Florida Resiliency Expert Brings Patient Perspective to International Lupus Task Force

TAMPA, Fla. - Oct. 21, 2014 - PRLog -- Cindy Coney has been selected as a patient representative to an international task force which met recently in Zurich, Switzerland. The International Task Force on Remission in SLE will work to achieve consensus on a proposed definition for what it means to be in remission with SLE, better known as lupus, as part of a larger goal to improve quality of care and achieve better patient outcomes in disease management. Lupus is an autoimmune disease affecting an estimated 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide. Coney, who was diagnosed with the disease as a young woman, joins the assembly as one of only three patient advisors chosen worldwide and fifty international physician experts. She brings extensive personal and professional experience to the panel.

Former head of a large nonprofit and past Chair of the Lupus Foundation of America’s National Board of Directors, Coney is widely recognized for her work in health education and specifically her pioneering work in resiliency. As a professional speaker and educator, she travels extensively sharing her first-hand patient perspective and professional expertise with thousands, delivering inspirational keynote speeches and educational training to patient and healthcare organizations worldwide, and acting as a patient advisor to pharmaceutical companies and research groups.
 
“I was deeply honored to accept the nomination to serve on this task force,” she said. “Patients bring a unique perspective to the conversation about disease management and treatment. My intention is always to speak on behalf of all patients—to act as a liaison in bringing their voices to the table to create meaningful conversations as we collectively work to achieve a common understanding of what it means to be in remission with a chronic disease that currently has no cure.” A proponent of patient-centered care, which supports a collaborative patient-physician partnership in decision making for patient treatment options and goals, Coney added that “including patients in the discussion reflects the commitment of the medical community to understanding and meeting patient needs.”

Coney, who has testified before the FDA Advisory Panel in support of the lupus drug Benlysta and been selected three times to serve alongside doctors and researchers as a Department of Defense Patient Reviewer for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program, will be the keynote speaker at the American College of Rheumatology-Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals conference in Boston on November 16th. “The international attention from the medical community, as demonstrated by the inclusion of patient representatives on The International Task Force on Remission in SLE, and energy being devoted to patient-centered care is an exciting development,” said Coney.

Today, patient input is being made a top priority in education, treatment, research and clinical practice. For patients living with a chronic disease such as lupus, Coney is a passionate and articular voice in these efforts.

For more information visit http://www.CindyConey.com.