“This designation reflects our ongoing commitment to high-quality customer service and relationship building with our client partners and candidates,” said Slone Partners CEO Leslie Loveless.

SOUTH RIDING, Va. (PRWEB)
May 03, 2023

Slone Partners, a nationwide executive search firm for life sciences and healthcare companies, has been named to the list of Top 10 Executive Search Firms 2023 by Manage HR Magazine.

The annual list of companies is selected by a panel of experts and members of Manage HR Magazine’s editorial board to recognize and promote entrepreneurship.

“We are glad to feature Slone Partners as one of the Top 10 Executive Search Firms 2023. Having established itself as an industry leader for more than two decades, Slone Partners’ executive recruiters glean a deep understanding of their client partners’ culture and unique talent needs to deliver the leaders who will succeed and drive the company forward,” said Emma Williams, Managing Editor of Manage HR Magazine.

“We are extraordinarily proud of being selected as one of the top 10 executive search firms in the country,” said Slone Partners CEO Leslie Loveless. “This designation reflects our ongoing commitment to high-quality customer service and relationship building with our client partners and candidates. With a 23-year track record of success, we have earned the distinction of being among the best of the best in a highly competitive and constantly evolving industry.”

“It is a great honor to be cited on this list by Manage HR Magazine as we have worked hard over many years to build a culture of trust and inclusion at Slone Partners,” said Candace Nortey, Slone Partners’ Managing Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). “The culture we have created is the driving force behind the incredible collaboration, innovation, and productivity that happens here, and it is infused into the long-standing relationships that we build and maintain with our client partners and the candidates that we support.”

As a nationwide executive search firm, Slone Partners works with startup and growth-stage life sciences and healthcare companies, hospitals, health systems, and academic medical centers to find and secure the talented leaders who complement their innovative teams. Established in 2000 by Adam Slone, Slone Partners is a values-driven firm that excels at delivering professional executive search and advisory services, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, executive coaching, and onboarding consultation. The company was also named among the Top Workplaces in 2021 by The Washington Post.

ABOUT SLONE PARTNERS

Slone Partners delivers the leaders who build amazing and diverse life sciences and healthcare organizations – People Are Our Science®. Founded in 2000, Slone Partners specializes in delivering world-class C-suite leadership, executive, and upper management talent to the most promising and established biotech, diagnostics, research tools, healthcare, precision medicine, medical device, and laboratory services companies. With national and global clients, Slone Partners uniquely and precisely provides an array of executive search and advisory services, including diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, to innovative life sciences and healthcare companies. To learn more about Slone Partners’ value proposition and processes, visit http://www.slonepartners.com or call 888.784.3422.

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“Judson University is honored to host Dr. Pandya as part of the World Leaders Forum Inspirational Series and to learn more about what inspires and motivates her to explore the realms of science and space.”

ELGIN, Ill. (PRWEB)
May 02, 2023

The World Leaders Forum Inspirational Series will welcome Dr. Shawna Pandya, a physician surgeon, citizen scientist, and astronaut candidate from Alberta, Canada to Judson University in Elgin. The main event will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at the University’s Herrick Chapel, 1151 N. State Street in Elgin. Entrepreneur Jacqueline Ruiz will host this event. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, May 2 for general and VIP admission.

The event with Dr. Pandya is the fifth Inspirational Series event and the second developed and hosted with Jacqueline Ruiz, an entrepreneur, author, and Latina pilot. Previous Inspirational Speakers at the event have included Hispanic actor and director Edward James Olmos magician Jim Munroe in 2017, Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton in 2016, and Australian-American Christian evangelist and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic in 2015.

“Dr. Pandya is an example of someone who isn’t afraid to go beyond the boundaries with her dynamic exploration of space, neuroscience, medicine, and even uncharted waters,” Ruiz said. “In our conversation, audiences will resonate with the resilience and perseverance she has experienced in her personal and professional pursuits. Judson University is proud to have her join its distinguished list of Inspirational Speakers.”

