The State of Rare Autoimmune Diseases in Women
August 14, 2026 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EDT
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells and tissues. More than 80 autoimmune diseases have been identified, and women are disproportionately affected, accounting for nearly 3 out of 5 patients diagnosed with autoimmune conditions. Many autoimmune diseases are also classified as rare diseases, defined as conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Despite their significant burden on women’s health, rare autoimmune diseases remain underrecognized and under researched, contributing to gaps in understanding disease mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment options, and long-term management strategies.
SWHR will host a webinar focused on the current state of clinical care, research, and policy impacting women living with rare autoimmune diseases. The discussion will highlight the importance of holistic, lifespan-oriented care approaches while exploring the complex interplay between immune health, hormonal changes, comorbid conditions, and barriers to equitable diagnosis, treatment, and care access.
Goals
- Identify common barriers to diagnosis, treatment access, and coordinated care experienced by women living with autoimmune diseases
- Recognize the impact of rare autoimmune diseases on quality of life, mental health, caregiving, employment, and long-term health outcomes
- Highlight federal policies that present barriers and opportunities for access to quality care and coverage
- Examine the evolving research and clinical care landscape surrounding rare autoimmune diseases in women
Are you interested in seeing more of this type of educational programming on women’s health from SWHR?
Panelists
Kaniah Gunter
Kaniah Gunter
Kaniah is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Autoimmune Coach, and founder of Unique Guidance Nutritional Health Coaching in Norfolk, Virginia. She specializes in helping individuals improve their health through holistic nutrition, lifestyle coaching, and faith-centered wellness.
Living with dermatomyositis since 2007, Kaniah has transformed her personal journey into a platform for advocacy and service. She is a Community Health Worker, Mental Health First Aider, speaker, writer, Christian author, Myositis Ambassador, Virginia Support Group Leader, and Women of Color Leader. Through her work, Kaniah is committed to empowering others to overcome life’s challenges, embrace whole-person wellness, and live with hope, purpose, and resilience.
Alexa Meara, MD, MS
Alexa Meara, MD, MS
Dr. Alexa Meara earned her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 2008. She completed her internal medicine residency at East Carolina University (ECU) and Vidant Medical Center from 2008 to 2011, serving as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine from 2011 to 2012. Following her chief year, she was appointed Associate Program Director for Internal Medicine at ECU (2012–2013).
Dr. Meara pursued fellowship training in Rheumatology at The Ohio State University (OSU) from 2013 to 2015 and subsequently completed two additional years of research fellowship, earning a Master of Medical Science degree (2015–2017). She is currently an Associate Professor in the Division of Oncology The James Cancer Hospital at OSU Wexner Medical Center..
Her clinical practice includes directing a specialized Immunotherapy Management Clinic, focused on managing autoimmune complications arising from cancer immunotherapy. Her research centers on understanding immune-related adverse events (irAEs), with the goal of classifying and treating these autoimmune sequelae while preserving the antitumor efficacy of immunotherapy.
Through this work, Dr. Meara co-founded the Alliance for Support and Prevention of Immune-Related Adverse Events (ASPirE), a collaborative network of academic physicians dedicated to education and evidence generation in this emerging field. She also established The Foundation for Autoimmune Cancer Support, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that amplifies the patient voice and fosters community at the intersection of autoimmune disease and cancer—redefining survivorship as thrivorship.
In addition to her clinical and research roles, Dr. Meara teaches pre-clinical learners the fundamentals of history-taking and physical examination and serves as a Success Coach for residents and fellows through the Graduate Medical Education office.
Jenifer Waldrop
Jenifer Waldrop
Jenifer Waldrop is a visionary leader in rare disease advocacy, championing health equity, and ensuring every patient’s story shapes the future of care. As Executive Director of the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC), a program of the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI), a role she has held since October 2022, she leads transformative efforts to expand access, representation, and trust across diagnostics, clinical research, and treatment pathways. Jenifer’s career reflects a deep commitment to collaboration, from her time at the American Cancer Society to her tenure at for-profit organizations. She forges powerful partnerships among patient communities, industry innovators, and government leaders. Guided by a human‑centered approach, she amplifies marginalized voices and inspires collective action, while mobilizing diverse networks to drive awareness, unlock opportunity, and build a more equitable healthcare ecosystem for all.
Sponsor
Support for this educational program has been provided by Johnson & Johnson. SWHR maintains independence and editorial control over program development, content, and work products.
