BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/Phoenix X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Phoenix BEGIN:VEVENT UID:1975@azbio.org DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20251017T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20251017T120000 DTSTAMP:20250925T180353Z URL:https://www.azbio.org/events/voice-of-the-patient-2 SUMMARY:Voice of the Patient - Arizona Commerce Authority - 17 Oct 25 09:00 DESCRIPTION:\n\n \;\nPatients are the reason we do what we do. \;\n Join the conversation on life science innovation from the patient perspect ive. \;\n\nDate: \; Friday\, October 17\, 2025\n\nTime: \;&nbs p\;9:00 AM – 12:00 PM\n\nLocation: Arizona Commerce Authority\n\n100 N 7 th Ave\, Phoenix\, AZ 85007\n\n \;\n\n\n\n \;\n\nRegistration is c omplementary but space is limited.\n\nFree Parking is available in the ACA Garage.\n\n \;\nAgenda\n \;\n\n9:00 AM \;  \;Check-in\, N etworking\, Refreshments\n\n10:00 AM Program Begins\n\nWelcome - Joan Koer ber-Walker \;\n\nPatient Voices:\n\n Michael Davis\n Barby Ingle\n Ben Malin &\; Dr. Lindsay Ackerman\n Carolina Little &\; Dr. Alina Boelman\n BJ Reed\n Sonia Vohnout\n Brad Smith\n\nPanel: \; Advocat ing for Patients\n\n Joan Koerber-Walker (Moderator)\n Representative Se lina Bliss\n Representative Stacey Travers\n\n12:00 PM \; Program con cludes\nThank You to Our Sponsors!\n \;  \; \n \;\nAbout our S peakers\n\n\nBrad Smith is a pioneering Neuralink participant\, becoming t he first ALS patient to receive the brain-computer interface implant in No vember 2024. As a "super user\," he provides crucial feedback to refine th e technology\, drawing from his experiences to address patient needs like device design and functionality\; he now uses it to control a MacBook Pro for all communication\, enabling him to lead and teach.\n\nHis most cheris hed titles are father\, husband\, and son. With logistics expertise\, Brad has scaled companies from 20 employees to hundreds\, guided them through IPOs\, and turned ideas into products—always figuring out how to get it done. After moving to Arizona to support a growing golf shoe company\, he faced an ALS diagnosis\, tackling it with determination by adapting step b y step (or now rolling along\, as he can no longer walk). Committed to inn ovation\, he explored non-medical eye-gaze devices\, Synchron\, and Neural ink BCIs\, proactively sharing insights to better serve patients.\n\n\n\nL indsay S. Ackerman\, MD\, FAAD\n\nDr. Lindsay Ackerman was the founding ph ysician of Medical Dermatology Specialists\, and the Medical Dermatology S pecialists’ Clinical Research Unit (now a part of US Dermatology Partner s)\, in Phoenix\, Arizona\, where she actively practices clinical dermatol ogy and serves as both a Principle Investigator and Director of Research. Dr. Ackerman is also an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Universi ty of Arizona College of Medicine\, Lead faculty attending for resident ed ucation in Dermatology\, and the Chief of Inpatient Dermatology at Banner University Medical Center.\n\nDr. Ackerman has served in many roles in bot h leadership and advocacy. She was elected to serve as the member represen tative to the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) Nominating Committ ee in 2024 and has served as a Delegate for the AAD to the American Medica l Association (AMA) since 2005. \; She has been active in local dermat ology societies\, as a founding and former board member of the Arizona Der matology and Dermatologic Surgery Society\, and as a member of the Phoenix Dermatologic Society. \; Dr. Ackerman has served on several task forc es for the AAD\, Women’s Dermatologic Society\, and remains an active me mber of the Dermatology Foundation Advisory Council. \;\n\n\n\nDr. Ali na Boelman is a board certified pediatrician\, IBCLC and managing partner at Tanque Verde Pediatrics in Tucson\, Arizona. After her own experience w ith postpartum depression and anxiety\, she became involved in 4th Trimest er Arizona\, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Arizona families during t heir transition to parenthood and beyond\, and now serves as the Board Cha ir. She and her husband\, Jake\, have two young children and enjoy watchin g them grow and thrive.