“Judson University is honored to host Dr. Pandya as part of the World Leaders Forum Inspirational Series and to learn more about what inspires and motivates her to explore the realms of science and space. Her story demonstrates how education opens previously unimaginable career paths and how a life-long love of learning fosters creativity and innovation,” said Judson President Gene Crume.

Proceeds from this event will fund leadership, entrepreneurship, diversity, and RISE program scholarships for students at Judson University. Beginning at 3:30 p.m., VIP ticket purchasers can attend an hors d’oeuvres reception and will have a meet-and-greet photo opportunity with Dr. Pandya prior to the event.

Tickets start at $50. For more information, visit https://2023WLFInspiration.eventbrite.com.

About Dr. Shawna Pandya:

Dr. Shawna Pandya is passionate about the two ‘extremes’ of humanity – surviving and thriving. She’s interested in furthering technological innovation and human knowledge, and tackling humanity’s grandest challenges to affect positive social change.

After leaving her career in neurosurgery she went from repeatedly telling herself “I am an absolute disgrace,” to gaining a new sense of being.

In her talks, Shawna talks passionately about resilience and the lifelong learning she came to embrace from her time with sociopaths, Navy SEALs, martial arts, medicine, astronauts, and from her father.

She successfully completed Scientist‐Astronaut Candidate training in 2015 with Project PoSSUM (Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere) and was part of the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero gravity.

In 2016, Shawna was named as prime crew for Project Poseidon, which aims to further ocean and space exploration, while setting a world record for “most days spent under the sea.” She also received the Global Women of Vision Award in 2016.

Preparing for space requires more than just knowledge — it involves an incredible amount of mental and physical agility. Outside of her work, Shawna continues to further develop these skills through martial arts. She holds a black belt in taekwondo, a sport she’s been practicing for over 15 years. She has also traveled to Thailand annually since 2015 to train in muay thai.

About Judson University

Located in Elgin, Illinois, since 1963, Judson University offers a Christian, liberal arts and sciences education through its Bachelor of Arts degrees for more than 60 majors, minors, graduate programs and online, as well as certification and accelerated adult degree programs. For more information, visit http://www.JudsonU.edu.

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Dr. Jodi Ganz and other physicians from Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics will be offering free skin cancer screenings May 6 at Peachtree Road Farmers Market in Atlanta, Georgia.

We are so fortunate to have an amazing team of physicians and partners who are eager to educate their community on skin cancer and its prevention. – Dr. Jodi Ganz

ATLANTA (PRWEB)
May 02, 2023

Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics – Georgia’s top-rated dermatology practice – will be participating in free skin cancer screenings in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Screenings take place 8 a.m.-Noon May 6 at Peachtree Road Farmers Market (The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road N.W., Atlanta).

“This year marks the 16th year that we have had the privilege of coordinating this free skin screening event,” says Dr. Jodi Ganz of Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics. “We are so fortunate to have an amazing team of physicians and partners who are eager to educate their community on skin cancer and its prevention. We invite all to come and join us and take advantage of this opportunity.”

These exams take place outdoors in open air, allowing physicians to screen any easily visible parts of a patient. Doctors will check the hot spots where skin cancer is likely to form, which is typically around the neck, arms, hands, and face. Each patient will get a write-up of their examination. If anything serious is detected, doctors will make additional personalized recommendations and referrals. This event provides a convenient opportunity for vendors and patrons to receive skin exams by a board-certified dermatologist for free and without proof of insurance.

Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics has been in collaboration with Peachtree Road Farmers Market for several years for their annual skin cancer examination. In addition to Dr. Ganz, Drs. Kelli Ingram Baender, Humza Ilyas, and David Olanksy and physicians assistants Sharen Doering and Wayne Emineth of Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics will be participating in this year’s screenings.

Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics organized the event in partnership with the Atlanta Association for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. It’s sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology as part of their Spot Me initiative to provide people an opportunity to receive free skin cancer screenings, and increase education and awareness around skin cancer prevention.

