COVID-19: Information and frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccines have been addressed by the Foundation's Medical & Scientific Advisory Board. (Updated February 10, 2021) Read More

What's New at the Scleroderma Foundation Greater Chicago Chapter

 

Online Patient Education

	Scleroderma 101 for Recently Diagnosed Patients If you've recently received a scleroderma diagnosis, join us for Scleroderma 101, a free virtual meeting with Dr. Chase Correia from Northwestern Medicine. Dr. Correia will explain what scleroderma is and how it's treated. Get your questions answered! The next session is April 22 at 4pm and registration is now open. Register here
	Navigating the Pandemic in 2021: Vaccines, Telemedicine & More Join us for a discussion with Dr. Chase Correia and Dr. Jane Dematte D'Amico from the Northwestern Scleroderma Program to answer questions regarding COVID-19 and scleroderma. We'll discuss and answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, talk about the opportunities and challenges that arise with telemedicine and answer any questions that you might have about the virus. Watch the video here
	Finding Joy Everyday Through the Arts: Real Ways to Improve Emotional Health During these uncertain times, Jennifer La Civita, PsyD of Adler University is here to show you practical, yet inspiring ways you can instill peace and calm by using the arts. You’ll learn easy, relaxing ways to soothe body, mind, and spirit. Find joy everyday! You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from this webinar!  Watch the video here
	Free Weekly Guided Relaxation Every Wednesday at 5:30pm CST Join the team at Yoga for Scleroderma for "Wednesday Wind Down," a free weekly guided relaxation. You can join from a land line, cell phone, or you can join on Zoom. Join via Zoom here You can also phone in, no internet needed: +1 (669) 900-6833 US Meeting ID: 82635317704
	Patient Education Virtual University The Scleroderma Foundation's "Virtual University" Patient Education Series was offered in place of the 2020 National Patient Education Conference, which was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This series of webinars, workshops and videos covers everything from managing symptoms to everyday living advice from individuals with scleroderma, physicians and specialists. Watch the fall video series here and the summer video series here.

 

Our Mission

Improving the lives of patients. Making strides toward a cure.

The mission of the Scleroderma Foundation is focused on three critical goals:

1. SUPPORT: To help patients and their families cope with scleroderma through mutual support programs, peer counseling, physician referrals, and educational information.
    
2. EDUCATION: To promote public awareness and education through patient and health professional seminars, literature, and publicity campaigns.
    
3. RESEARCH: To stimulate and support research to improve treatment and ultimately find the cause of and cure for scleroderma.

Whether you're a scleroderma patient, have a loved one struggling with scleroderma, or just want to learn more about the disease, we have resources, education events and fundraisers you'll love!

Contact Information

Stephanie Somers Gresh, Executive Director
Melissa Kuhr, Marketing & Fundraising Manager

Scleroderma Foundation Greater Chicago Chapter
125 S. Clark, 17th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312-660-1131
Email: GCchapter@scleroderma.org 
Facebook: facebook.com/gcscleroderma

Board of Directors
Tony Cogan, President
Jennifer Bryson, Vice President
Eliisa Capstick, Secretary
Dan Clarin, Treasurer

Mary Carns
Jules Cogan
Julie Drewniak
Cleetus Friedman
Carol Goldman
Peter Goldman
David Helfand
John Varga, M.D.

Medical Advisory Board
Richard Burt, M.D.
Jane Dematte, M.D.
Ikuo Hirano, M.D.
Amy Paller, M.D.
Stuart Rich, M.D.
Dean Schraufnagel, M.D.
Nadera Sweiss, M.D.
John Varga, M.D.

Scleroderma 101 for Recently Diagnosed Patients

If you've recently received a scleroderma diagnosis, join us for Scleroderma 101, a free virtual meeting with Dr. Chase Correia from Northwestern Medicine. Dr. Correia will explain what scleroderma is and how it's treated. Get your questions answered! The next session is April 22 at 4pm and registration is now open.

Register here

Navigating the Pandemic in 2021: Vaccines, Telemedicine & More

Join us for a discussion with Dr. Chase Correia and Dr. Jane Dematte D'Amico from the Northwestern Scleroderma Program to answer questions regarding COVID-19 and scleroderma. We'll discuss and answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, talk about the opportunities and challenges that arise with telemedicine and answer any questions that you might have about the virus.

Watch the video here

Finding Joy Everyday Through the Arts: Real Ways to Improve Emotional Health

During these uncertain times, Jennifer La Civita, PsyD of Adler University is here to show you practical, yet inspiring ways you can instill peace and calm by using the arts. You’ll learn easy, relaxing ways to soothe body, mind, and spirit. Find joy everyday! You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from this webinar! 

Watch the video here

Free Weekly Guided Relaxation

Every Wednesday at 5:30pm CST

Join the team at Yoga for Scleroderma for "Wednesday Wind Down," a free weekly guided relaxation. You can join from a land line, cell phone, or you can join on Zoom.

Join via Zoom here

You can also phone in, no internet needed:

Patient Education Virtual University

The Scleroderma Foundation's "Virtual University" Patient Education Series was offered in place of the 2020 National Patient Education Conference, which was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This series of webinars, workshops and videos covers everything from managing symptoms to everyday living advice from individuals with scleroderma, physicians and specialists.