Empowering the
Patient Journey
Living Well with Sarcoidosis
A free virtual conference for patients, families, caregivers, and clinicians designed to inform, inspire, and support a healthier, more hopeful life with Sarcoidosis.
Date
April 25, 2026
Time
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. EDT
Location
Virtual
About the Conference
If you are living with Sarcoidosis, or caring for someone who is, you deserve clear information, compassionate support, and real hope for the future.
Join us on April 25, 2026 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. EDT for “Empowering the Patient Journey: Living Well with Sarcoidosis” — a free virtual patient conference presented by the Sarcoidosis Research Institute (SRI).
This event brings together leading medical experts, researchers, and patient advocates to share the latest updates in diagnosis, treatment, and research, along with practical guidance to support your physical, emotional, and day-to-day well-being. Attend from wherever you are and join the sessions that matter most to you, so you can feel informed, confident, and hopeful managing Sarcoidosis.
Conference Agenda
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. EDT
Renowned Medical Professionals
Leading experts in Sarcoidosis research, treatment, and patient advocacy coming together to share their knowledge.
Pam Crittendon Johnson
President, Sarcoidosis Research Institute
Pam Crittendon Johnson recently retired after 21 years in various roles within Corporate Communications at FedEx. Those roles included helping manage the company’s philanthropic relationships with national and international non-profit organizations, overseeing the video productions team and serving as a company spokesperson as part of the Community Relations and Issues and Crisis teams.
Prior to FedEx, she spent 20+ years in broadcast journalism – 18 of those years as an award-winning anchor/reporter at the Memphis CBS affiliate, WREG-TV. Other professional experience includes radio journalist, advertising, marketing, public relations, voice-over talent, media coaching, freelance writing and video production.
A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Pam has been involved in numerous civic and community organizations over the years including the Memphis Urban League, United Way, Girls Inc., Memphis Association of Black Journalists, Leadership Memphis, Dress for Success, Junior Achievement, and the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis.
A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign she is the very proud mother of two; a professional dancer, William Roberson and Cornell University doctoral candidate/writer Jehan Roberson.
Pam is married to Doug Johnson, also a former TV journalist.
Paula Yette Polite
Executive Director, Sarcoidosis Research Institute
Inspired by her incredibly difficult personal challenges experienced as a sarcoidosis patient, SRI was initially founded in 1991 by the organization’s Executive Director, Paula Yette Polite. Ms. Polite served as an Advisory Council Member for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) from 2000 – 2001; and 2006 – 2010; and has participated in numerous NIH working groups, funding studies, and patient-related workshops.
Ms. Polite planned and facilitated the inaugural strategic planning initiative and played a leadership role in launching the Public Advisory Roundtable (PAR) of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in 2001; chaired PAR from 2001-2003; and participated in numerous ATS international conferences, committees, groups, and teams from 2001-2010. Ms. Polite lobbied on Capitol Hill for patient issues, and accepted the 2003 ATS Public Service Award on behalf of the Public Advisory Roundtable.
Ms. Polite is a member of the World Association for Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (WASOG); and is published in “The Ethical Conduct of Clinical Trials in Critically Ill Patients in North America”, American Thoracic Society, 2004, and “Sarcoidosis Patient Groups”, European Respiratory Monograph, 2005, 32, 337-339.
Ms. Polite is the mother of Adira Polite, and enjoys painting and photography. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art League, and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Ms. Polite is a graduate of Talladega College, and the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs – University of Minnesota.
Dr. Rhonda R. McCullough
President and CEO, Bernie Mac Foundation
Dr. Rhonda R. McCullough is a compassionate leader, dedicated philanthropist, and the President and CEO of the Bernie Mac Foundation.
A Chicago native and Dawson Technical Institute nursing graduate, Rhonda’s career as a nurse was fueled by her deep compassion for others. For 31 years, she was the loving wife and steadfast partner to the late comedian Bernie Mac, supporting his career while nurturing their family.
Today, she channels that enduring strength into leading the Bernie Mac Foundation. Driven by a personal understanding of the disease that affected her husband, she guides the foundation’s critical mission to promote awareness and fund research for Sarcoidosis, with a dedicated focus on helping disadvantaged communities access resources. Under her leadership, the foundation established the Bernie Mac Sarcoidosis Translational Advanced Research (STAR) Center in partnership with the University of Illinois Hospital in 2012.
A sought-after speaker and honored philanthropist, Rhonda has been recognized with awards such as the “Humanitarian Trailblazer Award” from Operation Push and “Phenomenal Woman of the Year in Philanthropy” from The Reaching Back Foundation. She continues her charitable work, supporting causes from local women’s shelters to providing prom attire for young women, upholding a powerful legacy of faith, family, and service.
Dr. Marc Judson, M.D
Chief, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Albany Medical College and the Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Marc Judson is a Professor of Medicine at Albany Medical College. He has had a career-long interest in the care of sarcoidosis patients for more than 30 years. He runs a large Sarcoidosis clinic, has published more than 250 articles in the medical literature concerning sarcoidosis, and has conducted more than 75 research trials concerning the disease.
