A bigTHANK YOUto all JA families, planning committee members and sponsors for making the 2021 Virtual National Juvenile Arthritis Conference a huge success! This year, we welcomed more than 850 total attendees — including 373 first-time participants — from 42 states and three different countries.
The JA Conference offered 71 virtual sessions and gave attendees the opportunity to connect and network with other moms, dads, families, siblings, caregivers and, of course, young adults, teens and kids with JA who share similar challenges and triumphs. Even in these trying times, we showed the world that together we are stronger than JA!
“My daughter was recently diagnosed and had never met any kids with JA. She enjoyed meeting and playing virtually with kids that experience the same things she does. The JA Conference gave her a sense of community and showed her that she wasn’t alone.”
—JA Mom and Conference Attendee
The expanded conference program offered more than 30 live sessions on a variety of topics including our COVID-19 session series and a conference favorite session: a live chat with Natalie Decker, NASCAR driver and arthritis warrior, who joined families to share her inspirational story and answer questions from conference attendees. The JA Conference also introduced an SJIA track to the conference program and provided a variety of sessions for kids and teens including another conference favorite: the Panda Bear Clinic.
Miss any of the JA Conference content? Browse the JA Conferencesession videos．
This year, Katy & Bridget Carter of Winnetka, California, received the 2021 Steve and Liz Smith Legacy Award for their many years of volunteer service to the JA Conference and the JA community. Katy and Bridget were honored for developing, implementing and building the sibling program at the JA Conference. Check out thesurprise presentation闭幕式上令人感动的反应。农协大会还颁发了2021年农协优秀奖，表彰优秀的志愿者领导。该奖项颁发给医生、青年领袖、青年人、父母和卫生保健专业人员，他们表现出卓越的领导能力和对JA社区的承诺。今年的获奖者包括:Lily Laurent, Dawn Hafeli青年领袖奖;哈利·马普，青年领袖奖;安妮·杰克逊，注册护士，帕蒂·瑞蒂格医疗保健专业领导奖;阿什利·库珀博士，厄尔布鲁尔医师领导奖;Bob和Jen Tonning荣获家长领袖奖。祝贺你获奖!
“Thank you, JA Conference! I learned a lot in the sessions about how to make the medical transition smoother. The conference empowered me to know that I have choices in my care!”
—JA Young Adult and Conference Attendee
A huge thank you toALLattendees of the JA Conference, as well as conference chairs, Jenn and Shane Cox; special guest, Natalie Decker; plus, the planning committee; volunteers; subject matter experts; physicians; and guest speakers. And special thanks to National Presenting Sponsor, Abbvie; Supporting Sponsor, Alpha Omicron Pi; and additional supporter, Genentech.
Save the dates for the2022 National Juvenile Arthritis Conference, where we are excited to return to an in-person event. Next year’s event will feature a “Family Reunion” theme and will be held July 14 to 17, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. We hope to see you there!
