The Ehlers-Danlos Society Awards

The Nancy Rogowski Advocate of the Year Award

Mark Martino

Mark began working with Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation as a typographer but quickly found because of his nonprofit experience he could be helpful in a variety of ways: illustrating and designing graphics; writing and producing the many publications of the foundation including Loose Connections and resource guides; and bringing up-to-date, relevant information to members and friends on the web site, Facebook page, and wherever else the foundation could reach those with EDS and their friends and families. His work has been continually challenging, and changing as the foundation matured and grows into its expanded international mission as The Ehlers-Danlos Society.

Mark is Editor at The Ehlers-Danlos Society, and we are so grateful every day for his support and dedication to this community.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Fraser Henderson

Dr. Henderson entered private practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland, as Director of Neurosurgery at Doctors Hospital and Director of the Chiari Center of Excellence, where he is focused on the development of the understanding and treatment of deformity-induced injury to the brainstem and spinal cord in Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. He is the inventor of 11 devices and concepts relating to disorders of the brainstem and spinal cord, has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has given over 140 invited lectures with a focus on craniocervical disorders, Chiari malformation, cancer, radiosurgery, and unusual problems of the spine. Thank you for your dedication to the EDS and HSD community!

Outstanding Consortium Member

Dr. Sally Pezaro

Dr. Pezaro is an academic midwife based at Coventry University in the United Kingdom, a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives (FRCM), and an editorial board member of the British Journal of Midwifery, Evidence-Based Midwifery, MIDIRS, and the International Journal of Childbirth. She is also the lead midwife for hedstogether,  a project which has enabled many networking and awareness-raising activities, building up a team of people with a range of experiences to co-create tools in relation to childbearing, hEDS, and HSD. Dr. Pezaro is the lead author of ‘Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome during pregnancy, birth and beyond’, which has remained the most widely read article in the British Journal of Midwifery since its publication in 2018. 

Dr. Pezaro is leading the Pelvic Floor and Bladder Disorders Working Group along with many other expert members of The International Consortium on the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders, to produce guidelines for the management of pregnancy, birth, and post-natal recovery in the context of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS). 

Outstanding Contribution to EDS ECHO (New for 2022)

Dr. Leslie Russek

The EDS ECHO award honors individuals who have demonstrated excellent leadership skills and commitment to the EDS ECHO programs and events by continuously advocating for those living with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, hypermobility spectrum disorders, and the associated symptoms and conditions.

Leslie Russek, PT, DPT, Ph.D., OCS, is Professor Emeritus, teaching musculoskeletal physical therapy in the Clarkson University Doctor of Physical Therapy program.  She is an Orthopedic Certified Specialist with a sub-specialization in hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), headaches, fibromyalgia, and other causes of chronic pain. She has published in the areas of hEDS, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain, and was one of the first physical therapists to publish on hypermobility syndrome in the United States. Her current research is looking at the prevalence of hEDS among physical therapy patient populations in the U.S. Dr. Russek leads the North American hub of the Allied Health Professionals ECHO.

Pioneer in EDS and HSD Research

Dr. Christina Laukaitis

Christina Laukaitis is an associate professor at the University of Illinois and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. After earning her MD and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, she completed a residency in Internal Medicine at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, IN, and a Medical Genetics fellowship at the University of Washington. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Genetics. She joined the faculty at the UA College of Medicine in 2008 and moved to the University of Illinois in 2021.

Dr. Laukaitis’ research has both basic and applied aspects. Her basic science work focuses on an unstable region of the mouse genome containing 64 genes encoding pheromones. Her clinical practice and research focus on diagnosing and managing patients with genetic syndromes. She cares for a large cohort of people with various forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and has organized the hEDS GENE study, a major effort to identify genes predicting the hypermobility type of EDS.

Dr. Christina Laukaitis, we are so grateful for all you have done for our community, and for your hard work and dedication to the pioneering HEDGE project, searching for the genetic causes behind hypermobile EDS (hEDS).