Annual Skin Cancer Screening

• Time and Date: 8 a.m.-Noon. May 6.
• Location: Peachtree Road Farmers Market at the Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road N.W., Atlanta.

Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics is your dermatology solution. Our ability to provide full-service dermatology to patients of all ages is a distinct benefit to choosing our practice. We offer medical, surgical, cosmetic, and aesthetic services to our patients, and even same day appointments when possible. This makes us not only a convenient solution for your family, but a comprehensive one as well. With services ranging from our in-house Mohs surgery for skin cancer, advanced laser therapy for psoriasis or our aesthetic services for skin rejuvenation, Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics can handle all of your skin concerns. For more details, visit our website at OlanskyDermatology.com or call 404-355-5484.

Interviews are available upon request.

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“Kent’s promotion to COO is a testament to his exceptional leadership, experience and talent. He has contributed significantly to the success of Amare and our phenomenal growth up to this point, and his expertise and understanding of the direct selling category is nearly unmatched.”

LEHI, Utah (PRWEB)
May 02, 2023

Amare Global, The Mental Wellness Company® and leader in all-natural mental wellness solutions, is pleased to announce the promotion of Kent Wood to Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Kent will be responsible for overseeing all global operations of the company, including finance, supply chain, IT, and legal. Kent will focus on ensuring the operational health of the business, with an emphasis on optimizing the supply chain to support the company’s record-breaking growth and global expansion. In addition to his new role, Kent will continue fulfilling the responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer (CFO.)

“Kent’s promotion to COO is a testament to his exceptional leadership, experience and talent,” said Amare CEO, Jared Turner. “He has contributed significantly to the success of Amare and our phenomenal growth up to this point, and his expertise and understanding of the direct selling category is nearly unmatched.”

Kent brings over 30 years of experience leading the most successful network marketing companies. Prior to joining Amare, he founded, invested in, and served on the boards of four direct selling companies, which generated over $3 billion in cumulative aggregate revenues. His impressive track record has been recognized by Utah Business Magazine, which named him one of their “Forty Under 40” honorees.

Joining Amare as Chief Financial Officer in 2019, Kent has played an instrumental role in the company’s growth, including the successful strategic acquisition of Kyäni Inc. in 2022. Kent is inspired by the Amare community and their commitment to helping families all over the world experience better mental wellness through Amare’s Gut-Brain Axis (GBX) -supporting products. “We have a remarkable team of people who are doing something truly exceptional for thousands of families worldwide, and I am honored to be a part of the movement”, he remarked. Kent and his wife reside in Utah and are the parents of five beautiful daughters and love their role as grandparents to five grandchildren.

About Amare Global

Amare Global® (amare.com) is The Mental Wellness Company® and is the category leader in creating holistic mental wellness solutions. The name Amare translates “to love” in Latin and a core part of its mission is to create more love, empowerment, and wellness in the world by providing high-quality natural products that support holistic wellness. Amare’s patented and award-winning proprietary formulations leverage the powerful science of the gut microbiome and the gut-brain axis (GBX), along with other clinically studied ingredients and blends. For more information, visit Amare.com, follow @amareglobal on Instagram, or visit us on Facebook.

For media inquiries, please contact prinquiries@amare.com

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“This is the appropriate time to partner with a larger company that can offer ongoing financial stability as well as additional resources and financing to support our continued growth,” said Jeff Braun, who will remain the company’s president.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (PRWEB)
May 02, 2023

ARCH Medical Solutions Corp. (“ARCH”) announces the acquisition of American Prosthetic Components (“APC”) of Green Bay, Wisconsin. APC produces high-quality modular prosthetic components sold worldwide. The components are designed and engineered to meet or surpass ISO 10328 standards and are manufactured in a range of materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, and plastic with production processes that comply with CE requirements 92/42/EEC. With this acquisition, ARCH Medical Solutions expands its capabilities into prosthetic components and strengthens its position as a leading, diversified supplier in the medical device contract manufacturing market. Founded in 1994, APC will become ARCH – American Prosthetic Components.

“We are excited to have APC join the ARCH Medical Solutions group of companies, adding an important group of products that play a critical role in enabling affected patients to enjoy increased mobility and enhanced lifestyles,” said Paul Barck, Divisional President of ARCH Medical Solutions. “APC is a market leader with a reputation that is consistent with our strategic mission of providing world-class products and services to our customers while building a diverse platform of medical device manufacturing businesses.”

As part of the ARCH family, APC President and CEO Jeff Braun foresees growth and a more defined future for employees and customers. “This is the appropriate time to partner with a larger company that can offer ongoing financial stability as well as additional resources and financing to support our continued growth,” said Braun, who will remain the company’s president. “For our employees and our customers alike, this is the right opportunity and timing for planning the future of American Prosthetic Components.”

Eli Crotzer, ARCH President and CEO, is proud to have APC and its team of prosthetics manufacturing specialists as part of the ARCH Medical Solutions family.

“The APC team has carved out an impressive niche of providing highly engineered componentry for prosthetics,” he said. “It was also evident to our ARCH team during our site visit to APC that the team has developed a real competence around efficient machining of exotic metals in support of the products that they supply to the marketplace.”

About ARCH Medical Solutions

ARCH Medical Solutions, a Jordan Company platform company based in metro Detroit, precision manufactures high-quality medical components, parts, instruments, devices, and implants for a range of life-changing medical applications. ARCH Medical Solutions has multiple FDA-registered facilities across the country serving the orthopedics, surgical robotics, dental, and life sciences markets. The teams at ARCH Medical Solutions are metalworking professionals with industry-leading tight-tolerance manufacturing expertise. ARCH Medical Solutions provides innovative and practical solutions to the complex manufacturing challenges of its customers that lead to better patient outcomes. Improving lives. We have a part in that. Learn more at arch-medical.com.

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Breast cancer advocate and patient Maggie Kudirka appears with her emotional support/therapy dog, Momma Mia, on the set of Mercy Medical Center’s ongoing monthly talk show, MEDOSCOPY.

BALTIMORE (PRWEB)
May 02, 2023

Maggie Kudirka, a Howard County resident and a patient of The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy, was only 23 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Just starting her career as a professional dancer with New York’s “Joffrey Ballet Concert Group” in 2014, Maggie had detected a lump when showering, and experienced pain in the center of her chest.

In the past nine years, Maggie has undergone a double mastectomy, a hysterectomy, countless scans and biopsies as well as many rounds of chemotherapy. As chemotherapy would rob her of her hair, she adopted the moniker of “Bald Ballerina”.

Maggie, who has been featured in on WBAL-TV11, WJZ-TV13, websites for People magazine, the NBC Today Show, Vogue, Glamour, and more, brings her story to the set of Medoscopy, the first non-clinician to appear on the program, now in its third year. Her interview airs on the hospital’s ongoing talk show series via Facebook Watch, Wed.-Thurs., May 17th and 18th at 5:30 p.m. EST (http://www.facebook.com/MercyMedicalCenter).

As part of her interview, Maggie introduced viewers to Momma Mia, one of her prized Pomeranians and her emotional support/therapy dog. Maggie discussed her annual fund-raising ballet concert in Howard County where dancers come from all over the region gather to help her raise money for her treatment. She also shared her affinity for Disneyworld, her visits helping her stay positive during the course of her treatment.

A 30-minute pre-taped program that explores the background and lives of Mercy clinicians, patients and others, Medoscopy was launched in spring 2021 and airs in two 15-minute segments. To view past episodes, visit the Medoscopy playlist on the Mercy Medical Center YOUTUBE channel.

Medoscopy is filmed on the campus of Mercy Medical Center in downtown Baltimore with video, sound, and lighting by Zinnia Film.

