On October 12 and 13, Lorraine Biaggi, executive director of the National Scleroderma Foundation Florida and Puerto Rico Chapter, and Monica Ramirez, support group leader for Grupo de Apoyo Conexión en Español (the Foundation’s national scleroderma support group for Spanish-speaking participants), participated in ReumaExpo 2024 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The event is a patient-focused conference organized by the Puerto Rican Foundation of Rheumatic Diseases (FER). Biaggi was part of a closing-panel discussion, led by Dr. Oscar Soto-Raices, president of FER. She discussed the crucial role of the Foundation in providing support, educational resources and awareness in our communities. Ramirez had the opportunity to share her journey as a scleroderma patient, emphasizing the National Scleroderma Foundation’s significance in her life during a joint discussion with Dr. Paloma Alejandro-Silva.
Their presence in Puerto Rico provided a platform to engage with the local scleroderma community, culminating in the chapter’s first in-person meet-and-greet in Puerto Rico. Seven patients and one caregiver gathered to exchange personal experiences, share specialist information and devise strategies to bolster awareness and fortify the chapter’s presence on the island.
Kelvin Melendez from Revista Puertorriqueña de Medicina y Salud Pública (MSP), an essential resource offering multidisciplinary medical content, interviewed the team, significantly amplifying the Foundation’s visibility. The weekend marked a significant milestone in the chapter’s growth and expansion in Puerto Rico, fostering meaningful interactions and paving the way for deeper connections within the local community.
