EP 24 - Celebrating Milestones and Advancing Patient Advocacy: GAAPP’s Journey in 2025 and Beyond

EP 24 - Celebrating Milestones and Advancing Patient Advocacy: GAAPP’s Journey in 2025 and Beyond

Welcome to the Passion for Patients podcast, where patient advocacy takes center stage! In this special year-end episode, Tonya Winders—President and CEO of GAAPP, the Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform—reflects on the incredible achievements and milestones reached in 2025 by the GAAPP community. With over 200 patient advocacy groups spanning every continent and more than 25 disease areas, GAAPP has made significant progress in disease awareness, education, advocacy, and research.Join Tonya Winders as she celebrates standout moments like landmark resolutions at the World Health Assembly, record-breaking campaigns for respiratory diseases, and the growth of educational resources and research collaborations. She also offers an inspiring look ahead to 2026, sharing exciting plans for furthering awareness, driving guidelines updates, advancing policy initiatives, and supporting innovation in respiratory and immunology care.Whether you’re a GAAPP member, industry partner, or passionate advocate, this episode is filled with gratitude, hope, and a call to recharge for another transformative year of making a difference in patient lives worldwide.5 Key Takeaways:1. Unprecedented Global Growth:GAAPP now unites 200 patient advocacy groups across every continent and covers 25+ disease areas—a major milestone in global collaboration.2. Impactful Awareness Initiatives:Participation in 25 World Awareness Days, with record numbers of organizations raising the voice for conditions like chronic cough and asthma.3. Capacity Building & Education:New resources like the Knowledge Hub and Understanding Medications Hub empower advocates and patients with knowledge and tools to manage their conditions more effectively.4. Landmark Advocacy Success:Both the United Nations Political Declaration and World Health Assembly Resolution elevated respiratory diseases as global public health priorities for the first time ever.5. Advancing Research & Innovation:30+ peer-reviewed publications, multiple surveys, and growing clinical trial recruitment drive patient-centered innovation, with exciting treatment breakthroughs expected in 2026.Take a moment to celebrate these shared triumphs and rest up for an action-packed 2026. Stay passionate, stay engaged, and let’s make even bigger strides together with GAAPP—your worldwide patient advocacy family!#RespiratoryHealth #PatientAdvocacy #GlobalAllergy #HealthcareInnovation #GAAPPSummit

EP 23 - The Double Impact of Asthma and Adrenal Crisis: Hilary Hodge’s Patient Story

Welcome to another episode of the Passion for Patients podcast, hosted by Tonya Winders, President and CEO of GAAPP. In today’s episode, Tonya Winders sits down with special guest Hilary Hodge, a dedicated patient advocate joining us from France. Together, they dive into Hilary Hodge’s journey with severe asthma, long-term prednisone use, and the challenges of living with adrenal insufficiency—a condition that often goes undetected until crisis hits. Through personal stories and professional insights, this conversation sheds light on the serious consequences of systemic steroid use, the importance of monitoring side effects, and the growing movement for steroid stewardship in respiratory care. Get ready for a thoughtful discussion packed with actionable advice and inspiration for patients, providers, and policy makers alike. Here's the three key takeaways of this episode: 1. Steroid Toxicity Is Real & Underestimated: Long-term use of oral steroids can result in serious side effects—including adrenal insufficiency—which is more common than many realize. As Hilary Hodge shared from personal experience, regular monitoring of cortisol levels for patients on prednisone is critical yet not routinely done. This gap in care can leave patients at risk for life-altering complications. 2. Patient Advocacy Can Drive Change: Hilary Hodge emphasized the importance of patients learning to advocate for themselves, especially when managing complex comorbidities like adrenal insufficiency. Lived experiences, such as hers, are invaluable for informing best practices and helping guide both patients and clinicians toward better outcomes. 3. It’s Time for Steroid Stewardship: The medical community needs to shift towards the responsible and cautious use of steroids. Tonya Winders strongly argued that oral corticosteroids should be a “last resort”—not an automatic go-to—because of the risks and long-term harm they can cause. As understanding and data have evolved, so should the guidelines and conversations within respiratory care. We hope you found this thoughtful conversation around adrenal insufficiency, steroid toxicity, and the importance of oral corticosteroid stewardship in chronic respiratory disease to be inspiring and informative. If you enjoyed this discussion or learned something new, please like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s keep the conversation going and help drive lasting change for patients everywhere. Stay passionate and join us next time for more stories and insights dedicated to improving patient care! #PatientAdvocacy #SteroidStewardship #AdrenalInsufficiency #ChronicDisease #PassionForPatients

EP 22 - Food Allergy Advances in 2025: Updates on Diagnosis, Treatments, and Prevention

