CHAPTER EVENTS
*Save the date! More details to follow.
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National Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 7-13, 2019. This month we want to recognize two NPF Board Members that not only give up their time to help advance the mission of the NPF, but also participate in NPF events that get us closer to understanding and finding a cure to pancreas disease.
Please read more to get to know Dr. Mark Lowe (
Washington University School of Medicine)
and Jill Donovan (Rustic Cuff).
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Thirteen Years of NPF Fellows Symposium Mentorship
On May 3-5th, the National Pancreas Foundation will be hosting its' 14th Fellows Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Every week the NPF receives messages from patients seeking a specialist who is familiar with the pancreas. A recent email we received recently ended with, "It seems MDs just do not know a whole lot about the pancreas." The NPF is working to rectify this and created the Fellows Symposium in 2006 as a place where interested fellows can come together for a weekend to learn more about pancreas disease from world renowned doctors in the field.
Dr. Mark Lowe (Professor of Pediatric Science and Vice Chair of Pediatrics at the Washington University School of Medicine) has attended the Symposium basically since its' inception. We sat down with him and asked what brings him back every year.
Q. How long have you been a Mentor at the Fellows Symposium?
My first Fellow’s Symposium was in 2007 in Chicago. To the best of my recollection I have been at all of the Fellow’s Symposiums since then.
Q. What brings you back each year?
I am committed to the mission of the NPF and particularly appreciate that the NPF has been a strong advocate for children with pancreatic disease. Attending the Symposium is one way I can help support NPF and its mission. Education of the next generation of providers has been a large part of my career. The Symposium allows me to educate others about pancreatic diseases in childhood and encourage other Pediatric Gastroenterologists to consider focusing on these diseases. I also enjoy the interactions with the fellows and mentors. I probably learn more from other attendees than I give them.
Q. What have you noticed throughout your attendance as a Mentor with the Fellows?
The fellows have a genuine interest in learning about pancreatic disorders and many show a passion. The Symposium is a forum where fellows can speak up during the sessions and can talk with the mentors in ways that might not occur in other venues.
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Education and advocacy are part of the National Pancreas Foundation's (NPF) mission. Please see the list of events that are coming up throughout the year. We hope you are able to join us! For a complete list, please see our
Events Page
.
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PATIENT EDUCATION EVENTS
- Western PA Chapter Education Event | Pittsburgh, PA | May 11, 2019
- Washington State Chapter Education Event | Seattle, WA | May 18, 2019
- Massachusetts Chapter Education Event in conjunction with UMass | Worcester, MA | May 22, 2019
- Indiana Chapter Education Event | Indianapolis, IN | September 14, 2019*
- Illinois Chapter Education Event | Chicago, IL | September 21, 2019*
*Save the date! More details to follow.
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SUPPORT GROUPS
If you would like to establish a support group in your city, please contact National Chapter Manager, Patrick Salami at psalami@pancreasfoundation.org.
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The NPF has been chosen as a charity partner for the 2019 Marine Corps Marathon/10K in Washington, DC on October 27, 2019.
We are looking for runners to run and raise research dollars for the NPF. To find out more, please
click here
.
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(Lowe continued)
Q. Is there a year that has been the most memorable for you?
2018. We had 23 Pediatric fellows attend the conference that year. Before then growth was slow but steady going from one to seven fellows. We will have 14 this year.
Q. What's been the most rewarding aspect for you as a Mentor?
I am most fulfilled by the number of fellow attendees, both Internists and Pediatricians, who continue with a clinical or research focus on pancreatic disease. Their interest has helped fuel the explosion of knowledge about pancreatic disease that has occurred in recent years. There is much more to learn and I look forward to seeing what former fellows do to make lives better for patients with pancreatic disease.
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Getting to Know Rustic Cuff Founder - Jill Donovan
There are two simple but strong words that describe Jill Donovan perfectly, “passionate“ and “purposeful”. Founder of Rustic Cuff, author of
The Kindness Effect
, and Board Member of the National Pancreas Foundation, Jill graduated from Oral Roberts University and went on to earn her law degree from the University of Tulsa. She is married to Terry, her college sweetheart and has two beautiful daughters.
Jill was a practicing attorney and adjunct law professor at TU when her passion for cuff bracelets, and her need to refill her ‘gift closet’ led her to begin Rustic Cuff. The brand has evolved into multiple showroom locations, over 150 employees, and a very strong, loving, social media fan base that feel a true connection with her! Her cuffs are regularly featured on multiple national TV shows and can be seen on the wrists of many celebrities such as Miranda Lambert, Gayle King, and even her all time favorite singer, Michael Bublé.
Jill’s heart for people and community has spilled over into this amazing company. Rustic Cuff has been able to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to communities and charitable causes and is currently the host of
Project Cuffway
an event that has raised more money for the NPF than any other event in its history!
From a very young age, Jill has met life with humor and zeal. Her determination to be well rounded, led her to challenge herself to master a new talent every year. Whether it is learning a new language, tap dancing, ice skating, or simply setting a goal for herself that to some may seem unreachable, one thing is for certain, Jill is a walking example of living out the quote, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”
Jill is a sought-after motivational speaker who encourages people to pursue their passions, fulfill their God-given purpose, and always pay it forward! She is often heard saying, “You truly can change your world… one act of kindness at a time.”
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"GORUCK issued a challenge for us for the month of February to ruck at least one mile each and every day this month. While not sounding like much, it is a challenge with pancreatitis. I started rucking circles around the 5th floor of Reston Hospital Center. The nurses already knew me from previous hospitalizations and didn’t think much of me doing 10-20 laps around the floor. However, after hours of not stopping, they all kept asking me how many laps I had been doing and they and a lot of the patients were cheering me on. Despite the pain and nausea, I had a goal of 100 laps - and I hit 170!" - Matt Greiner
Matthew Greiner has lived with pancreatitis for five years, but through hospitalizations, it has not stopped him from continuing his love of rucking. A sport that has challenged him mentally and physically. To read Matt's Story (and to find out more about rucking),
CLICK HERE
.
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Founded in 1997, the National Pancreas Foundation has funded over $3 Million to 115 groundbreaking research projects for pancreas disease. Next month we will be awarding six young investigator research projects in pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Stay tuned!
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