Community Leaders Honored With Awards at JA Family Summit

By Bryan D. Vargo and Ashia Lee | August 5, 2024

The Arthritis Foundation hosted its JA Family Summit in July, an annual event for children with juvenile arthritis (JA) and childhood rheumatic diseases and their families to learn, exchange tips, make new friends, have fun and simply connect with other families who have similar experiences. During the Summit, the Foundation also recognized and honored certain people living with JA, family members, Foundation volunteers and health care professionals with the following leadership awards.

We congratulate the 2024 award winners and thank them for their commitment to serving the JA community.
 

Arthritis Foundation Steve and Liz Smith Legacy Award — presented to a volunteer who has impacted the Arthritis Foundation and the juvenile arthritis community through their involvement in the JA Family Summit.

This year’s award recipients are Amy and Kylie McCormick. Both have been involved in various roles with the JA Family Summit for more than 10 years. Together, they led the Summit’s high school subcommittee, ensuring that teen programming was presented by teens — a standard that continues. Amy and Kylie also served as co-leads for the entertainment subcommittee and they integrated successful components during years when the Summit was held virtually.

Amy has also been involved with or led the mom’s/female caregivers, JA café and planning subcommittees, and has also served as lead presenter for the school solutions/educational rights breakout sessions several times.

 

Arthritis Foundation Patty Rettig Award for Health Care Professional Leadership — presented to a health care professional dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of youth and their families affected by JA.

This year’s award was presented to Courtney Wells, PhD, MPH, MSW, for her unwavering dedication to children with JA and their families. Courtney is an associate professor and the Project Lead of Young Patients’ Autoimmune Research and Empowerment Alliance (YP AREA) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She specializes in the psychosocial aspects of chronic illness and disability, health care transition and patient engagement in research.

As a social worker who has lived with juvenile arthritis for 40 years and struggled with depression and anxiety disorders, Courtney is now a researcher who is passionate about supporting the emotional health of young patients as they transition into adulthood. She has been volunteering with the Arthritis Foundation for over 20 years and has served in a variety of leadership positions at the local and national level.

 

Arthritis Foundation Earl Brewer Award for Physician Leadership — presented to a physician directly involved in patient care who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to JA fundraising events and activities, and who is a strong advocate for children with JA and other rheumatic diseases.

This year’s award recipient is T. Brent Graham, MD, MS, division director of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Pediatrics since 2008. Under his direction, the division has grown to include five physicians, three nurse practitioners and trainees. This growth has enabled expansion to serve areas in Tennessee and across the region that do not have a pediatric rheumatologist. Clinical interests include juvenile idiopathic arthritis, fibromyalgia and autoimmune encephalopathy.

Dr. Graham has devoted himself to juvenile arthritis in the hospital and his community. He continues to advocate for research, treatments and access to care, as well as resources for children and families through several channels, such as fundraising, volunteering and spreading awareness about JA. His passion for helping young people and mentoring future generations of rheumatologists is truly what this award is founded upon.

 

Arthritis Foundation Juvenile Arthritis Legacy Award for Health Care Provider Leadership — presented to a health care provider who is dedicated to advancing the care of children with arthritis and rheumatic diseases and celebrates their remarkable lifetime achievements.

This year’s award recipient is Daniel J. Lovell, MD, a physician whose legacy in the pediatric arthritis community is profound. Dr. Lovell has been a cornerstone of the University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics for over four decades, serving as the Associate Director of the Division of Rheumatology and a respected professor. His commitment to advancing care and support for children with juvenile arthritis has been unwavering.

Dr. Lovell played a pivotal role in organizing the very first Juvenile Arthritis Conference in 1984 (now the JA Family Summit). For the past 40 years, he has also served as the Medical Director for Cincinnati Children’s Camp Wekandu (“we-can-do”). To his patients and their families, he is known as “my doctor” or “my friend.” 

Dr. Lovell's influence extends beyond his local community to the international stage. For 30 years, he served as the Chairman of the Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group (PRCSG), a consortium of over 80 academic clinical pediatric rheumatology centers in the United States and Canada. Under his leadership, the PRCSG conducted groundbreaking clinical trials of therapeutic agents in children with rheumatic diseases, paving the way for significant advancements in treatment. 

Remarkably, Dr. Lovell was the care provider for the very first patient to receive etanercept, a revolutionary biologic medication that has transformed the treatment landscape for rheumatic diseases. He also played a crucial role in the development of the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO), the European equivalent of PRCSG, fostering global collaboration in pediatric rheumatology research. 

Beyond his clinical and educational roles, Dr. Lovell has been a passionate advocate and fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation. He is a familiar face at events like the Jingle Bell Run, Walk to Cure Arthritis and the Annual Car Show, where he not only participates but inspires others to join the cause. Dr. Lovell’s tireless efforts have touched countless lives, and his contributions have set a lasting foundation for the future of pediatric rheumatology.

