News and Events News Archive

2002 National Conference Summary: Sunday

More than 400 people from 29 states and Canada gathered in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 9-11 for the 2002 National Conference. For everyone, the theme of the conference was the same: connecting with people and knowledge.

To illustrate the conference theme, here is a description of some of the events that took place and the people who were there.

Friday

Saturday: morning afternoon evening

Sunday

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.
On Sunday, a continental breakfast was followed by a "Q&A" session with a panel of experts.

As attendees Jeff Lambert and his wife, Janet, sipped coffee outside before the session opened, Jeff described how it took a year of doctor visits before he was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, which developed two years before his psoriasis. Initially, his doctors said the psoriatic arthritis was rheumatoid arthritis, then gout. Finally, a rheumatologist noticed a small psoriasis plaque on his back and put two and two together.

"The arthritis was so bad I couldn't zip my pants in the morning," he said. This was one year after he and Janet were married.

"I had to help him in and out of the shower," Janet said.

"That's a tough way to start a marriage," he added.

Then, Jeff described what it meant to him to be at the national conference. Emotion was palpable in his voice. On Saturday, they had met a couple who had faced very similar struggles. Not only that, the couple enjoyed similar hobbies.

"We thought we'd be the only people like us in the conference. It's nice to know other couples are out there," he said. "It helps knowing you're not the only one."

Inside the Q&A session, Ms. Zimmerman wrapped up the conference by encouraging nonmembers to join the organization, and informed all attendees that the Psoriasis Foundation will be building the organization over the next year to expand services and offer new programs. Tentative plans for next year include not only a national conference, but simultaneous regional conferences offering similar programs so that many more people can participate.

"We hope you enjoyed the conference," she said. "We enjoyed meeting you."