Featured Speakers
Dr. Maria Hordinsky
Dr. Maria Hordinsky is Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota and is recognized for her clinical expertise and research in alopecia areata. Dr. Hordinsky will provide an informative, straightforward presentation of everything you need to know about alopecia areata.
Dr. Angela Christiano
Dr. Cristiano is the Richard and Mildred Rhodebeck Professor of Dermatology and Professor of Genetics & Development, and Vice Chair for Basic Science Research in Dermatology at Columbia University. By working to elucidate the genes responsible for alopecia areata, Dr. Christiano's research has helped clarify the immunologic mechanisms behind the disease. Dr. Christiano will provide an update on genetic and immunological studies in alopecia areata.
Ebony Jean
Ebony Jean will share her passion for advocating on behalf of the alopecia areata community and being a voice for many. She will talk about her experiences as a NAAF Legislative Liaison—meeting with legislators, participating in FDA’s Patient-Focused Drug Development (PFDD) Meeting—and share tips to help you find your voice so that treatments developed are meaningful to you!
Paula and Rosie Quinn
This year, as the conference comes to a close, inspirational guest speakers Paula and Rosie Quinn will share their mother/daughter journey with alopecia areata since Rosie’s initial diagnosis at two-and-a-half years old. Without a clear cure, they turned to NAAF and were inspired—as well as empowered—to better the lives of all those with alopecia areata.
Dr. Leslie Castelo-Soccio
Dr. Leslie Castelo-Soccio will share everything parents need to know about alopecia areata in children and adolescents, including the major differences between pediatric and adult patients, and the risks and benefits of current and evolving off-label treatment options. Dr. Castelo-Soccio is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Dermatology research section at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her research focuses on pediatric hair disorders and inherited genetic skin conditions.
Dr. Natasha Mesinkovska
Dr. Natasha Mesinkovska, NAAF’s Chief Scientific Officer, will share the latest progress from NAAF’s Treatment Development Program, our efforts to build a stronger patient-centered research community, and how your involvement is critical to developing treatments for alopecia areata. Dr. Mesinkovska is Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, Irvine.
Elizabeth (Liz) DeCarlo
NAAF Support Group Leader Elizabeth (Liz) DeCarlo will describe her experience with patient engagement at the FDA. Liz was diagnosed with alopecia areata when she was 13 years old. She is one of six children, but is the only one in her family with the disease. Last year, Liz was given the opportunity to comment on the ways alopecia areata impacts her everyday life during the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) patient-focused drug development (PFDD) meeting. She will share what it was like to participate in this meeting, the issues she wants others to understand about alopecia areata, and what matters to her as a patient.
