News
Deford Keynotes Alpha-1 Association National Conference; Researchers Outline Potential Breakthroughs in Lung, Liver Disease
Frank Deford gave the keynote speech at the Alpha-1 Association’s 17th annual national educational conference in St. Louis, MO, the weekend of June 20-22.
Deford, the subject of the cover story in the current Alpha-1-To-One magazine, talked about his experience as national chair of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for 16 years, and said he believes the Alpha-1 community can achieve the same level of awareness and financial strength that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has.
David Lomas, MD, PhD, answers a question directed to the expert panel
Saturday morning’s events were dominated by a discussion of the state of research for a cure for Alpha-1. Alpha-1 Foundation President and CEO John Walsh spoke on “Working Together to Find a Cure,” Foundation Scientific Director Adam Wanner, MD, outlined the “State of the Cure,” and Jeffrey Teckman, MD, and David Lomas, MD, PhD, spoke on potential breakthroughs in Alpha-1 liver and lung research. A panel of research physicians then answered questions from the audience.
At the “lunch room topics” that followed, Alphas and caregivers got an opportunity to talk to experts one-on-one about lung and liver disease and organ transplants.
Friday night, these awards were presented:
- Advancement of Research Award to Dr. Lomas
- Alpha-1 Community Appreciation Award to Charlie Strange, MD
- Physician Appreciation Award to Dr. Teckman
- Inspirational Award to Len Geiger
The Alpha-1 Foundation followed with its Building Friends for a Cure and Team Alpha-1 awards:
- Star of Excellence for Alpha-1 Awareness to Hap and Diane Eaton, who pedaled a tandem bicycle across the country raising awareness, and to Len Geiger and Frank Deford, who appeared in a dramatic segment of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” with Kevin and Kristi Shroyer, the parents of Geiger’s lung donor Korinne Shroyer, on HBO television.
- Team Alpha-1 All-Star Award to Miriam O’Day, the Alpha Betties and Team Brailey for creating awareness and raising funds for research at the “Escape to the Cape” in September, 2007.
Building Friends for a Cure Super Star Award to
- Joe Reidy for the 1st Annual George Washington Bridge Walk;
- Judy Simon and Robert Pailet for their ice cream fundraiser “Get the Scoop on Alpha-1.”
- Dennis Pollock for the “Alpha Okies Golf Classic”
- Ken and Bettina Irvine for the “Breath of Life Cocktail Reception”
The final awards Saturday evening:
- Claude Baril Communications Award to Barbee Bennington of the Arizona AlphaZonies support group
- Peter Smith Achievement Award to Joyce Finch, longtime Michigan support group leader and AlphaNet coordinator
- Sandra K. Brandley Leadership Award to Ed Brailey, Connecticut support group leader and Association board member
- Kathleen M. McKay Excellence in Nursing Award to Janis Berend, RN, for many years of clinical care and volunteer service
- Board of Directors Dedication Award to Jan Petersen, Esq., for service on the Association’s board
- Helen Chase Walsh Memorial Award to Sue Binnall, at right, for her work with the Massachusetts Support Group’s “Escape to the Cape” and other events and her volunteer leadership with the COPD Foundation’s COPD Hotline.
Photos by Mark Beaven
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