The Role of Federal Agencies in Supporting Women with Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions
This event has passed.
March 17, 2023 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, autoimmune diseases—a group of more than 80 chronic diseases that develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy organs, tissues, and cells—are a leading cause of death and disability, and their treatment costs are estimated to be greater than $100 billion annually. Autoimmune diseases take a disproportionate toll on women, who represent 80% of patients diagnosed with autoimmune diseases.
During this national webinar, panelists discussed how different U.S. public health and research agencies support women with autoimmune diseases and conditions and which resources within these agencies can help women navigate their autoimmune journey.
This event is free and open to the public.
Check out the full SWHR 2023 Autoimmune Policy series:
The Growing National Burden of Autoimmune Diseases and the Role of Policy in Improving Outcomes (January 17, 2023)
Coverage and Access Issues Affecting Women Living with Autoimmune Diseases (February 7, 2023)
The Role of Federal Agencies in Supporting Women with Autoimmune Diseases and Conditions (March 17, 2023)
Diversity in Autoimmune Clinical Trials: Addressing Areas of Need and Opportunity (March 30, 2023)
Program Director, Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Biology Program, Division of Extramural Research, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Dr. Marie Mancini is the Program Director of the Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Biology Program in the NIAMS Division of Extramural Research, at the National Institutes of Health. Prior to joining the NIAMS in 2007, Dr. Mancini was a Research Scientist at a biotech company, where she focused on pre-clinical studies in the areas of autoimmunity and inflammation. Dr. Mancini holds a B.S. in Biology from Georgetown University, and earned her doctorate in Immunology from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Nicole M. Boschi, PhD, MS, is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. In this role, she works to build relationships with federal agencies to achieve a world free of MS. Dr. Boschi received her B.S. (cum laude) in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and her MS and PhD in pharmacology from the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Clinical Director, Senior Investigator, Head of Clinical Research, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Dr. Robert Colbert is a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist with a long-standing interest in understanding the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis. After completing clinical training in pediatrics and rheumatology, he did postdoctoral research in molecular immunology at the University of North Carolina. From there he joined the faculty at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati, where he became Professor of Pediatrics and chief of the Division of Rheumatology. He joined the NIAMS Intramural Research Program in 2008 as Chief of the Pediatric Translational Research Branch.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor
Taryn Mackenzie Williams is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy. In this position, she advises the Secretary of Labor on how the Department’s policies and programs impact the employment of people with disabilities and leads the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), which works with employers and all levels of government to promote evidence-based policy that improves employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities.
Previously, Williams was the managing director for the Poverty to Prosperity Program at American Progress, which works on progressive policies focused on a broad range of anti-poverty strategies. Before joining American Progress, she worked at ODEP on a variety of issues related to education, workforce policy, Social Security, Medicaid and civil rights. In her role as director of youth policy, Williams led agency efforts to coordinate education and employment policy in support of improved labor force outcomes for disabled youth. From 2014 through 2016, Williams served as ODEP’s chief of staff. She also undertook detail assignments as associate director for public engagement and liaison to the disability community at the White House from 2014 through 2015 and as a policy adviser on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions from 2012 through 2013.
Prior to joining the federal government, Williams worked as the research coordinator for leadership programs at the Institute for Educational Leadership and as the director of programs at the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues headquartered in Chicago. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Brown University and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University. She resides in Washington, DC.
SWHR’s Autoimmune Policy Program is supported by an educational sponsorship from Horizon Therapeutics. SWHR maintains independence and editorial control over program development, content, and work products.