 

Arthritis Foundation Young Adult Leadership Award — presented to a young adult who embodies the spirit of Yes with their voice and actions. This award recognizes a young adult aged 18 to 30 who has shown exceptional courage and strength in their own experience of living with arthritis or a related rheumatic disease, demonstrated leadership by volunteering their time and talents to benefit others living with arthritis, and supported the Arthritis Foundation in their local community through fundraising events, volunteer opportunities or other activities.

Zachary William Payer is this year’s recipient of the prestigious award. Diagnosed nearly 20 years ago with JA and ankylosing spondylitis, Zack has proven that living with a chronic disease doesn’t have to hold you back. Since he was a teen, Zack has shown his passion and dedication to the arthritis community through his service and fundraising — from his participation in fundraising events to being a part of the volunteer leadership team at JA Camp.

Zack found the support he needed through his young adulthood and shared resources with those who could also benefit from the help he received, especially from the Arthritis Foundation.

Zack's leadership and contributions during the 2023 California Coast Classic Bike Tour campaign were truly exceptional. His fundraising efforts included a goal to raise $10,000 to cover the cost of 10 champions to attend JA Camp. The fundraising minimum is $3,500. He wrote, "One of the programs that has made an enormous impact on my journey with the Arthritis Foundation is Camp Esperanza." Zack raised awareness along with funds through his thoughtful storytelling, reports about his training and other prep for the tour, as well as words of gratitude for his supporters. He crossed the finish line of the California Coast Classic Bike Tour in his hometown of Los Angeles. 

Arthritis Foundation Parent Leadership Award — presented to a parent who embodies the spirit of Yes with their voice and actions by leading families and encouraging them to join our community of champions. This award honors a parent who has shown exceptional courage and strength in leading through the struggles of living with JA, generously shared their time and talents by serving in leadership roles within the Foundation and supported their local community through fundraising events, volunteer opportunities or other JA activities.

This year, the Foundation honors Katie Harris. Her daughter Bella's JA initially had very little impact on her daily life. Two years after her official diagnosis, Bella’s JA worsened. It was the start of what has been a continued battle to keep Bella feeling good, keep joint damage to a minimum and find ways to take control of an otherwise uncontrollable situation. Katie has led the charge as the advocate for Bella during her treatment journey.

Katie and her family have jumped in headfirst to everything the Arthritis Foundation has to offer. She learned all she could about the doctors, physical therapists, medications and new treatments, and they asked key questions to advocate for Bella.

Today, those doctors and other providers have become like family, and they seek Katie out at Arthritis Foundation events. Katie and Bella are also invited to attend Rare Disease Day at their local Children's Hospital to talk with other families about JA and to participate in panel discussions.

Katie’s commitment continues in support of JA families as she volunteers her time, her tireless energy, her leadership skills and her passion for changing the course of JA for the hundreds of thousands of kids trying to manage their rheumatic disease.

 

Arthritis Foundation Dawn Hafeli Youth Leadership Award — presented to a youth champion who has shown immense strength, resilience and determination in the face of juvenile arthritis. The award honors a youth who has demonstrated leadership by volunteering their time and talents to benefit other young people living with JA and supported the Arthritis Foundation in their local community through fundraising events, volunteer opportunities or other JA activities.

This year’s recipient is Bella Harris. Bella’s journey with juvenile psoriatic arthritis is a testament to her courage and strength. From age 6, Bella has confronted the physical and emotional toll of JA with remarkable resilience and determination. Bella's journey began with seemingly minor symptoms — a limp while playing soccer. Despite the absence of visible injuries, Bella's persistence in communicating her discomfort to her mother led to her diagnosis. This initial phase marked the beginning of Bella's journey into a world of uncertainty and medical interventions, a journey she embarked upon with courage.

As her condition worsened, Bella faced the daunting reality of managing JA, which affected various joints throughout her body, including her toes, lumbar spine, knees, fingers, wrists and even her jaw. Each new symptom brought with it physical and emotional challenges. Yet Bella remained determined to tackle her illness head-on.

Despite challenges, Bella approached each treatment with bravery, supported by her family and motivated by the hope of managing her condition effectively.

Bella is an active volunteer in Central Ohio at various events including Walk to Cure Arthritis, Classic Auto Show and Jingle Bell Run. Bella has been a youth honoree for her local Walk to Cure Arthritis and has spoken at various events in her community. She willingly shares her story with others in the JA community to help encourage them to persevere through their own challenges. Bella attended her first JA Family Summit in 2018 and hasn’t missed a Summit since.

Bella — along with all of this year’s remarkable leadership award recipients — have brought us one step closer to a world where juvenile arthritis is better understood and managed. Where resources and support are readily available. And where every child can thrive, despite the challenges they face.