Presenting at #ACR25

In 1993, I was five years old. By mid-November, I developed an itchy rash of unknown origin along with fatigue, joint pain, and swelling.

It took 8 months — along with a host of misdiagnoses, including leukemia — before I was diagnosed with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis / Juvenile-Onset Still’s Disease.

My whole life has, for better or worse, been defined by having a rare condition. I had to become an expert in it in order to survive into my 30s… which is something I frankly didn’t count on for most of my life.

Tomorrow afternoon, I get to co-present a session at the American College of Rheumatology’s Annual Meeting alongside some of my favorite people. Presenting in the same space as the superheroes who take care of patients and change lives every single day is something I never could’ve imagined as a kid. It’s humbling and awe-inspiring and, honestly, something that’s been on my professional bucket list.

Our session, “Breaking Barriers: Advancing LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Rheumatology,” explores how we can make rheumatology practice and research more inclusive. I’ll also share what it’s like living rurally with multiple rare conditions while being queer and trans.

We’ll be presenting virtually, and the session will be available on-demand for anyone attending ACR to view later.

This milestone means a lot to me, both personally and professionally. It’s also vital in the trying times we find ourselves in. If you’re attending ACR, I’d love for you to tune in if you can.