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Bilirakis Hosting Two Health Care Roundtables – Participants Announced

August 7, 2014

"Whether through medical devices or medicine, treatments for patients suffering from chronic and rare diseases are driven by the three D's: discovery on the ground level through basic science; development into a practical, usable, and marketable product; and delivery to the patients, so that the treatment may be utilized effectively," said Bilirakis.

"Significant impediments at each stage of the cycle render a disservice to 130 million Americans who suffer from a chronic condition. These roundtables will be the beginning of a conversation I want to have with patients, patient advocates, and health care providers. This is about people – the people who need more efficient and effective treatments more quickly, but do not have access to them. Together, we will work towards a path to cures."

The events are open to the media.

Patients and the Patient Perspective on August 19th will feature:

  • Dr. Wayne Taylor on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society;
  • Dr. Samantha Lindsay, on behalf of the Alpha-1 Foundation;
  • Mrs. Colleen Labbadia, on behalf of the Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy;
  • Mr. Gary Dassatti, on behalf of the ALS Association Florida Chapter; and
  • Ms. Ashleigh Pike & Ms. Beth Pike, dysautonomia patient advocates.

Spurring Innovation, Advancing Treatments, and Incentivizing Investment on August 22nd will feature:

  • Dr. Clifton Gooch, FAAN, Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and Director, USF Neuroscience Collaborative, University of South Florida;
  • Dr. Dave Morgan, the CEO and Director of USF's Byrd Alzheimer's Institute;
  • Dr. Richard Finkel, Chief Neurologist at Nemour's Children's Hospital;
  • Geary A. Havran, the President of NDH Medical, Inc., and Chairman of the Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium;
  • Dr. Thomas Sellers, Center Director and Executive Vice President for Moffit Cancer Center; and
  • Lisa Novorska, CFO for Rochester Electro-Medical, Inc.

For more information, visit Bilirakis.house.gov/cures

Tuesday, August 19th, 2014

1:30 pm

The Bethany Center

21st Century Cures Roundtable: Patients and the Patient Perspectives

18150 Bethany Center Drive

Lutz, FL 33558

Friday, August 22nd, 2014

1:30 pm

The Bethany Center

21st Century Cures Roundtable: Spurring Innovation, Advancing Treatments, & Incentivizing Investment

18150 Bethany Center Drive

Lutz, FL 33558

Media RSVP: Ian Martorana, at (202) 225 5755 or Ian.Martorana@mail.house.gov