Dr. Marc was a member of the Executive Committee of the international sarcoidosis medical society (WASOG: The World Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders) for 6 years. He was President of the American sarcoidosis medical society: The Americas Association of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (AASOG).
His major areas of focus concerning sarcoidosis include drug treatment trials, the phenotypic expression of the disease, and quality of life issues.
Dr. Daniel Culver
Division Chair of Pulmonary Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Daniel Culver is Division Chair of Pulmonary Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, and immediate past-president of WASOG. He has a longstanding interest in Sarcoidosis, including multisystem disease, therapeutics and diagnostic aspects.
Dr. Brianna Gaynor, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, TEDx Speaker, and a Leading Voice in Mental Health
Dr. Brianna Gaynor, Psy.D., is a force to be reckoned with in clinical psychology and literature. As the Director of Peace of Mind Psychological Services in Atlanta, GA, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals of all ages find peace and healing in every situation. With a passion for stopping the stigma around mental health issues, Dr. Gaynor brings inspiration and energy into any room she enters, creating lasting change wherever she goes. A dynamic advocate for emotional wellness, she recently authored Nina’s Smile (available on Amazon), a heartfelt children’s book that blends her psychological expertise with storytelling to nurture resilience and joy in young readers.
Dr. Gaynor has worked in diverse clinical settings, including outpatient, residential, and mental health hospitals, guiding children, teenagers, and families through trauma recovery and emotional challenges. Her groundbreaking approach has earned recognition from TEDx, CBS, Parade Magazine, Yahoo News, Psych Central, and Verywell Mind, among other national platforms. She is also the author of Nina’s Smile, which distills her clinical insights into an accessible, empowering narrative for families.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Gaynor is a transformational speaker and host of The Dr. Gaynor Speaks Podcast, where she tackles mental health topics with candor and compassion. Her keynote talks—including The Culture of Resilience at the University System of Georgia and advocacy work with the Partnership for Domestic Violence—often weave in themes from her book, emphasizing how stories can heal and empower individuals to overcome adversity.
Dr. Gaynor’s commitment to fostering resilience extends beyond psychology. She champions diversity, inclusion, and emotional literacy in all spaces, using her book Nina’s Smile to spark conversations about overcoming adversity. Whether through therapy, speaking, or writing, Dr. Brianna Gaynor inspires all who know her with her unwavering dedication to creating a world where every individual thrives.
Explore her work at www.DrBriannaGaynor.com and www.peaceofmindpsychology.com.
Dr. Ogugua Ndili Obi, M.D.
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Director, Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence at East Carolina University
Dr. Ogugua Ndili Obi is an Associate Professor of Medicine and a Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.
She received her medical degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1998 and her Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Science in Epidemiology (MSc(Epid)) degrees from Harvard University School of Public Health in 2002 and 2004 respectively.
Dr. Obi is a distinguished clinician and academician. She was awarded the distinguished North Carolina Dogwood Award in 2020 for her dedication to keeping the people of North Carolina safe and healthy, and in August 2024, received the Americas Association of Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous diseases (AASOG) Emerging Leader Award in recognition of her outstanding achievements and enduring impact on advancing research and improving outcomes for patients with Sarcoidosis.
Dr. Obi is dedicated to the care of patients with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary Sarcoidosis and is a strong advocate for improving the quality of life and health outcomes of patients with Sarcoidosis.
Dr. Lesley Ann Saketkoo, M.D., MPH
Founder, Director of the New Orleans Scleroderma and Sarcoidosis Patient Care and Research Center, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine
Dr. Lesley Ann Saketkoo is the director and founder of the New Orleans Scleroderma and Sarcoidosis Patient Care and Research Center. She is a clinical researcher with training in internal medicine, pediatrics, and rheumatology. Her work focuses on clinical trial design, identifying patients’ priorities, and understanding the lived experience of life-threatening rare autoimmune illnesses, including pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis.
Dr. Saketkoo collaborates closely with patients to develop research tools and to create self-management strategies that support lung health rehabilitation, including yoga, dance, singing, and mindfulness practices.
Dr. Michelle Sharp, M.D., MHS
Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Co-Director Johns Hopkins Sarcoidosis Center, WASOG Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence
Dr. Michelle Sharp is an Associate Professor in the division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Sarcoidosis Program. Dr. Sharp earned a B.S. from Tulane University and her M.D. from Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Dr. Sharp completed residency and fellowship training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was an Assistant Chief of Service of the Osler Medical Service.
Under Dr. Sharp’s leadership, the Johns Hopkins Sarcoidosis Program was designated a Center of Excellence by the World Association for Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders. Dr. Sharp is an NIH funded researcher with a focus on improving clinical outcomes among individuals with sarcoidosis.
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Medical Disclaimer
The information provided in this seminar is intended for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have learned in this presentation. No doctor-patient relationship is created by attending this seminar. If you have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 911 immediately.