Advocacy & Awareness for Immune Disorders Association (AAIDA)
Advocacy & Awareness for Immune Disorders Association (AAIDA)
AAIDA hosted patient advocate and University of South Carolina (USC) junior, Jessica Goddard, for our 8th patient educational webinar for 2021.
Jessica will discuss the following during her presentation:
Jessica Goddard is a student at the University of South Carolina (USC) Honors College pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health and a minor in Business Administration. She is a member of and holds leadership in Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Professional Health Honor Society and Sigma Omega Upsilon International Business Fraternity on campus at USC. She is also highly involved with the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) as a volunteer, advocate, and lobbyist and serves on the coalition to assemble a NORD Rare Disease Advisory Council in South Carolina. In January 2020, she was published by The State newspaper for her op-ed titled “South Carolina Universities and Colleges Must Do More to Get Students Vaccinated”. Jessica’s ultimate goal as a rare disease advocate is to bring hope and positivity to those going through their rare disease journeys.
AAIDA hosted rheumatologist, Delfin Santos, MD, FACR, of Rochester Hills, MI for our 7th educational webinar during 2021.
Dr. Santos will discuss the following during his presentation:
Dr. Del Santos, has been in private practice for 29 years and currently serves as Director of AARA Rochester Rheumatology Center in Rochester Hills, MI. Dr. Santos earned his medical degree from UCMM in Santiago, Dominican Republic and completed his Internal Medicine Residency Program at West Suburban Hospital Medical Center in Oak Park, IL. Dr. Santos completed his Fellowship in Rheumatology at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, IL and served as Chief of the Department of Medicine and as Vice Chief of Staff at Ascension Hospital Medical Center in Rochester Hills MI. Dr. Santos has also been on the Advisory Board for the American Behcet’s Disease Association for the last 20 years and is repeatedly named TOP DOC in rheumatology in HOUR Magazine Detroit.
Speciality pharmacist and patient advocate, Michael Rigas, PharmD, will continue to dive deeper into discussion topics regarding IVIG/SCIG issues that were not covered in Part I of this educational webinar series
Dr. Rigas will discuss the following:
Dr. Rigas is the Chief Clinical Officer, co-founder and principal at KabaFusion, an infusion therapy company dedicated to managing IVIG and other chronic and acute therapies nationwide. Prior to joining KabaFusion, Dr. Rigas was Associate Chief Innovation Officer for Pharmaceutical Care for Geisinger Health System and Chief Clinical Officer for VITALine CareSite Pharmacy Services.
Dr. Rigas graduated from USC School of Pharmacy with his Pharm.D. degree and completed his residency at UC San Francisco Hospitals and Clinics in 1982. His areas of expertise include antimicrobial therapy, immunoglobulin therapies (IVIG), nutritional support, inotropic therapies and many others. Over the last 20 years, Dr. Rigas has managed or overseen the care of over 15,000 patients who have received over 20,000,000 grams of IVIG.
AAIDA hosted speciality pharmacist, Michael Rigas, PharmD, for our 5th educational webinar and first “forum” event of 2021.
Dr. Rigas will discuss the following during his presentation:
Dr. Rigas is the Chief Clinical Officer, co-founder and principal at KabaFusion, an infusion therapy company dedicated to managing IVIG and other chronic and acute therapies nationwide. Prior to joining KabaFusion, Dr. Rigas was Associate Chief Innovation Officer for Pharmaceutical Care for Geisinger Health System and Chief Clinical Officer for VITALine CareSite Pharmacy Services.
Dr. Rigas graduated from USC School of Pharmacy with his Pharm.D. degree and completed his residency at UC San Francisco Hospitals and Clinics in 1982. His areas of expertise include antimicrobial therapy, immunoglobulin therapies (IVIG), nutritional support, inotropic therapies and many others.
Dr. Rigas has worked on standardized coding for infusion billing, universal access via patient assistance plans and managing Medicare Part D issues in front of the California board of pharmacy and CMS regional managers. Dr. Rigas is a member of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, the National Home Infusion association, the American Academy of Neurology and the Clinical Immunology Society. Over the last 20 years, Dr. Rigas has managed or overseen the care of over 15,000 patients who have received over 20,000,000 grams of IVIG.
AAIDA hosted Class of 2022 PharmD Candidates, Alexis El-Khouri B.S., Flavia Pasca B.S., and Larissa Melnyk, B.S of Northeast Ohio Medical University for our 4th educational webinar of 2021.
Alexis, Flavia and Larissa will discuss the following during their presentation:
Alexis El-Khouri is currently a 3rd year pharmacy student at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and is schedule to receive a PharmD in Spring of 2022. She earned her undergraduate degree, Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry, at Youngstown State University. Alexis is Co-founder and President of NEOMED’s Student Association of Specialty Pharmacy. In the future she plans to specialize in neurological conditions and autoimmune disorders.
Flavia Pasca is a 3rd year pharmacy student studying at Northeast Ohio Medical University, and is on track to receive her PharmD in the Spring semester of 2022. She earned her Bachelors of Science at Cleveland State University. Flavia is Co-founder and Vice President of NEOMED’s Student Association of Specialty Pharmacy. She is interested in becoming a clinical pharmacist and specializing in Neurology.
Larissa Melnyk is a 3rd year pharmacy student of Northeast Ohio Medical University with a background in engineering technology and entrepreneurship. Her goal after graduation is to use those skills toward improving specialty pharmacy opportunities.