\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\nMichael Davis – Veteran \, Advocate\, and Mental Health Leader\n\nMichael Davis is a retired U.S. Navy Air Rescue Swimmer whose career was shaped by high-stakes readiness\, specialized training\, and a steadfast commitment to serving others. Trai ned to operate under extreme pressure in life-or-death scenarios\, Michael brings that same focus and discipline to his work in the mental health co mmunity. \;For over 20 years\, Michael has navigated life with a serio us mental health condition—an experience that fuels his advocacy and gro unds his message in authenticity. Determined to use his journey to help ot hers\, Michael found a meaningful path through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)\, where he has volunteered for more than four years. \ ;Today\, he serves as a public speaker and state trainer for NAMI\, sharin g his story to break down stigma\, promote understanding\, and encourage h ope. His voice has become a powerfu\n\nl tool for education and healing\, connecting deeply with audiences across Arizona—from support groups to p rofessional trainings and community events. Michael’s dedication to peer support and mental health education exemplifies resilience and leadership . Through every presentation and training\, he reminds people that recover y is not only possible—it’s worth fighting for.\n\n\n\nBarby Ingle is a passionate patient\, health advocate\, and Vice-President of the Interna tional Pain Foundation. Living with AlgoNeuroDystrophy and other chronic c onditions\, she channels her experiences into advocacy for the rare and ch ronic illness communities. A best-selling author and motivational speaker\ , Barby has earned over 45 awards for her impactful work. She has authored four Arizona bills that are now law\, and worked on over 100 bills nation wide significantly influencing healthcare legislation. Currently\, she is authoring HHS deregulation options\, such as removing the 21 C.F.R. 1306.0 4(h) to improve telemedicine access. Barby brings her inspiring journey an d expertise to everything she does\, empowering others through her advocac y. \;\n\n \;\n\n\n\nJoan Koerber-Walker is president and CEO of AZ Bio and a member of the AZBio Board of Directors\, Joan Koerber-Walker wor ks on behalf of the \;\n\nArizona Bioscience and Medical Technology In dustry to support the growth of the industry\, its members and our communi ty on the local and national level. Ms. Koerber-Walker is also a life scie nce investor and has served on the boards of numerous for-profit and non-p rofit organizations. \; Learn more\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\n\n\n \ ;\n\nCarolina Little \;is a Marriage and Family Therapist and Perinata l Mental health counselor in the greater \;central-west side of Arizon a. She is passionate about supporting the community's access to mental hea lth resources\, and an advocate for parents having the tools and resources to thrive in parenthood.\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\nMy name is Ben Malin. A n Arizona native and graduate of Northern Arizona University\, I've spent my adult life navigating the challenges of psoriasis. I had exhausted ever y traditional treatment\, and at my lowest point\, the disease covered mor e than 80% of my body. Thankfully\, biologic medications have been a game changer\, and my skin is now almost entirely clear. This has given me the freedom to enjoy life as a father to my two girls. Outside of work\, my fa mily and I love to travel and cheer on our Phoenix Suns.\n \;\n\n\n&nb sp\;\n\n\n\nMy name is B.J. Reed. I have spent the majority of my life in Arizona\, aside from several years residing on US coastlines as a Naval Of ficer’s spouse\, during which time I volunteered and organized events fo r military families. Upon returning to Arizona\, I earned an honors degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Sociology from Arizona State Univ ersity.\n\nMy professional experience spans multiple fields\, including ro les such as corporate meeting planner coordinating national sales meetings \, marketing specialist in the airline industry\, elementary school teache r (grades 1–4)\, and co-owner of a travel company developing vacation pa ckages for Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus nationwide. Additionally\, I dedicated twelve years to marketing at the medical device company CR Bard (now Becton Dickinson). \;While at CR Bard\, working in the Oncology Marketing department\, I discovered that I had an aggressive breast cancer . What a wonderful support system to have while going through this frighte ning ordeal. The encouragement I received\, and amazing knowledge shared\, helped me through the process and successful recovery. I have been cancer free for five plus years!