INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 17, 2024 – The Pulmonary Hypertension Affiliation honored 10 exceptional people on Aug. 17 at an awards ceremony held through the PHA 2024 Worldwide PH Convention and Scientific Periods in Indianapolis.
PHA’s Excellent Member Awards acknowledge those that have exemplified honorary dedication and repair to the pulmonary hypertension neighborhood and PHA by volunteer efforts in affected person and caregiver assist; advocacy; philanthropy; promotion of high quality affected person care; and dedication to advancing PH analysis.
Honorees included well being care professionals, caregivers, folks with PH and PHA assist group leaders. See the total listing of honorees beneath.
Julie Hendry Memorial Scholarship Award: Adriana C. Mares
Named for PHA’s first full-time non-patient volunteer, this award helps a non-patient volunteer who advances PHA’s mission. Mares, a scholar researcher at Yale, obtained this award for her management within the El Paso PHighters assist group and her contributions to cardiovascular medication. She has authored over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles and based the Institute of Cardiology at El Paso, specializing in PH and congenital coronary heart illness.
The Rino Aldrighetti Management Award: Anton Morkin
Acknowledges distinctive management in advancing PHA’s imaginative and prescient of a world with out PH. Morkin was honored for co-founding TBX4Life, a nonprofit supporting folks with TBX4 Syndrome and heritable PAH. Motivated by his son’s analysis, Morkin’s work has united households from over 10 nations and established a worldwide scientific consortium of greater than 70 members. His efforts have pushed cross-disciplinary analysis centered on discovering new remedies.
The PHA Philanthropy Award: Ed and Judith Simpson
Acknowledges excellent charitable dedication and generosity that encourages monetary assist for PHA. Judy Simpson based the group that turned PHA in 1991, alongside together with her sister Pat Paton, Teresa Knazik, Dorothy Olson, and their husbands. The Simpsons have been long-standing supporters of PHA, contributing their time, abilities and sources because the group’s inception.
Excellent Doctor: Jean M. Elwing, MD
Acknowledges notable service to PHA by scientific care, analysis, training and advocacy for PH sufferers. Elwing, director of the pulmonary hypertension program on the College of Cincinnati, obtained this award for her management in pulmonary vascular illness and PH analysis. She has been an influential determine in advancing scientific care and enhancing outcomes for these affected by PH.
Excellent Allied Well being Skilled: Sandra Lombardi, RN
Acknowledges contributions to the PH neighborhood by elevating consciousness, advocacy and compassionate care. Lombardi obtained this award for dedicating 25 of her 30 years in pulmonary and significant care medication to pulmonary arterial hypertension. She has educated sufferers and suppliers on PAH drugs and coordinated scientific trials, all whereas main a thriving assist group for 25 years, which she considers her proudest achievement.
Excellent Younger PH Citizen Award: Money Harpp
Honors an individual with PH, aged 30 or below, for his or her dedication to the PH neighborhood by consciousness, advocacy and repair. Harpp has proven exceptional resilience whereas dwelling with idiopathic PAH. He actively participates in scientific trials and advocates for different kids with PH.
Excellent PH Citizen: Michelle Sweitzer
Acknowledges an individual with PH for his or her exemplary dedication to the PH neighborhood. Sweitzer has spent greater than 40 years advocating and elevating consciousness, pushed by the lack of her brother and father to PH. By means of a family-run golf match, she has raised over $400,000 for analysis and stays a passionate advocate following her personal PH analysis in 2017.
Excellent Caregiver: Cindy Warnberg
Acknowledges a non-patient caregiver’s dedication to enhancing the standard of life for a beloved one with PH. After her daughter Chelsea’s PAH analysis, Warnberg acted by organizing the Puttin’ PHore Poots golf match. Below her management, the occasion has grown steadily, elevating greater than $200,000 for PH analysis and consciousness.
Excellent PHA Help Group Chief Award: Sophia I. Esteves
Acknowledges a assist group chief who creates a welcoming surroundings and champions consciousness and advocacy. Esteves earned the popularity for her management of the San Antonio, Texas, assist group. A affected person advocate for greater than 22 years, Esteves additionally serves as a spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson’s Breathe In, Converse Out marketing campaign, utilizing her platform to encourage and information these going through the challenges of PH.
In regards to the Pulmonary Hypertension Affiliation
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Pulmonary Hypertension Affiliation is the oldest and largest nonprofit affected person affiliation devoted to the pulmonary hypertension neighborhood. Pulmonary hypertension is a uncommon, persistent and life-threatening illness of the lungs for which no treatment at present exists. PHA’s mission is to increase and enhance the lives of these affected by PH. To attain this mission, PHA engages folks with PH and their households, caregivers, well being care suppliers, and researchers worldwide who work collectively to advocate for the PH neighborhood, present assist to sufferers, caregivers and households, supply up- to-date training and knowledge on PH, enhance high quality affected person care, and fund and promote analysis. For extra data, go to phassociation.org and phassociation.org/WorldPHDay and join with PHA on X/Twitter, Instagram, Fb and LinkedIn.
Contact InformationZangi MitiPulmonary Hypertension Association301-565-3004