Welcome Reception
Join community members and DM professionals at the opening reception. Hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Be sure to visit the research poster session that will occur during the reception.

Research Poster Session (During Welcome Reception)
MDF research Fellows, industry professionals and academic researchers present their current research and answer questions via 1:1 discussions at their posters. Grab a beverage and circulate!

Juvenile-onset Adult (JOA) Program with Barry Cohen, PhD and Diane Bade, RN, CAVS
A program designed specifically for juvenile-onset DM adults, facilitated by MDF community members.

First Timers' Tea
A welcome session for first-time attendees. Learn tips for having a successful conference experience and get a personal mentor to help you navigate the two-day event. MDF Board members, support group facilitators and experienced attendees will present, and we’ll have a session cheat sheet to help you plan your experience. Beverages will be served.

Industry Updates (Additional Companies TBD)
Representatives from biotech and pharma companies will provide updates on their drug development efforts in the DM field, including companies new to the MDF Annual Conference:
Art Levin, PhD, Avidity Biosciences
Romesh Subramanian, Dyne Therapeutics
Matt Disney, PhD., Expansion Therapeutics
Laury Mignon, PhD, Ionis Therapeutics
Gene Yeo, PhD, Locana Bio

Conference Challenge with John Fitzpatrick, MDF Board Member

Patients Report Out: Living with DM over 50 moderated by Laurie Gutmann, MD, University of Iowa
This interactive panel session will be similar in format to the Living with DM: Patient Report on Changes Over Time that was presented at the 2018 MDF Annual Conference. Panelists will discuss the disease symptom changes they have experienced living with myotonic dystrophy, followed by facilitated audience participation. This session will help researchers and drug developers understand disease changes and progression from the perspective of over-50 individuals living with DM and their families.

Lunch
Take a break from the action and enjoy a light lunch.

Mindfulness as a Disease Management Strategy with Mary Holt, MSRN
Explore ways to become more mindful in your life and how mindfulness can affect your quality of life and overall mood. The speaker is a nurse who has worked in the areas of mental health and provided care for myotonic dystrophy patients.

DM2: Updates on Research and Symptom Management with Johanna Hamel, MD and Allison Formal, MBA
Come hear about the latest updates in research for DM2 from a top DM2 clinician and researcher in the field.

DM and Sleep: What's New, What Works with John Day, MD, PhD
Learn about current research and management strategies regarding myotonic dystrophy sleep issues, including disregulated sleep patterns and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Palliative Care: Improving Quality of Life at Every Stage
Learn more about the importance of palliative care in managing myotonic dystrophy, including symptom management strategies that will help those living with DM improve their quality of life now.

Pain & DM2: Updated Information on Symptoms & Coping Strategies with Doris Leung, MD, PhD
Come to this session to understand the science of pain in DM2 and learn strategies to successfully manage it. This session is recommended specifically for anyone diagnosed with DM2 and their caregivers.

Creating Your Clinical Care Team with Jacinda Sampson, MD, PhD
Learn about the importance of, and strategies for, creating the right medical team for your or a family members’ optimal myotonic dystrophy care.

Exercise, Nutrition & Speech with Katy Eichinger, PhD, DPT, Leslie Vnenchak, MA, CCC-SLP, and Robin Meyers, RD, MPH, LDN
This rehabilitation panel will review current research and strategies for managing DM symptoms through exercise, speech and nutrition.

Financial Planning & DM with Pat Bergmaier, CFP®, ChSNC
This session will review financial planning including government benefits, special needs trusts and wills, social security, and more.

DM Behavioral & Mental Health: Understanding Symptoms & Management Strategies with Melissa Dixon, PhD, MS
This discussion will focus on mental health challenges and symptoms sometimes experienced by people living with DM, and strategies for coping with everything from depression to anxiety and 'brain fog'.

Listening Room
Want to share your story? Need someone to talk to? Take a break and connect with professional listeners.

Juvenile-onset Adult (JOA) Program with Barry Cohen, PhD and Diane Bade, RN, CAVS
A program designed specifically for juvenile-onset DM adults, facilitated by MDF community members.

Research & Vendor Showcase
Visit the Research & Vendor Showcase to talk to researchers about current studies, meet the famous Service Dogs, academic researchers, local organizations and more.

Break