\n\nCurrently retired\, I serve as a full-time c aregiver for my husband as he manages Parkinson’s Disease. I am also a m ember of the Board of Directors for Rock Steady Boxing\, an organization t hat provides specialized physical therapy programs for individuals with Pa rkinson’s Disease.\n\n \;\nRepresentative Selina Bliss represents Le gislative District 1 which encompasses most of Yavapai County. Having live d in LD-1 since 1971\, she has a deep respect for our rich history and is dedicated to protecting and strengthening Arizona.\nShe serves as Chair of the House Health and Humas Services Committee and as Co-chair of the Ariz ona Legislative Bioscience &\; Healthcare Caucus.\n\nAfter working as a nurse at Yavapai Regional Medical Center for 36 years\, while teaching nu rsing at Yavapai College for 27 years\, she is accustomed to making a diff erence in the lives of others. Selina comes from a long line of public ser vants in her family and is called to serve the community in which she was raised. Selina is honored to serve in the State House to protect and defen d Arizona while keeping this State great.\n\n \;\n\nRepresentative Sta cey Travers represents District 12 in the Arizona House of Representatives which includes Ahwatukee\, South Tempe\, West Chandler\, and part of the Gila River Indian Community.\n\nShe serves as House Minority Whip and as C o-chair of the Arizona Legislative Bioscience &\; Healthcare Caucus.\n\ nStacey is a United States Army veteran\, scientist\, and mom. She \;I was born in the birthplace of democracy\, Athens\, Greece\, to a U.S. mil itary father and Greek mother. Coming from a family with a history of mili tary service\, she wanted to serve our country and did so proudly as a Rus sian Intelligence Interceptor in the U.S. Army. After leaving the Military I came to Arizona to study at the University of Arizona in Tucson and ear ned her Bachelor of Science in Geosciences. \;She works to support the people of LD12 and to get government working again while \; creating a bright and sustainable future for hard-working Arizona families.\n\nSoni a Vohnout is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Immune Deficiency F oundation. IDF improves the diagnosis\, treatment\, and quality of life of people affected by primary immunodeficiency through fostering a community empowered by advocacy\, education\, and research. Active in our life scie nce community\, Sonia is also the founder &\; CEO of OppsSpot LLC.  \; Her company provides consulting services for small technology companies looking to commercialize their ideas through strategic partnering and Gov ernment contracting and grants.\n\n \;\n\n \;\nPhotographic and Vi deo Notice:\nBy registering for or entering an event or program hosted by the Arizona Bioindustry Association\, Inc. (AZBio)\, you are entering an a rea where photography\, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry an d presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photograph ed\, filmed\, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release\, publication\, exhibition\, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appear ance\, voice\, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connec tion with AZBio\, its sponsors\, and its initiatives\, including\, by way of example only\, use on websites\, in social media\, news and advertising . By entering the event premises\, you waive and release any claims you ma y have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event\, includin g\, without limitation\, any right to inspect or approve the photo\, video or audio recording of you\, any claims for invasion of privacy\, violatio n of the right of publicity\, defamation\, and copyright infringement or f or any fees for use of such record media.\n\nYou understand that all photo graphy\, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent . If you do not agree to the foregoing\, please do not enter the event pre mises. CATEGORIES:AZ - Central LOCATION:Arizona Commerce Authority\, 118 North 7th Avenue | Suite 400\, Ph oenix\, AZ\, 85007\, United States X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=118 North 7th Avenue | Suit e 400\, Phoenix\, AZ\, 85007\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Ar izona Commerce Authority:geo:0,0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Phoenix X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Phoenix BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20241017T090000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR