Providing Answers, Support and Hope in the Southeastern US

Parking is free. 

Address: South Regional/Broward College Library 7300 Pines Blvd, Building 81 Pembroke Pines, FL 33024

We recommend bringing a sweater as it can get cold inside the rooms. 

Light beverages and food will be provided.

Dr. Guillermo Valenzuela, MD, stands at the forefront of innovation and excellence in the field of rheumatology and immunology. As a distinguished rheumatologist, Dr. Valenzuela serves as the past president of the Florida Society of Rheumatology and holds the esteemed position of medical director at Integral Rheumatology & Immunology Specialists and IRIS Research and Development. With a profound commitment to advancing medical knowledge and patient care, he is dedicated to pioneering breakthrough treatments and protocols for a spectrum of autoimmune disorders. 

Dr. Valenzuela's illustrious career is underscored by an impressive academic pedigree. He earned his medical degree with honors from the prestigious University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, followed by comprehensive training in internal medicine at New York Medical College. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he pursued post-doctoral fellowships in Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology at Cornell University Medical College in New York, solidifying his expertise in these specialized fields. As a beacon of excellence in clinical practice, Dr. Valenzuela oversees patient care at Integral Rheumatology & Immunology Specialists, where he delivers compassionate and cutting-edge treatments tailored to the unique needs of each individual. Concurrently, his leadership at IRIS Research and Development underscores his unwavering commitment to advancing the frontiers of medical science. Dr. Valenzuela spearheads pioneering clinical trials on emerging therapies for rheumatic diseases, leveraging his expertise to drive transformative advancements in patient care.

 Dr. Valenzuela's contributions extend beyond the realm of clinical practice, as he is a prolific author of scientific publications and a sought-after lecturer on both national and international platforms. His unwavering dedication to advancing medical knowledge and patient outcomes has earned him widespread recognition and admiration within the medical community. In every endeavor, Dr. Valenzuela exemplifies the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and compassion. He is a true visionary whose tireless pursuit of excellence continues to elevate the field of rheumatology and inspire future generations of medical professionals.

Marie Lumbart is a dedicated healthcare professional with a passion for providing comprehensive and integrative healthcare solutions. She holds an Advanced Nurse Practitioner Master's degree in Family Medicine and is committed to delivering patient-centered care that encompasses both traditional and holistic approaches to health. Marie has expanded her expertise through additional training in Functional Medicine and Plant-Based Nutrition. This diverse skill set allows her to offer a well-rounded and personalized healthcare experience to her clients. In her current role, Marie specializes in Integrative Medicine, where she collaborates with patients to develop wholistic health plans that address their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This approach reflects her belief in the power of treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.

Dr. Rosalind Osgood, a Broward County native. She has earned both a Master’s and Doctoral Degree in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University. In 2001, Dr. Osgood had the unique honor of being the first woman in the history of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church to be licensed, ordained, and positioned in the pulpit as a preacher, by the late preacher extraordinaire, Reverend Dr. Mack King Carter. In December of 2007, she earned a Master’s of Divinity Degree from New Orleans Southern Baptist Theological ATS accredited Seminary. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Mount Olive Development Corporation, former Chair of the Broward County School Board, Lead the School Board National Mask Mandate battle against the Governor of Florida in 2020, Faith In Florida Organizer, Florida Senator for District 32 and Associate Minister at New Mount Olive Baptist Church. She is a highly sought after itinerate Preacher. She is a Former Adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University Huizenga School of Business. 

She is the author of two books titled, “The Story Behind the Story” and “Influential Woman Leader”. She is a member of numerous professional organizations. She is a member of the Zeta Rho Omega Chapter and South Atlantic Leader in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is a member of the Fort Lauderdale (FL) Chapter and Southern Area Leader in the Links Incorporated. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida. Dr. Osgood has been recognized by her peers as a true community leader. She is a Life Member of the Fort Lauderdale Broward Branch of the NAACP. In 2013, Dr. Osgood became the First Female Chaplain for the City of Fort Lauderdale Police Department. She has served on numerous Boards and Committees. She currently serves on the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition Board and the Nova Southeastern University Huizenga School of Business Advisory Board

Dr. Sherrer graduated from Central State University Summa Cum Laude. She was accepted by
the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine while still in her 3rd year of college. Upon
completing her MD at Pittsburgh she went on to Stanford University School of Medicine where
she completed her Internship and Residency in general Internal medicine, as well as, a three year
fellowship in Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology.
After fellowship training she joined the Cleveland Clinic Florida where, after 3 years, she was
promoted to Chair of the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology. She served in that
capacity for 5 years.
 

In 1998 she opened the Centre for Rheumatology, Immunology and Arthritis, a Specialty Clinic
and Clinical Trial Center. In that capacity she has been a Principal Investigator for nearly 300
clinical trials involving therapeutics in Rheumatic Diseases. She has served on numerous local
and national committees and boards (including numerous ACR committees and it’s board).She
is a former president of the Florida Society of Rheumatology and currently serves on its
executive committee. She has published in peer reviewed journals and she is a speaker nationally
and internationally.
 

