Spondylitis Association of America Launches Global Spondyloarthritis Summit to Raise Awareness of Painful Rheumatic Disease
VAN NUYS, Calif., May 2, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Global Spondyloarthritis Summit is SAA's 3-day virtual event focused on addressing some of the most important topics impacting the spondyloarthritis community today. During the broadcast, this free educational program will provide attendees the opportunity to hear from some of the most renowned medical professionals as they discuss the latest treatment options and research in spondyloarthritis. Free access to Summit presentations begins at 9 am PDT on Friday, May 3, 2019 and concludes at 8:59 am PDT on Monday, May 6, 2019.
Nearly 3 million people in the US are living with spondyloarthritis, the name given to a group of closely related rheumatic diseases that primarily affect the spine (spondylo) and other joints. Spondyloarthritis impacts more people in the US than Rheumatoid Arthritis, ALS, and MS combined. Spondyloarthritis is not rare. It's a painful rheumatic disease that is not well known or understood. Lack of knowledge about the disease contributes to delays in diagnosis, currently between 7-10 years. Delays in diagnosis also lead to delays in treatment, prolonging pain symptoms and in some cases, allowing the disease to progress to debilitation.
The Global Spondyloarthritis Summit is an opportunity for people living with the disease as well as people who have not been diagnosed yet to gain insights on a range of topics including new medications, pain management, latest research, diet and nutrition, related conditions, and physical therapy. Patients living with the disease interviewed a specially selected panel of experts.
The panel for the 2019 Summit features experts such as Dr. John Reveille discussing the latest SpA Research; Dr. Rob Overbaugh providing insights on Pain Management; Dr. Mark Fisher discussing how diet & nutrition impact a patient's disease burden; Dr. Hillary Norton providing insights on medications used to treat the disease; Dr. Uta Kiltz discussing disease complications and related conditions; and Angelo Papachristos, a physical therapist outlining how exercise helps to reduce inflammation and improve mobility. In order to make these informative presentations accessible for more audiences, SAA will also offer transcripts in five different languages (English, Spanish, Bulgarian, Russian and Gujarati). "This Summit was designed for and by the spondyloarthritis community," says SAA CEO Cassie Shafer. "We are truly excited to provide this educational program to a global audience," she adds.
This event is supported by sponsorship from Eli Lilly and educational grants from AbbVie and Novartis. SAA is also thankful for support from its partner, ASIF (Ankylosing Spondylitis International Foundation) for helping share the Summit with a global audience.
Registration is free and will remain open throughout the 3-day event. As a true virtual event, recorded presentations allow attendees to join online from anywhere at any time during the specified periods. For more information about the Summit, visit SAA's website at spondylitis.org.
About the Spondylitis Association of America
Since our founding in 1983, the Spondylitis Association of America has been the leading national nonprofit providing educational resources, connections, and the critical emotional support that people living with spondylitis need. SAA is committed to increasing awareness of spondylitis, providing information and support to patients and their families, and funding research to ultimately uncover a cure for the disease.
SAA has a wealth of information, educational materials, and resources for medical practitioners, the newly diagnosed, people who are seeking a proper diagnosis, and people who have already been diagnosed and living with the disease.
SOURCE Spondylitis Association of America