Founded in 1874 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is located in downtown Baltimore City, about six blocks from Baltimore’s famed Inner Harbor. A university-affiliated teaching facility, Mercy is a Catholic hospital with a national reputation for women’s health care, orthopedics, and other specialties. Mercy is home to the renowned Weinberg Center for Women’s Health & Medicine, and the $400+ million Mary Catherine Bunting Center. For more information, visit http://www.mdmercy.com, and MDMercyMedia on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-M.D.-Mercy.

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The findings of the Mount Sinai-authored study support wearable devices as a way to monitor and assess psychological states remotely without requiring the completion of mental health questionnaires.

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
May 02, 2023

Applying machine learning models, a type of artificial intelligence (AI), to data collected passively from wearable devices can identify a patient’s degree of resilience and well-being, according to investigators at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

The findings, reported in the May 2nd issue of JAMIA Open, support wearable devices, such as the Apple Watch®, as a way to monitor and assess psychological states remotely without requiring the completion of mental health questionnaires.

The paper points out that resilience, or an individual’s ability to overcome difficulty, is an important stress mitigator, reduces morbidity, and improves chronic disease management.

“Wearables provide a means to continually collect information about an individual’s physical state. Our results provide insight into the feasibility of assessing psychological characteristics from this passively collected data,” said first author Robert P. Hirten, MD, Clinical Director, Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai. “To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate whether resilience, a key mental health feature, can be evaluated from devices such as the Apple Watch.”

Mental health disorders are common, accounting for 13 percent of the burden of global disease, with a quarter of the population at some point experiencing psychological illness. Yet we have limited resources for their evaluation, say the researchers.

“There are wide disparities in access across geography and socioeconomic status, and the need for in-person assessment or the completion of validated mental health surveys is further limiting,” said senior author Zahi Fayad, PhD, Director of the BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai. “A better understanding of who is at psychological risk and an improved means of tracking the impact of psychological interventions is needed. The growth of digital technology presents an opportunity to improve access to mental health services for all people.”

To determine if machine learning models could be trained to distinguish an individual’s degree of resilience and psychological well-being using the data from wearable devices, the Icahn Mount Sinai researchers analyzed data from the Warrior Watch Study. Leveraged for the current digital observational study, the data set comprised 329 health care workers enrolled at seven hospitals in New York City.

Subjects wore an Apple Watch® Series 4 or 5 for the duration of their participation, measuring heart rate variability and resting heart rate throughout the follow-up period. Surveys were collected measuring resilience, optimism, and emotional support at baseline. The metrics collected were found to be predictive in identifying resilience or well-being states. Despite the Warrior Watch Study not being designed to evaluate this endpoint, the findings support the further assessment of psychological characteristics from passively collected wearable data.

“We hope that this approach will enable us to bring psychological assessment and care to a larger population, who may not have access at this time,” said Micol Zweig, MPH, co-author of the paper and Associate Director of Clinical Research, Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai. “We also intend to evaluate this technique in other patient populations to further refine the algorithm and improve its applicability.”

To that end, the research team plans to continue using wearable data to observe a range of physical and psychological disorders and diseases. The simultaneous development of sophisticated analytical tools, including artificial intelligence, say the investigators, can facilitate the analysis of data collected from these devices and apps to identify patterns associated with a given mental or physical disease condition.

The paper is titled “A machine learning approach to determine resilience utilizing wearable device data: analysis of an observational cohort.”

Additional co-authors are Matteo Danielleto, PhD, Maria Suprun, PhD, Eddye Golden, MPH, Sparshdeep Kaur, BBA, Drew Helmus, MPH, Anthony Biello, BA, Dennis Charney, MD, Laurie Keefer, PhD, Mayte Suarez-Farinas, PhD, and Girish N Nadkami, MD, all from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Support for this study was provided by the Ehrenkranz Lab for Human Resilience, the BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health, the Mount Sinai Clinical Intelligence Center, and the Dr. Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology, all at Icahn Mount Sinai, and from the National Institutes of Health, grant number K23DK129835.