Pioneer in EDS and HSD Clinical Care

Dr. Jane Simmonds

Dr. Jane Simmonds is a physiotherapist with more than 25 years of clinical experience working with people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders. She is very committed to helping to improve the lives of people living with EDS through fostering and supporting teams of clinicians, researchers, and educators. Originally from Perth Western Australia, Jane now lives and works in London where she combines an academic career at University College London with clinical work at the Hypermobility Unit where she leads the physiotherapy provision and specializes in working with children and families. Dr. Simmonds is the Chair of the physiotherapy working group of the International Consortium on EDS and HSD. Jane has authored more than 50 publications on EDS and hypermobility-related topics and leads national and international EDS and hypermobility CPD training events for health and exercise professionals.

Community Choice Award: Healthcare Professional

Dr. Valerie Iovine

Dr. Valerie Iovine is a physical therapist who specializes in treating hEDS. Dr. Iovine received an astonishing number of nominations from her extremely grateful patients. Some comments include:  

“Valerie is one of the most caring and compassionate people I know. She dedicates her life to her passion and there is no one more deserving of this award. “

“Valerie is a champion in the rehabilitation of individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She provides top-quality, compassionate care for a large population of individuals with EDS. She tirelessly advocates for her patients as if they were her own family members. She was instrumental in changing corporate policy regarding the treatment of individuals with EDS and helped ensure that these patients receive 1:1 sessions each time they visit her in her office. Valerie strives to provide treatment that is both supported by evidence and personalized to each person she interacts with. She strives to help each individual with EDS reach their full potential and achieve their goals of care.”

“Valerie is a passionate physical therapist dedicated to helping people with EDS. She is compassionate and empathetic. She personalizes every treatment plan and advocates for health care and streamlined medical care for this population.” 

Community Choice Award: Community Advocate

Sydney Severance

Sydney Severance is an 18-year-old with hEDS who has been really struggling with her health lately. Dr. Chip Norris quotes: ‘while her challenges with the disease are unfortunately not uncommon for many of these patients, her level of compassion, outreach, and advocacy are well beyond any patient that I have met. Sydney makes people better, she provides hope and is an inspiration for all of us. We are all better because of the global impact that she is making.’ 

The Nancy Rogowski Advocate of the Year Award

Linda Neumann-Potash

Linda was diagnosed with hypermobile EDS in 1985 and has spent the last 30 years advocating for those affected by EDS and their families.

Linda served as the Executive Director of The Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation from 1996 to 2003. She also served on the Board of Directors from 1991 to 1995 and in recent years she rejoined the board of the society.

Linda earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health from the University of Northern Colorado and a second Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles, California. She obtained a Master’s of Nursing Degree from UCLA in Los Angeles, California.

Linda is a Case Management Nurse at Nebraska Medicine, The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha Nebraska. She has worked in her current position since 2007. Linda has over 30 years of experience in nursing working with both adults and children and has been working tirelessly through the pandemic, doing what she does best – caring for others.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. John Mitakides

Dr. Mitakides is an expert in the field of craniofacial pain and TMJ disorder, with a special focus on craniofacial pain and dental manifestations in the Ehlers Danlos syndrome patient.

Dr. Mitakides is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, the highest level of achievement awarded by AACP. He is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr. Mitakides was a member of the Professional Advisory Network of the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation, the leading organization serving EDS patients and physicians, the only dentist to be so recognized.

Dr. Mitakides is the founder of the TMJ Treatment Center, where he leads a highly-trained and qualified team of professionals, with advanced TMJ certification. He is a frequent lecturer at national and international conferences in the area of TMJ and Craniofacial Pain diagnosis and treatment techniques and has done so much to advance understanding in this area for the community.

Outstanding Consortium Member

Dr. Natalie Blagowidow

Dr. Blagowidow received her MD degree from Cornell University Medical College, NY. Her residency training was in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Blagowidow pursued specialty training as a Fellow in Reproductive Genetics and Human Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and in the Division of Human Genetics at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Blagowidow is board-certified in both clinical genetics and clinical cytogenetics. She is also a Founding Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and chairs the pelvic disorders group in the International Consortium.

