NIAMS, NCATS, CDC Participate in Hill Briefing

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(From l) Good Days Chief Operating Officer Randie Odebralski, Clorinda Walley, Dr. Josh Fessel, Dr. Lindsey Criswell, Jess Myers, Dr. Karen Hacker and Good Days Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance Tricia Freels.

In July, NIH participated in a congressional briefing on chronic disease management and prevention that took place in the Rayburn House Office Bldg.

The event honoring Chronic Disease Day featured remarks by Dr. Lindsey Criswell, director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS); Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Dr. Josh Fessel, director of the Office of Translational Medicine at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS); and Jess Myers, communications and advocacy manager at the Hereditary Angioedema Association, an organization serving those living with the rare genetic condition, hereditary angioedema (HAE).

Some chronic diseases are common; many others are rare, a point Fessel highlighted in his remarks. Chronic diseases, which account for seven of the top ten causes of death in the U.S., can cause lifelong pain, disability or disfigurement.

Criswell, Hacker and Fessel presented several efforts related to chronic diseases from the NIH and CDC. Criswell discussed how many types of bone diseases, autoimmune diseases and skin conditions are chronic and affect people of all ages and racial and ethnic backgrounds. Myers, who lives with HAE, spoke on how the condition impacted her life.

Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) expressed his support for continued investment in biomedical research and acknowledged the critical role of NIH and CDC in improving the lives of those with chronic diseases.

Good Days, the nonprofit that hosted the event, presented McGovern with the Len Rodgers Spirit Award for his dedication to serving people in need. The award is named after Len Rodgers, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and dedicated his life to helping communities around the world.