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About the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is internationally renowned for its outstanding research, educational, and clinical care programs. It is the sole academic partner for the eight- member hospitals* of the Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest academic health systems in the United States, providing care to a large and diverse patient population.

Ranked 14th nationwide in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and among the 99th percentile in research dollars per investigator according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Icahn Mount Sinai has a talented, productive, and successful faculty. More than 3,000 full-time scientists, educators, and clinicians work within and across 34 academic departments and 35 multidisciplinary institutes, a structure that facilitates tremendous collaboration and synergy. Our emphasis on translational research and therapeutics is evident in such diverse areas as genomics/big data, virology, neuroscience, cardiology, geriatrics, as well as gastrointestinal and liver diseases.

Icahn Mount Sinai offers highly competitive MD, PhD, and Master’s degree programs, with current enrollment of approximately 1,300 students. It has the largest graduate medical education program in the country, with more than 2,000 clinical residents and fellows training throughout the Health System. In addition, more than 550 postdoctoral research fellows are in training within the Health System.

A culture of innovation and discovery permeates every Icahn Mount Sinai program. Mount Sinai’s technology transfer office, one of the largest in the country, partners with faculty and trainees to pursue optimal commercialization of intellectual property to ensure that Mount Sinai discoveries and innovations translate into healthcare products and services that benefit the public.

Icahn Mount Sinai’s commitment to breakthrough science and clinical care is enhanced by academic affiliations that supplement and complement the School’s programs.

Through the Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP), the Health System facilitates the real-world application and commercialization of medical breakthroughs made at Mount Sinai. Additionally, MSIP develops research partnerships with industry leaders such as Merck & Co., AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and others.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is located in New York City on the border between the Upper East Side and East Harlem, and classroom teaching takes place on a campus facing Central Park. Icahn Mount Sinai’s location offers many opportunities to interact with and care for diverse communities. Learning extends well beyond the borders of our physical campus, to the eight hospitals of the Mount Sinai Health System, our academic affiliates, and globally.

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• Mount Sinai Health System member hospitals: The Mount Sinai Hospital; Mount Sinai Beth Israel; Mount Sinai Brooklyn; Mount Sinai Morningside; Mount Sinai Queens; Mount Sinai South Nassau; Mount Sinai West; and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.

Virtual 5k for 5p- 2023 logo

“So much has changed in the past 60 years. The biggest change is the prognosis of an individual with 5p- syndrome.”

LAKEWOOD, Calif. (PRWEB)
May 02, 2023

May 1-15, 2023: International Chromosome 5p Deletion Syndrome Week(s)

May 5: 5p Deletion Syndrome Day.

The 5p- Society of North America, along with families and support organizations from over 95 countries, are bringing awareness of 5p Deletion Syndrome also known as 5p Minus (5p-) Syndrome. Sixty (60) years ago, Dr. Jerome Lejeune discovered this genetic condition by noticing a similar characteristic in several patients that he had been observing of a high-pitched “cat-like sound” vocalization. After doing genetic testing on these patients, he realized the connection is caused by a permanent deletion on the “p” arm of the 5th chromosome. The 2023 awareness campaign celebrates these unique individuals by raising awareness around the world through education and community events, such as the 60 facts of 5p- syndrome, the “Faces of 5p-“campaign, as well as a Virtual 5K for 5p- event.

The 5p- Society’s mission is to maximize the quality of life of individuals with 5p- and their families. One way to improve the lives of individuals with the syndrome is by creating more programs that bring families together. The 5p- Society encourages families to focus on what the individual with the syndrome CAN DO; SEE the PERSON, not the disability; and to PAY FORWARD and educate others on what they have learned about the syndrome and their loved one. Mini Family Meetups have been very successful where families from various states were able to meet, network, establish new friendships, but most importantly know they are not alone in this journey of raising an individual with the syndrome.

