Providing Answers, Support and Hope in Missouri, Southern Illinois, & Kansas
Join us for this in-person conference designed to empower attendees through expert-led sessions that will help you take control of lupus and live better with the disease.
Register NowLupus & You: Take Control of Lupus
Empowerment Conference
Saturday, August 5, 2023
8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
NSC Learning Center & LFA Heartland Chapter Office
8050 Watson Road | St. Louis, MO 63119
SPACE IS LIMITED - REGISTER TODAY!
Coffee and lunch provided. Free gift for the first 50 who register and attend, door prizes, and giveaways at exhibitor booths.
Topics & Presenters
New Treatments for Lupus & Lupus Nephritis: Are They Right for You?
Alfred H. Kim, MD, PhD
Co-Director, Lupus Clinic at Washington University, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Div. of Rheumatology, Washington University School of Medicine
Dr. Kim will discuss the newest FDA-approved drugs on the market for lupus and lupus nephritis, focusing on which patients might benefit the most and how you can discuss these options with your provider. Dr. Kim will also talk about the potential and realities of CAR-T therapy that has received so much attention recently.
What You Need to Know About Lupus & the Kidneys
Alvin F. Wells, MD, PhD
Rheumatologist, Aurora Rheumatology and Immunotherapy
When you have lupus, peeing in a cup sucks. But kidney failure is way worse. Managing the daily struggles of lupus and kidney involvement can feel like a full-time job. Even though life is busy, it is critical to prioritize routine testing and doctor appointments. Regular testing helps to avoid putting your health and kidneys at risk of severe complications. Approximately 1 in 2 people living with lupus may develop lupus nephritis, a serious, silent, and common complication of lupus that impacts your kidneys and up to 30% of people living with lupus nephritis may experience kidney failure, which can lead to dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Join Dr. Alvin Wells who will speak about why prioritizing your kidney health is so important and learn steps you can take now that may help protect your kidney health.
Health Journaling
Joanne Mitchell-McLaren APRN, BSN, NP, MSN
Patient Engagement Liaison, GSK
Health journaling can help you take an active role in your health. Join Joanne Mitchell-McLaren as she shows you how journaling can help you track symptoms, triggers, medications, test results, and mental state/mood. Journaling may also help you more confidently communicate how you’re feeling with your doctor.
Six Pillars of Health, Happiness, and Healing + Cooking Demo
Kathy Levin, RDN, CDCES, DipACLM
Nutritiously Simple
Join Registered Dietitian, Kathy Levin to learn how to improve your health through simple nutrition and lifestyle changes — such as eating well, moving more, avoiding risky substances, getting good sleep, and having a strong support system. Kathy will also share some of her delicious plant-based recipes and show you how to prepare them in a cooking demonstration and samples.
Managing Stress Through Stretching, Breathing & Meditation
Andrea L. Byrne, RN, RYT
Registered Nurse, Wellness Coach and Yoga Trainer
Living with lupus can be stressful. And stress can trigger your lupus symptoms or make them worse. Exercise can be a great tool for dealing with lupus symptoms, but sometime traditional exercises—such as an aerobics class or weight training—can be difficult while dealing with swollen joints and fatigue. Nurse and yoga practitioner Andrea Byrne will demonstrate how you can manage stress through stretching, breathing, and guided imagery meditation.
PRESENTER BIOS