Pioneer in EDS Research

Dr. Sherene Shalhub

Dr. Shalhub is a vascular surgeon, translational researcher at the University of Washington (UW), and the Director of the Multidisciplinary Vascular Genetics Clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center. She holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery and she is an affiliate faculty of the Surgical Outcomes Research Center (SORCE).

Dr. Shalhub aims to provide high-quality care to patients suffering from rare vascular conditions such as vascular EDS. Her goal is to improve the success of surgical repair and long-term survival for these high-risk patients while maintaining an excellent quality of life in a manner that is in line with their priorities and personal values. Dr. Shalhub is the lead investigator for the Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Collaborative funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and for the Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Collaborative Research Study.

Pioneer in EDS and HSD Clinical Care

Dr. Anne Maitland

Dr. Anne Maitland is a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). Her clinical focus is to upgrade efforts to meet the needs of under-served communities, plagued by immune-mediated disorders, such as mast cell activation disorders, such as anaphylaxis, asthma, and food sensitivities as well as primary immunodeficiencies and EDS and HSD. Dr. Maitland is also the chair of the allergy and immunology group in the EDS and HSD International Consortium.

Community Choice Award: Healthcare Professional

Dr. David Saperstein

Dr. Saperstein is an experienced Medical Doctor with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Clinical Research, Medical Education, Medicine, Neurology, and Healthcare, with a strong focus on those with EDS and HSD.

One testimonial received for this winner from a voter in this category read: “Dr. Saperstein is the most caring and patient doctor. He takes the time to listen to his patients. He has extensive knowledge of EDS and POTS, and he is the first doctor to take me seriously in my whole life. He connected my stripes and is still trying to when I have weird new issues arise.”

Community Choice Award: Community Advocate

Roger Chriss

Roger has been educating and advocating for the EDS/HSD and chronic pain communities for many years. He has been a very active Inspire member since 2015, and always has informational, helpful, and caring responses to share. He is on the board of directors and a regular columnist for the Pain News Network. He is also the co-host for The Ehlers-Danlos Society’s Let’s Chat: Men virtual support group. Roger has been a big proponent and supporter of the Society’s work. Staff members have enjoyed working with him.

One of the testimonials said- “Roger is the type of person who is always willing to help. He knows so much about EDS and HSD and helps me with learning more about it and how to manage it. I also enjoy seeing him host the men’s virtual support group. I am so glad Roger is in our community.”

Nancy Rogowski Advocate of the Year Award
Chrystal Nichols

Lifetime Achievement Award
Alan Pocinki

Outstanding Consortium Member
Nigel Burrows

Pioneer in EDS Research
Jessica Eccles

Pioneer in EDS and HSD Clinical Care
Fraser Burling

Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Clair Francomano

Outstanding Contribution Award
Sandra Aiken Chack

Outstanding Contribution Award
Shane Robinson

Outstanding Consortium Member
Dr. Jane Simmonds

Pioneer in EDS Research
Dr. Marco Castori

Pioneer in EDS and HSD Clinical Care
Dr. Alan Hakim

Volunteer of the year
Sarah-Jo Ritchie

Advocate of the Year
Jameela Jamil

Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Anne De Paepe
The Nancy Rogowski Award
Linda Neumann-Potash

Lifetime AchievementAward
Dr. Brad Tinkle
Volunteer of the Year
Victoria Graham

Community Choice Award
Dr. Brad Tinkle
Lifetime AchievementAward
Professor Rodney Grahame
Pioneer in EDS Research
Dr. Peter Byers
Pioneer in EDS Research
Professor Fransiska Malfait
Pioneer in EDS Clinical Care
Dr. Clair Francomano
Volunteer of the Year
Mark Martino
Volunteer of the Year
Shani Weber