“One of our older individuals with the syndrome is a 64-year-old female (fourteen years before the syndrome was discovered). The parents waited until she was seven before getting the formal diagnosis.” “Although both parents are now gone, they were instrumental in working on many of the laws we know today that help our community of differently abled individuals, as well as thousands of others throughout the United States.” Says Laura Castillo, Executive Director of the 5p- Society. “So much has changed in the past 60 years. The biggest change is the prognosis of an individual with 5p- syndrome. The narrative has changed from ‘your child will not live past his/her first year of life’ to ‘your child will create their own growth and development path, it’s your job as the parent to nurture and provide the opportunities for that growth and development’.” Laura continues, “As the saying goes, ‘It Takes a Village.’ Families, friends, teachers, and doctors are all instrumental in supporting and guiding our loved ones.”

“I encourage you to create and/or take part in a Virtual 5K, post educational posts on social media, and wear your striped socks and your 5p- gear.” Says Nick Wallace, President of the 5p- Society. “The only way to stop people from being given antiquated information and for families to not be left unconnected is for us to make our voices heard. So much has changed over the past 60 years and it is time that our medical professionals stop giving information from the 1970s when so much new data exists. If they will not, it is time for us to.” Nick encourages families to be bold, reach out and connect families to one another, especially through social media, and to give each other strength and most of all hope for the future.

In an ongoing effort to raise awareness, members, and supporters are encouraged to participate in events throughout the week.

• 
  Stripy Sock Campaign: Wear striped socks, one long, one short, representing the whole and deleted fifth chromosomes, especially on May 5th. #stripysocks
• Face of 5p- Campaign – We will soon be flooding our Social Media pages with pictures and bios of our children and adults with 5p- during awareness week and beyond. Learn a little more about each of our kiddos and how truly awesome they are.
• Virtual 5k for 5p-, to raise awareness and money for programs that benefit the 5p Deletion Syndrome community. A Virtual Walk can be anything you want it to be, a walk, a run, a STAY HOME picnic, or any type of event. Over 50 “Teams” have been created all over the world. #5pminus5k.
• Where in the World is C5? In an effort to encourage worldwide participation, we are asking families to pose for a picture with C5, the mascot of International 5p Deletion Syndrome Awareness Week (named C5 for Chromosome 5), and share their picture on social media using the #SeeC5 and #criduchatawareness. Looking forward to seeing pictures from around the world and maybe even with a celebrity or two!
• State Proclamations have been applied for and received from several state Governors around the USA.

For more event ideas, please visit https://fivepminus.org/event/awareness-week-events/

About 5p Deletion Syndrome: Identified in 1963 by Jerome Lejuene, a French physician, 2023 marks the 60th year since its discovery. Each year, approximately 50-60 children are born with 5p- Syndrome worldwide. It is often characterized at birth by a high-pitched, “cat-like cry” caused by an underdeveloped larynx and weak breath support. For this reason, it was previously called “Cri du Chat” or “Cry of Cat” Syndrome. We have since learned that the syndrome may be misdiagnosed early on due to the absence of this characteristic; hence our emphasis on the more medically accurate name of 5p Deletion or 5p- Syndrome.

Other characteristics include low birth weight, poor muscle tone, microcephaly and potential medical complications. The severity of the disorder varies among individuals and can be considered a spectrum disorder. Symptoms go from mild and unnoticed, which causes a delay in diagnosis, to severe where the individual requires to be cared for 24/7 and will require ongoing support from a team of parents, therapists, medical professionals, educational professionals and extended family members to help the individual achieve his or her maximum potential.

About the 5p- Society: The 5p- Society was founded in 1986. It is a non-profit organization that works to empower families with knowledge about the syndrome, facilitate connections, support research, advocate for improved prognosis and to enrich the lives of individuals affected by 5p- Syndrome and their families.

Visit us on the web at http://www.fivepminus.org, @5pminus, #stripysocks #5pawareness #5pminus5k #5pminus #SeeC5 #groovy5kfor5p #Facesof5p #thatshowweroll5kfor5p

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