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Welcome to our first newsletter of 2015. 2014 was a productive year in thanks to the hard work of staff, the support of volunteers who gave over 7,000 hours of their time, corporate sponsorship partners, Baxter, CSL Behring, Grifols and Octapharma whose financial contributions fund administration costs allowing individual donations to be used 100% for programs and services and the generous support of our many donors, families and individuals who believe in our work. Together we are building a strong PI Community in Canada and improving diagnosis and treatment for individuals with PI.

We look forward to another exciting and challenging year and I encourage you to join us as we implement a strategic social media focus for 2015 to better inform and build involvement and participation across Canada. Together we are strong.

 

Richard Thompson, CFRE

Chief Executive Officer

Eye on Science
Free Subscription To LymphoSign Journal
 
Immunodeficiency Canada is proud to sponsor subscriptions to LymphoSign Journal for immunologists in Canada. LymphoSign Journal is an international journal that publishes novel clinical, translational, and basic research on immune disorders and their therapies. The journal is published quarterly and is of particular interest to clinicians and scientists in the fields of immunology, gastroenterology, neurology, dermatology, infectious diseases, rheumatology, and hematology. More information about the journal can be found online at www.lymphosign.com .

                                                                                                           If you are an Immunologist and haven't activated or received your free subscription please contact network@immunodeficiency.ca . 
PI Video Conference Series 2015

                                                                                                                                                      Next PI Video Conference - Monday, April 20th                                                                          St. Paul's Hospital (Vancouver, BC) presenting

The PI Video Conference Series, created in 2008, has proven to be a highly valuable medium to discuss difficult cases among expert physicians across the country. Immunologists across Canada, at network sites, rotate hosting video presentations in which two complex cases are presented and discussed virtually. The video conferences are a self-accredited event by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, for 1.5 hours per seminar. Physicians can attend at one of the Network Sites or Affiliated Members, or observe through webcasting.

To find out more about the PI Video Conference series and stay-up-to date on upcoming presentations, please contact network@immunodeficiency.ca

The PI Video Conference Series is sponsored by Grifols.

Upcoming Conferences

Clinical Immunology Society, CIS                                                                                          Annual Meeting, April 9-12, 2015, Houston, TX                                                                             CIS website

Newborn Screening Ontario, NSO                                                                                                Canadian Newborn and Child Screening Symposium, April 30-May 1, 2015, Ottawa ON           NSO website

American Association of Immunologists, AAI                                                                      Annual Meeting, May 8-12, 2015, New Orleans, LA                                                                       AAI website

Canadian Society for Immunology, CSI                                                                                      Annual Meeting, June 4-7, 2015, Winnipeg, MB                                                                             CSI website

Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies, FOCIS                                                                     Annual Meeting, June 24-27th, San Diego, CA                                                                         FOCIS website

Immunoglobulin Nursing Society, IgNS                                                                                        Ig Academy, September 18-20, Washington, DC                                                                        IgNS website 

Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology                                                       Annual Scientific Meeting, October 21-24, 2015, Vancouver, BC                                                  CSACI website

American College of Allergy. Asthma & Immunology, ACAAI                                              Annual Scientific Meeting, November 5-9, 2015, San Antonio, TX                                                 ACAAI website

PI Community
ACG Capital Connection - November 11th, 2014

Immunodeficiency Canada was the fortunate beneficiary for The Association for Corporate Growth's Capital Connection on November 11th, 2014. Thank you Darin Brock of TorQuest Partners for connecting Immunodeficiency Canada. A raffle with amazing prizes including tickets to major sports events and a lease on a Porsche ran for two days. The raffle raised just over $4,000 from tickets sales and Immunodeficiency Canada was able to spread awareness to over 500 business professionals.

 

Ciao Bella Dance Studio's 10th Annual Dancing for the Children With Love Event - January 31st, 2015
 

On Saturday, January 31st, Immunodeficiency Canada was invited to Ciao Bella Dance Studio's 10th Annual Dancing for the Children with Love event. The night included dance performances and a silent auction. Proceeds were donated to Immunodeficiency Canada, along with the Michael Cuccione Foundation and The Hospital for Sick Children. Over 5,000 dollars was raised for Immunodeficiency Canada. Thank you Dana Vena, the dance committee and Gina Ferrante for inviting Immunodeficiency Canada.

Next year's event will take place on Saturday February 7th.


