Emily Sunez, Co-Founder and Co-Director of LA Dysautonomia Network,  talks about the struggles in her diagnosing journey and valuable tips on how other patients can continue to advocate for themselves.  After getting the diagnosis, Emily shares how she took charge and changed her life for the better, dives into detail about her work with LADN, how she found her love for painting, and sheds more light on her book, "The Healing Journal". 

Kathryn Dao, associate professor and internal medicine doctor specializing in Rheumeatoical conditions, walks us through how she became an internal medicine doctor, explains how rheumatologists actually help autoimmune patients, and breaks down the steps patients can take to advocate for themselves. Kathryn drops some helpful tips to make your next doctor's appointment as productive as possible so you don't want to miss this episode!

We are grateful to have Mel Mann, the world's longest-living Gleevec survivor, on this episode.  Mel sits down with us to chat about his terminal leukemia diagnosis journey and what it was like being told he only has 3 years to live.  We touch on topics such as health inequality, how a clinical trial saved his life, and how self-advocacy (and advocating for others) can help not only increase awareness but also help push for better treatment options.

 Racquel Dozier founder of Lupus In Color, an international support group, joins us on this episode of the Autoimm[you]ne podcast.  She is on a mission to educate, inspire, encourage, and empower lupus warriors and their supporters worldwide.  Racquel shares her long diagnosing journey, starting with how she was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis before being diagnosed with lupus. She also shares the importance of speaking positivity into your life and how that's impacted her own journey. 

We had the privilege of speaking with Sumaira Ahmed, an Executive Director of the Sumaira Foundation and an avid Bollywood fan. Sumaira Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to generating global awareness of NMOSD and MOG-AD.  She shares her experience of being diagnosed with sero-negative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)/chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuritis (CRION). Sumaira also shares what inspires her to help her get through the most challenging times in her life and discusses what led to her starting Sumaira Foundation.

 Dr. April Moreno is the founder of the Autoimmune Community Institute (ACI), a non-profit dedicated to autoimmune health equity.  She is also the founder of the Public Health Podcast Network.  Dr. Moreno discusses what led up to her starting ACI, her own journey with an autoimmune condition, and how she fights for inclusivity through community-based research. 

Shonda Berry, Ulcerative Colitis warrior and a supporter of DrugViu,  joins us in this exciting episode.  Shonda walks us through her journey as a UC warrior and sheds more light on the power of advocacy. 

Rosadela Durruthy, founder of She's Got Lupus, joins us on this episode of the podcast.  She shares her experience living with lupus, how she manages her flare triggers, and shines more light on how she started her non-profit, She's Got Lupus.