Welcome to the latest episode of the Passion for Patients podcast, where host Tonya Winders, President and CEO of GAAPP, is joined by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Rance for an insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of food allergies in 2025. In this episode, you’ll hear about groundbreaking advancements in diagnosis and treatment—from personalized approaches with component-resolved diagnostics to new options like biologics and skin patch immunotherapy. The conversation explores strategies for prevention, global trends, and practical tips for living confidently with food allergies. Karen Rance and Tonya Winders also tackle common myths and the emotional impact of life-threatening allergies, sharing empowering advice and a hopeful outlook for the future. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this episode delivers the latest updates and inspiration to help you navigate the world of food allergy management. Here are 3 key takeaways from their insightful conversation: 1. Personalized Diagnostics and Treatments: Component-resolved diagnostics now allow for precise identification of food proteins triggering allergies, paving the way for tailored treatment plans. 2. Innovations in Prevention and Therapy: Early introduction of allergenic foods for infants is now encouraged, while advancements in immunotherapy—including skin patches, sublingual tablets, and biologics like omalizumab—are changing the landscape of food allergy management. 3. Empowering with Awareness & Technology: The importance of accurate food labeling, global best practices, mental health support, and new apps and AI-powered tools help individuals with food allergies navigate daily life and travel with greater confidence.Food allergies are challenging, but as Karen Rance emphasized, they are manageable—and no patient is alone. Community support and ongoing scientific progress are shaping a brighter future for millions globally. Let’s keep the conversation going and continue advocating for even better care and awareness! #FoodAllergy #HealthcareInnovation #PatientAdvocacy #PodcastRecap

EP 21 - Latest Advances in Environmental Allergy Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention with Dr. Karen Rance

Welcome to a new episode of the Passion for Patients podcast, where Tonya Winders and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Rance explore environmental allergies. They break down what allergies really are, the differences between seasonal and year-round allergies, common symptoms, and how these conditions are diagnosed and treated—including antihistamines, immunotherapy, and prevention strategies.The episode also covers how allergies impact mental health, sleep, and quality of life, challenges for underserved communities, and the latest innovations in care. Packed with practical tips and insights, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating allergies or curious about the latest developments in this evolving field. Here are 3 key takeaways for anyone involved in allergy care or living with allergies: 1. Personalized Allergy Care Matters: Allergic rhinitis and environmental allergies are not a “one size fits all” condition. Diagnostics and treatment options—from skin testing to sublingual tablets—should be tailored to the individual, their triggers, and their lifestyle. 2. Prevention & Awareness Are Foundational: Simple strategies like using pollen tracking apps, optimizing bedroom environments, and employing air filters can make a real difference. Staying proactive and informed is key to managing symptoms effectively. 3. Innovations & Hope on the Horizon: Advancements such as new immunotherapy modalities and forthcoming biologics are shaping the future of allergy management. It’s an exciting time with more options and research than ever before. Environmental allergies are manageable—and emerging treatments continue to empower both patients and providers. Thanks Karen Rance and Tonya Winders for leading this important conversation! #AllergyAwareness #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCare #Immunotherapy #PodcastInsights

EP 20 - Understanding Chronic Urticaria: Latest Treatments, Triggers, and Hope for Patients Worldwide

Welcome to the Passion for Patients podcast by GAAPP and We See You! In this inspiring episode, your host Kristen Willard sits down with allergy specialist Karen Rance to dig deep into chronic urticaria—known as CU. Together, they unpack what chronic hives really are, the emotional weight of living with a misunderstood condition, and the latest advances in diagnosis, treatment, and self-management. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or living with chronic urticaria yourself, you’ll find expert insight, hope, and practical tools in today’s conversation. Here are the 5 Key Takeaways from this Passion for Patients episode with Kristen Willard and Karen Rance: 1. Chronic Urticaria Defined:Karen Rance emphasizes that chronic urticaria (CU) is diagnosed when hives or swelling persist for six weeks or longer. This distinguishes CU from acute allergic reactions, which are brief and usually have a clear cause, making CU a sometimes misunderstood condition. 2. Diagnosis Relies on Patient Involvement:The main tools for diagnosing CU are a detailed clinical history and patient-provided documentation. Both Karen Rance and Kristen Willard stress the importance of journaling symptoms, tracking possible triggers, and taking photos, especially since symptoms may not always be visible during medical appointments. Standardized tools like the Urticaria Activity Score and angioedema control test can also help. 3. Exciting Advances in Treatment:While antihistamines are the first line of defense, there’s real progress: two biologics (omalizumab and duvalizumab) are now available for those with hard-to-control symptoms. The conversation encourages patients to stay informed about all treatment options and discuss them openly with their healthcare providers, as access and global advocacy continue to improve. 4. Triggers and Stress Management:Triggers for CU are highly individual and can include allergens, stress, temperature changes, medications, or even daily routines like bathing. Identifying triggers (when possible) through journaling not only helps with management but can also ease feelings of self-blame. Stress reduction and routine self-care, even between flare-ups, are vital for better outcomes. 5. Empowerment through Advocacy and Community:Many patients experience misdiagnosis and isolation, but Karen Rance urges seeking out empathetic healthcare providers, leaning on support networks, and using resources (apps or simple journals) for self-advocacy. Above all, the message is clear: you are not alone. Thanks to ongoing research, advocacy, and education, there is hope—and a growing community ready to support you. Thank you for joining us for this empowering episode of Passion for Patients. We hope you’re walking away with renewed hope and actionable strategies for managing chronic urticaria. Remember, you are not alone—there’s a global community fighting for improved care and understanding, and plenty of support along the way. For more information, resources, and practical tools, visit the GAAPP website and the We See You initiative. Until next time, keep advocating for your health, stay connected, and know that there is hope ahead! #ChronicUrticaria #HivesAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #AllergySupport#HopeForPatients