm – 3:15pm Breakout Sessions
  • Session 1 – Creating Diversity in Clinical Trials Dr. Lisa Christopher-Stine, Dr. Julie Paik, Holly Jones, Veronica Fatura, & Veronica Moore
  • Session 2 – Fatigue in Myositis: How to Preserve Your EnergyDrs. Malin Regardt, Helene Alexanderson, & Lesley Ann Saketkoo
  • Session 3 – Advanced Stages of IBMDr. Namita Goyal
  • Session 4 – What Does Remission Look Like and How to Get ThereDr. Adam Schiffenbauer
  • Session 5 – Clinical Trials for IBMDr. Elie Naddaf
3:15pm – 3:45pm Break, Networking
3:45pm – 5:00pm Breakout Sessions
  • Session 1 – Dermatomyositis: Understanding the Results of the Patient Experience SurveyDrs. Lisa Christopher-Stine & Julie Paik
  • Session 2 – Understanding Genetic RiskDr. Janine Lamb
  • Session 3 – Cancer and its Implications for MyositisDr. David Fiorentino
  • Session 4 – Hand Exercise WorkshopDr. Malin Regardt
6:15pm – 7:00pm HEROES IN THE FIGHT RECEPTION (separate ticket required)
7:00pm – 9:00pm HEROES IN THE FIGHT DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY (separate ticket required)
 
8:00am – 8:45am Breakfast
8:45am – 9:30am Closing Keynote Dr. Rohit Aggarwal Celebrating 30 years of Myositis Research: How Far We’ve Come and Where We’re Going
9:30am – 10:25am Celebrating You, Our Myositis Heroes
10:25am – 10:30am Closing Remarks Rhonda Buckley-Bishop, The Myositis Association