The Evolution of our Summits

In October of 2017, we hosted our first Health Advocacy Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana. This event brought together 14 attendees and six speakers from various demographics for a day of advocacy and leadership development. By 2020, we were planning to host summits in Indiana, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and New York. Unfortunately, Covid-19 forced us to cancel all of our in-person summits for both 2020 and 2021.

However, the global pandemic allowed us to pursue other opportunities, such as our International Virtual Summit, the largest virtual event created specifically for young adults with chronic and rare conditions. This event is unlike anything we’ve seen before and has allowed us to reach young adult patients across the globe.

Moving forward, we will continue to host our International Virtual Summit annually and focus the development of our in-person summits within rural communities, where access to the internet, resources and information is limited.

 
Past In-Person Summits

2017:

Indianapolis, IN

2018:

Indianapolis, IN

Edinburg, TX

Durham, NC

2019:

San Francisco, CA

Indianapolis, IN

Edinburg, TX

2020
International Virtual Summit

2021
International Virtual Summit

2022
International Virtual Summit

2023
International Virtual Summit


A day at our Summit

Our summits are daylong, no-cost events for young adults with chronic medical disabilities. These events are a chance for young adult patients to connect and build networks of support while gaining skills and resources to help them navigate life with a chronic or rare condition.

These events typically consist of four discussion-based sessions led by a mix of speakers. Past summits have included presentations on topics such as:

  • Vocational Rehabilitation

  • Ableism & Invisible Illness/ Disability
  • Advocating on a Government Scale
  • Advocacy in a Medical Setting
  • Drug Pricing
  • Disability Laws
  • Advocacy Within the School System & Workplace
  • Mental Health & Wellness
  • Health Policy
  • Storytelling & Communication
  • Health Insurance & Financial Resources

Examples of past speakers include:

  • Doctors
  • Medical Social Workers
  • Child Life Specialists
  • Patient Advocates & Influencers
  • Healthcare Lobbyists
  • Psychologists
  • Testimonial Speakers