Family Education Day at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
SRNA was proud to support Nationwide Children’s Hospital Neuroimmune Family Education Day on September 9, 2023, in Columbus, OH. This was the second year the neuroimmunology clinic hosted this special event for children, teens, and their family members living with neuroimmune disorders. The goal of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Neuroimmune Education Day was to provide attendees with up-to-date information about neuroimmune disorders, their symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and the latest research and clinical trials, all focused on pediatric patients and their families. Dr. Kelsey Poisson, who recently joined the comprehensive neuroimmunology clinic, was the keynote speaker.
A highlight of the Neuroimmune Education Day was the patient and family panel. This year’s panel featured a teen diagnosed with transverse myelitis as an infant, a young adult diagnosed with NMOSD as a child, and another teen diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis, along with their parents. The patient panel offered varying perspectives of neuroimmune conditions, their drastic, often unseen, impacts of growing up with a complicated and rare disease, and the life-long changes that families experience.
SRNA is grateful to the dedicated and passionate clinicians and staff of NCH for taking on the organization and planning of this comprehensive, educational, and unique opportunity for our rare disease community of children and their families.
