American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders Welcomes Juliet Ross, Psy.D. to Board of Directors

Contact: Mary Jo Strobel, Executive Director, (713) 493-7749, mjstrobel@apfed.org

ATLANTA, GA —The Board of Directors of the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED), based in Atlanta, GA, announces the election of a new board officer, Juliet Ross, Psy.D.Dr. Ross will play a key role in the organization’s development, shaping and implementing APFED’s strategic initiatives and supporting a variety of campaigns that align with the organization’s mission.

A clinical psychologist in private practice in New York, Dr. Ross has been involved with APFED since 2012 when her young son was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Since that time, she has been active in the patient community, working through many channels to raise awareness of eosinophil-associated diseases.  A staunch advocate, Dr. Ross has shared the caregiver’s perspective through various outlets, including national press interviews, and has helped countless families as they learn to cope with these diseases. She has supported efforts for insurance coverage of medical foods and speaks out about improved access to care for families who need it. Dr. Ross has also made significant contributions to research funding, raising tens of thousands of dollars in support of APFED’s HOPE on the Horizon Research Program.

“I am enthusiastic about ramping up my efforts to raise awareness about eosinophil-associated diseases and funds that are desperately needed for research and advocacy,” said Dr. Ross. “Improving quality of life for patients and families affected by EADs is near and dear to me, and I look forward to pursuing these goals as a member of the APFED Board. The day my son was diagnosed with EoE, our doctor provided information from APFED, and APFED has been with us every step of the way. It is a privilege to be part of APFED’s initiatives.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Juliet Ross to our Board of Directors,” said APFED President Dr. Wendy Book. “She has championed our cause for many years and has made many important contributions in the areas of awareness, education, research, and advocacy. Her passion, dedication, and commitment to further APFED’s mission will better enable us to continue our critical work on behalf of the patient community.”

Founded in 2001, APFED is a non-profit organization dedicated to patients and their families coping with eosinophil-associated diseases, which occur when eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that have various functions in the body and are involved with a number of inflammatory conditions. Typically, eosinophils make up less than 5% of circulating white blood cells. When a person has increased numbers of eosinophils in their digestive system, tissues, organs, and/or bloodstream, without a known cause, he or she may have an eosinophil-associated disease. These diseases are further categorized depending on where the eosinophils are found (for example, eosinophilic esophagitis is when there are too many eosinophils in the esophagus, which in turn cause inflammation and damage). There is no cure for eosinophil-associated diseases, and very few subsets have an FDA-approved therapy available. 

To learn more about APFED and eosinophil-associated diseases, visit apfed.org.

About APFED

American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) is a non-profit organization dedicated to patients and their families coping with eosinophilic disorders. APFED’s mission is to passionately embrace, support, and improve the lives of patients and families affected by eosinophil-associated diseases through education and awareness, research, support, and advocacy.

Upcoming events include National Eosinophil Awareness Week, May 20-26, 2018, and Eos Connection 2018: APFED’s 16 Annual Patient Education Conference, July 6-7, 2018 in Denver. Learn more at apfed.org.

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