 


 
  

Julian and his Family's Trial with P.I

 

Gina Ferrante shows me a scrapbook she's made of her son Julian when he was two years old. This scrapbook is different from the average family album; the photos are adjacent to long lists of medications. In the photos, Julian is smiling sweetly, his cheeks puffy from a reaction to the drugs. The scrapbook was made to commemorate his battle with primary immunodeficiency. Gina admits that she did it for Julian, who is now eight years old. "He has the right to know," she says. "Look at where he's been. Look at where he's at now."
 

Read the rest of Julian's story here.


 

  
Social Media

Dana Ewachow is the new Community Relations Social Media leader at Immunodeficiency Canada. You will notice in the next upcoming months, Immunodeficiency Canada will be dedicating more time and effort for our social networking platforms in hopes to keep the PI community as informed and involved as possible. If you want community updates and charity events, please check out our Facebook and Twitter. If you are a doctor/nurse looking for updates with our medical community, be sure to join us on Linked In. We welcome suggestions for updates, comments or emails at contactus@immunodeficiency.ca 

Get Involved!

World PI Week - April 22-29, 2015

 

In April the world will be celebrating Primary Immunodeficiency. World PI Week is a campaign created to offer an opportunity to inform and educate health care professionals, school, families, and the world about Primary Immunodeficiencies (PI), raise awareness for PI and improve diagnosis and treatment of PI. Hospitals, groups and foundations around the world will host events during April 22-29 to bring awareness and celebrate all that we have accomplished. As one of the founders of World PI Week, Immunodeficiency Canada will be hosting our annual event in Toronto on April 22 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm, with a balloon release at 7:30 pm. You are invited to join us. RSVP at 416-964-3434 Look for and sign World PI Week posters available at PI clinics across Canada. This year's editorial is on vaccines. For details on all the activities to celebrate World PI Week, follow us on social media. 

Create your own World PI Week Video Clip

                                                                                                                                                   
Share your voice by creating your own 60 second video clip on PI. Use your cell phone and share your thoughts, experiences, feelings of PI or just talk about what PI means to you. Help raise awareness by posting on Immunodeficiency Canada's social media or sending it to events@immunodeficiency.ca and we can post it for you.

Quebec World PI Week event My Life is Better

                                                                                                                                                           In Quebec APIQ Association des Patients Immunodeficients du Quebec is hosting an event for patients and healthcare professionals, April 25, 9 am to 12 noon. Visit the website here.

Canadian Immunodeficiencies Patient Organization (CIPO) 
                                                                                                                                                     April 15th: Patient Education Evening, Sudbury                                                                              April 23rd: Information Station, McMaster, Hamilton (World PI Week)                                        May 23rd: Patient Education Afternoon, Kelowna                                                                        May 30th: Patient Education Day, Burnaby                                                                                 June 4th: Patient Education Evening, Kitchener/Waterloo                                                       October 17th: Patient Education Day, Calgary (weekend event with NRBDO Alberta)

Visit www.cipo.ca for more information. 

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Marathon Logo
October 18, 2014  
 
The annual Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon coming on October 18, 2015 and Immunodeficiency Canada is recruiting for their 2015 team. Last year the strong Immunodeficiency Canada team braised the cold chill and cross the finish line with big smiles. With over $6,000 dollar raised, 100% of the donations went toward improving treatments for patients, supporting families in crisis, education of healthcare professionals and funding Canadian researchers.

Participate in one of the 4 divisions - 5k walk, 5k run, half marathon or full marathon and join healthcare professionals and Immunodeficiency Canada staff raise awareness to PI. Be a part of our team today and help us make this year our best ever.

For more information visit our website www.immunodeficiency.ca , follow us on Facebook and Twitter or contact Shirley.lau@immunodeficiency.ca
 

Online Auction - July

                                                                                                                                                        We are excited to announce that our annual "Bidding For Health" Online Auction is coming back bigger and better this July 2015! Running from July 1 - 31, 2015. Yes! A whole month! New items, more items, and return of the great tried and true favourites. Visit our site often as every week there will be new items listed and hot items of the week may be approaching their highest bid deadlines.                                                                                                               

What a great way to get a head start on Christmas shopping, or an easy activity to do sitting on your backyard deck under the summer sun. Avoid those long line ups at the stores... Don't miss out on the chance to be the lucky bidder and have those must have items become yours! A fun way to spend your time all in support of Immunodeficiency Canada. Join our social media as more information will be shared over the coming months. Get your bidding fingers ready!

Newsletter Editor: Dana Ewachow

Contributors: Aidan Ablona, Shirley Lau, Jeannine Rothblott, Richard Thompson
Newsletter sponsored by:
 

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