Celebrating Our Community
IDF 2009 National Conference

Innovative education sessions, a bustling exhibit hall and exciting special events were again the signs of success as the Immune Deficiency Foundation presented its wildly successful 2009 National Conference in June at the Disney Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Following in the spirit of this year’s theme, the IDF family “Celebrated Our Community” with the largest contingent of attendees in the history of the biennial event.

There were 1,312 attendees who came from all over the U.S.A., representing 45 states, Washington DC and Guam. There were international attendees from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand and United Kingdom, including David Watters, Executive Director of IPOPI and Stephen Baxter, Chairman of IDFNZ and Vice Chair of IDFA who gave a global view on primary immunodeficiency.

From the opening night Welcome Reception on Thursday evening, it was clear that participants were in for an extraordinary time. Volunteer Bill Hindin was our piano man and Sami Jenkins, a member of our Teen Council, serenaded the crowd with a song. It was the perfect time to reconnect with old friends, meet first time conference participants, and kick-off the conference.

Luigi Notarangelo, MD, receives the Boyle Scientific Achievement Award from Marcia Boyle and Rebecca Buckley, MD

The packed program agenda featured breakfast symposia focusing on critical public policy issues and new IDF survey findings, panel discussions and comprehensive sessions on healthcare and life management. There were expanded specific disease sessions where attendees learned the latest information about their disorders from world-renowned clinical immunologists and even had time to share experiences with other patients and family members.

In addition, healthcare professionals who earned Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits attended the professional medical program - led by notable immunologists and sponsored by the University of South Florida.

Perhaps one of the most magical moments came during the Opening Session, when Mickey Mouse helped John G. Boyle to not only introduce his mother, Marcia Boyle, the president and founder of IDF, but to unveil IDF 2.0! This interactive platform for the primary immunodeficiency community offers many opportunities for people to connect online and share experiences and perspectives. In particular, IDF Friends, the anchor of IDF 2.0!, was introduced as the social networking place and all members of the IDF community were encouraged to join.

David Waters, Executive Director of IPOPI, and Stephen Baxter, Chairman of IDFNZ and Vice Chair of IDFA, speak at the opening session

Visitors to the site can view the “Reel Story” channel, a Website-based anthology of patient generated videos about their experiences living with primary immunodeficiencies. Many conference attendees taped their stories at “Studio IDF” and told of their experiences of being diagnosed and passed on helpful hints and encouragement. The “studio,” produced some wonderful stories of hope for “Reel Stories.”

Another part of IDF 2.0! combines education and entertainment to teach young children about their disease. The IDF Arcade uses the popular characters from Our Immune System booklet in interactive games, such as “Whack-A-Germ” to make learning fun.

Much like the host site of Orlando, the 2009 National Conference placed the spotlight on our youngest attendees with a mixture of fun and age appropriate instruction and information. Children from six months to 17 were able to enjoy the 2009 National Conference, through the Youth Program.

Teens were able to “escape” to their own two-day conference where participants not only benefited from information and educational opportunities, but also found time for a scavenger hunt through the Magic Kingdom and a Retro Party where guests enjoyed dinner, dancing and even a game of flag football. The new interactive Website for teens and young adults, IDF Common Ground, was also introduced at this time.

While the teens were hanging out with Chip ‘n’ Dale, the Tweens (ages 10 -12) and the Kids Club (ages 6 - 9) were competing in separate “Silly ‘Lympics” competitions, visiting the interactive Disney Quest theme park and being Lion Kings at their own Jungle Safari parties. They also learned a few things during educational sessions such as “Our Immune System,” “Clean Hands, Healthy Kids” and “Introducing Genetics.”

While the sessions were the focal point of the day, the IDF community saved its serious celebrating for the evening.

On Friday, guests celebrated zebras with a special evening of dinner, music and a silent auction, and the salute to the black-and-white-striped equine was not without cause. The THINK ZEBRA! Celebration, was inspired by a phrase most doctors learn while still in medical school: “When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.” The horse analogy teaches physicians to focus on the most likely possibilities when making a diagnosis. The IDF community, certainly the zebras of the medical world, encourages healthcare professionals to start thinking zebra.

The Conference used the international venue of Epcot to close this year’s festivities. After a scrumptious dessert reception, the largest gathering of the IDF community to date enjoyed the rousing fireworks spectacular, Illuminations: Reflections for the Earth.

The Immune Deficiency Foundation 2009 National Conference had it all, and thanks to everyone involved, it was a Celebration of Our Community the attendees would not soon forget. In particular, we want to recognize our conference sponsors, Baxter Healthcare, CSL Behring, Talecris Biotherapeutics, Grifols, IgG America and ASD Healthcare as well as Biotest Pharmaceutical, sponsor of the CME professional medical program. And, looking ahead, it is time to start making plans now to join the IDF family, June 23-25, 2011, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, Arizona to celebrate IDF’s 30th Anniversary.