Scleroderma Foundation Of Southern California And Greater San Diego Chapter Merge To Enhance Support And Education For Scleroderma Patients

DANVERS, Mass., Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Scleroderma Foundation's national Board of Directors approved today a merger of two Southern California chapters. The Southern California Chapter and the Greater San Diego Chapter proposed the merger as a way to enhance support and education services to its constituents. The merged chapters will operate under the name of the Scleroderma Foundation of Southern California to advance the mission of education, support and research in 13 Southern California counties, including San Luis Obispo, Kern and San Bernardino in the north to San Diego and Imperial counties in the south. The merger takes effect Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014. 

Joseph P. Camerino, Ph.D., the national organization's board chair, said the action was taken to effectively coordinate activities of these two chapters and enhance patient support and education in the service area. "The scleroderma community faces many challenges in raising awareness of this disabling autoimmune disease, which affects more than 300,000 people in the United States, and in providing education and support to patients, caregivers, and the healthcare community. The merger of these two successful chapters will only advance the mission of the Foundation further and fulfill our vision of a cure for scleroderma."

The combined chapter will be governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the current Directors of the two organizations and will be led by the Southern California Board president, Christopher Pettit. The Greater San Diego Chapter president, Bill Martin, will remain on the Board in a leadership role. Pettit and Martin expressed confidence that the Southern California chapter "will raise more funds and operate more effectively as one entity than as two separate chapters. Our goal is to find a cure and reach everyone impacted by this disease to offer the services and support that they need." Kelly Davidson, current executive director of the Greater San Diego Chapter, will become the Southern California Chapter executive director Oct. 1. To ensure a smooth transition, Jerold Kappel, current interim executive director of the Southern California Chapter, will remain on board as a consultant through the end of the year.

About Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a chronic, often progressive, autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system attacks one's own body. Scleroderma means "hard skin." It can cause a thickening and tightening of the skin. In some cases, it causes serious damage to internal organs including the lungs, heart, kidneys, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. As scarring, or sclerosis, of these organs and organ systems progress, they work less effectively, and can lead to organ failure and death. Some medications and treatments can help with certain symptoms, but there is no cure for scleroderma. The disease affects an estimated 300,000 people in the United States. 

About the Scleroderma Foundation

The Scleroderma Foundation is the national organization serving the scleroderma community, including those living with scleroderma, their families and friends, and healthcare professionals working in the field of scleroderma research and treatment. The Foundation was formed Jan. 1, 1998, and is headquartered in Danvers, Mass. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a network of 23 chapters and 150 support groups throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The Scleroderma Foundation is the largest nonprofit funder of peer-reviewed medical research, making available at least $1 million per year in new research grants to find the cause, better treatments, and a cure for scleroderma.

About the Scleroderma Foundation of Southern California

The Scleroderma Foundation of Southern California is an affiliate of the national foundation and serves patients and caregivers in ten counties of Southern California. The SoCal Chapter has 12 support groups throughout the region that provide educational programs and critical peer support. Additional patient services include teleseminars and webinars, educational programs, e-newsletters, published newsletters, and in-service days at medical centers throughout the region.

SOURCE Scleroderma Foundation