Why Should I Consider Getting a Second Opinion for My JM Child

Town Hall Meeting Sunday September 11, Why I should consider getting a second opinion for my JM Child with Lisa G. Rider and Jeffrey Dvergsten

Learning that your child has Juvenile Myositis may feel overwhelming. Second opinions can confirm a diagnosis, help you understand different treatment options, and review your child’s current treatment plan to ensure it’s the right one for your family.

Featuring:

Dr. Rider is a Pediatric Rheumatologist and Head of the Environmental Autoimmunity Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Science, National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Rider is also an esteemed Cure JM Medical Advisory Board member. Since 2008, Dr. Rider has also been a Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University. She sees patients and leads research on juvenile myositis in the Cure JM Center for Excellence and at the National Institute of Health as part of her research studies.

Dr. Dvergsten is a pediatric rheumatologist and physician-scientist who has built his clinical and research career around juvenile myositis. He co-founded Duke’s Myositis Clinic, a designated Cure JM Center of Excellence. He also created and manages a repository for research biospecimens from children with inflammatory myopathies.

2025 Family Conference Finding Hope

Erin and Madi’s Story: Finding Hope at the Cure JM Family Conference

In February 2023, Erin Hicks and her daughter Madi faced a life-altering moment. After a visit to the National Institutes of Health in Seattle, Madi, a vibrant 12-year-old soccer player from Kansas City, Missouri, was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). “We walked out feeling overwhelmed and lost,” Erin recalls. Research fueled panic as Madi’s condition worsened, her energy fading on the soccer field. Hope was slipping away.

Family Day 2026

Update on 2027 National Family Conference and Chapter Family Days

We are excited to announce that the Cure JM National Family Conference will be back in 2025! Join us for three days with world-class JM researchers, engaging sessions for all, and social time to connect with new friends. The 15th Annual Cure JM National Family Conference is taking place June 27th -June 29th, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois.

IVIG: What Families Need to Know

Learn about IVIG (immunoglobulin therapy administered by vein). This session features Dr. Fatma Dedeoglu of Boston Children’s Hospital, Huub Kreuwel PhD, of Octapharma Plasma, and patient advocate, Michelle Vogel, of CSI Pharmacy.

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Cure JM supports families, patients, and the juvenile myositis research community.

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