ICYMI: Gus Bilirakis to Host Patient Care Round-tables in Lutz

ICYMI: Gus Bilirakis to Host Patient Care Round-tables in Lutz

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., announced on Thursday that he will hold two round-table events in Lutz later this month to focus on better patient care. Bilirakis sits on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee.

"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," Bilirakis said.

"Significant impediments at each stage of the cycle render a disservice to 130 million Americans who suffer from a chronic condition," Bilirakis added. "These round-tables 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 toward a path to cures."

Bilirakis' office announced that a round-table focusing on "Patients and the Patient Perspective" will be held at the Bethany Center in Lutz on Aug. 19. Featured speakers include: Dr. Wayne Taylor on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; Dr. Samantha Lindsay, on behalf of the Alpha-1 Foundation; Colleen Labbadia, on behalf of the Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy; Gary Dassatti, on behalf of the ALS Association Florida Chapter; and dysatonomia patient advocates Ashleigh Pike and Beth Pike.

Bilirakis will host a round-table on "Spurring Innovation, Advancing Treatments, and Incentivizing Investment" on Aug. 22 at the Bethany Center. Featured speakers include Dr. Clifton Gooch, the Chairman of Neurology Department of the University of South Florida's (USF) Health Morsani College of Medicine and the Director of USF Neuroscience Collaborative; Dr. Dave Morgan, the CEO and Director of USF's Byrd Alzheimer's Institute; Dr. Richard Finkel, the chief neurologist at Nemour's Children's Hospital; Geary Havran, the President of NDH Medical Inc., and the Chairman of the Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium; Dr. Thomas Sellers, the Center Director and Executive Vice President for Moffit Cancer Center; and Lisa Novorska, the CFO of Rochester Electro-Medical Inc.

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