She has received a number of awards including the “Help and Hope award” from the
Florida Arthritis Foundation as well as the 2016 Distinguished Service Award from the
American College of Rheumatology. She has been voted by her peers as A Best Doctor in her
specialty, yearly for nearly 20 years and until the entity transitioned away from Doctor
rankings.. She is now a program director for one of only 2 community, non university
affiliated ACGME approved Rheumatology Fellowship programs.

I have been a Lupus Warrior for last 30 years. I worked as a Mortgage Banker for 36 years, and was married for 40 years, until I became was widowed. I learned to manage having Lupus and juggling everyday life while caring for my grandkids. I also volunteer as the facilitator for the Lupus Support groups for Palm Beach and Broward County.

My is Carla E. Drakes Hamlett. My Lupus Journey started in 2012 when I got into a car accident because of a seizure. When I arrived in the hospital and they were about to release me after an hour, I had another seizure, so they had to run many, many more tests. When they finally got back to me, they diagnosed me with Lupus and Stage One Kidney Failure. After being in the hospital for about a week or two, they finally discharged me, and I couldn’t remember anything that happened to me. I still remembered my family members, but nothing else. They had to explain to me that I was in the hospital because of a seizure and a car accident, and I needed to follow up with many doctors because of a condition. I really had no idea what it was. I just didn’t understand what was actually happening to me. When I went to see my primary doctor, it was him that referred me to some of his colleagues for my follow ups. One was a Nephrologist and the other a Neurologist. They had to give me details about Lupus, seizures, and problems with my kidneys. It took me weeks before I could go back to work. I couldn’t drive because of my seizures. I couldn’t really remember many things, so it was difficult for me to go back to work because I was making so many mistakes. I almost got fired for all the mistakes I was making and even got written up a few times. This made me feel worse because I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I had to spend a lot of time explaining to my employer and my family members about my condition, that I didn’t even understand what was really going on with me, but I would repeat what the doctors would tell me. It took me 2-3 years to understand exactly what was going on with my body and then adjust to what would be my new normal life. After about 6 years, I really became more involved with the Lupus Foundation of America as a co-facilitator for the Lupus Support Group. Today, I’m happy to have become even more involved by becoming an advocate and ambassador for the State of Florida and learned how to spread more awareness in the community. I feel everyone needs to know more about Lupus and how it affects your day-by-day life.

Jeanette Alston-Watkins is married to her amazing husband Rick, with two adult children, daughter, Mia Amour (Alex), new grandma to Jayce and son Miguel (Pamela) and loves to travel the world. Jeanette received her MBA with a minor in Marketing from Nova Southeastern University. She is a Lupus survivor of 15 years, an Ambassador, Advocate for Florida, and facilitator for the Lupus Support Group in Miami Dade County for the Lupus Foundation of America. She has been in the construction industry for 29 years. She started her career with USG International. She moved to the Roofing Industry over 9 years ago and now has the pleasure of working for SOPREMA since 2017. She is the Regional Events & Meeting Manager and manages customer relations, Business Development, project management for the BES along with tradeshows and events. She’s extremely active with a lot of associations in the South Florida area where she volunteers her time. Jeanette has held many positions from Customer Service to National Sales Manager, Operations to Corporate Trainer. She loves the variety manufacturing and distribution has taught her in her career and would not change anything about it. There is nothing she cannot do. Jeanette dedicates her time in helping newly diagnosed patients understand that they are never alone, also to guide other Lupus and autoimmune patients in the right direction. Some of her beliefs are: • GOD has an amazing plan for her. • GOD wanted her to use this disease to help others cope and realize that this is something you can live with and manage. • Lupus can make you stronger every day.

Kristin Brittain has been living with lupus for over twenty years. She was diagnosed at the age of 12, but she began experiencing symptoms several years before diagnosis. She also has rheumatoid arthritis and other related illnesses. Growing up with lupus affected Kristin in many ways but it has not stopped her from achieving her goals. She is currently married, living amongst a zoo of animals, and works fulltime in higher education.

Dr. Louise Solis is a second year family medicine resident in Miami, FL. Her dual role as both a caregiver and physician provides a unique perspective. As a caregiver, she has walked alongside loved ones battling lupus, witnessing firsthand the challenges they face on a daily basis. This experience has instilled a deep sense of empathy and commitment to providing unwavering support to individuals and families in the primary care setting.

Ciandra was diagnosed with Lupus in 2019, 6 years after the onset of her symptoms. It was only after beginning medical school and attaining the knowledge necessary to make the connections between her symptoms for herself that she was able to advocate for herself and reach a diagnosis. 

As a physician now, it is her hope to be the difference that prevents another patient from experiencing the same thing. Ciandra's experience as a patient underscores her commitment to providing empathetic, patient-centered care as a physician. She strives to advocate for her patients and empower others to advocate for themselves. 

Ciandra has served as an ambassador with South Florida’s Lupus Foundation of America chapter and is an active Lupus Research Action Network (LRAN) member.