Latham staff share highlights from national Prader-Willi conference

Representatives from both our Children’s and Adult Services Programs traveled to Orlando, Florida for the 2019 PWSA (USA) National Convention last month. Latham Centers was the proud Bronze Convention Sponsor, and our participating staff said that being a part of the event underscored the importance of our close connections with the international PWS community, and our organization’s leadership role in the field of Prader-Willi syndrome.

Latham staff members attended a variety of sessions in the Medical and Scientific, Providers Day, and General Conferences. Some of our participants’ favorite sessions included:

• Aging – Need to Transitional Care by June-Ann Gold, MD

• Endocrine Issues in Prader-Willi Syndrome by Jennifer Miller, MD

• Self-Care for the Caregiving, Panel Presentation with Brittni Kliment and Katrina Fryklund serving

• Law Enforcement Issues/Strategies by Tammie Penta

• Living with PWS, Panel Presentation with Young Teens and Adults with PWS

• Preparing for your Child’s IEP by Mary K. Ziccardi

Patrice Carroll, LCSW, Latham’s Director of PWS Services, co-chaired the full-day Professional Providers Conference at which approximately 100 providers from around the world learned from one another. Pictured in the collage below are Patrice, Lee Chamberlain (Vice President of Operations/COO), Brittni Kliment (Director of Program Marketing and Admissions), and Katrina Fryklund (Director of National Outreach), who spoke on panels and led round-table discussions on behavior management, vocational opportunities, human rights, and more.

One parent of a Latham student who attended said she wished all parents of children with PWS could attend conferences like the annual PWSA(USA) convention. “It is amazing to see so many people who understand what I have been going through. It also reinforces to me how Latham Centers has the best staff in the world who specialize in PWS.”

The expertise gleaned from the PWS conference will be shared through upcoming professional development sessions at Latham. Latham staffers who attended will highlight the latest news from the PWS world at management meetings, departmental trainings, and new-staff orientation. One of the key takeaways from the conference was positivity  and our Latham leaders who attended are excited to share those lessons of optimism throughout Latham Centers. 

We are grateful to PWSA (USA) for hosting the “Unmask the Possibilities” convention – an “overwhelming success” with more than 1,000 attendees.  The mission of PWSA (USA) is to enhance the quality of life and empower those affected by Prader-Willi syndrome.

Group photo from the October PWSA (USA) conference includes (left to right): Kelly Dunn, Director of Education; Danny Anderson, Residential Supervisor; Dominic Monick, Residential Supervisor; Brynn Cooper, Director of Social Services; Katrina Fryklund, Director of National Outreach; Shanna Cipro, Adult Services Nursing Manager; Brittni Kliment, Director of Program Marketing & Admissions; Meghan Foley, Assistant Principal.