Alex Levine, CPT, is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)-certified personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, stretching & flexibility coach, and senior fitness specialist. He owns and operates Alex Levine Fitness LLC, which specializes in 1-on-1 personal training for those with axial spondyloarthritis. 

https://www.alexlevinefitness.com/ 

Liron Caplan, MD, PhD, is Section Head of Rheumatology at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he founded and directs the Spondyloarthritis Clinic. He is a health services researcher, pharmacoepidemiologist, and past chair of the Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network (SPARTAN).

Liron Caplan, MD, PhD, is Section Head of Rheumatology at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he founded and directs the Spondyloarthritis Clinic. He is a health services researcher, pharmacoepidemiologist, and past chair of the Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network (SPARTAN).

About Heidi Waltz, Piedmont Triad's Support Group Leader I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis when I was 22 years old. I had experienced lower back pain for a few years prior to diagnosis and visited many doctors who couldn’t figure out the cause for all the pain I was experiencing. Everything came together when I woke up one morning with very limited vision and red irritated eyes. After a visit to a wonderful Ophthalmologist, I was told I had Iritis and asked if I had any joint pain. I tested positive for the HLA-B27 gene and was referred to a Rheumatologist. I have been on a biologic that has been working and I am so thankful for that. I am a wife, teacher and mother of two beautiful daughters. My wonderful husband, family and friends have been an amazing support system for me. I don’t know how I would have made it through my difficult times without them. With a chronic condition like AS, I have learned to live each day to its fullest. I enjoy traveling, photography, reading, yoga and kayaking. I became interested in leading a support group after browsing the SAA website. Also, I have been wanting to get to know others with AS to share our experiences together. I have realized over the years how common AS actually is and I am learning more each day about this disease. I enjoy reading about research being done by SAA and would like as a group to discuss and share knowledge as well as share experiences in a group setting. I look forward to meeting you soon. 

https://spondylitis.org/resources-support/support-resources/support-groups/piedmont-triad/ 

About Iain McDonald, The Woodland's Support Group Leader Iain and his wife Jane have lived in The Woodlands for over 23 years and have been part of The Woodlands AS support group since its inception in 2008. He retired from Anadarko Petroleum in 2015. Iain has had SpA for about 50 years, first showing up as iritis. Ten years later he was finally diagnosed. He is a big advocate of staying active to ease the symptoms of SpA. He recommends everyone find an activity they can handle and keep at it. He really enjoys the camaraderie of the SAA Support Group. It’s a fun time of learning and encouragement.

https://spondylitis.org/resources-support/support-resources/support-groups/woodlands/ 

Occupational therapist Cheryl Crow founded Arthritis Life to educate, empower, and support people with arthritis. She also created and hosts the Arthritis Life Podcast and runs the online self-management course and support group Rheum to THRIVE, where she helps people adjust to their conditions and live full and meaningful lives.

Occupational therapist Cheryl Crow founded Arthritis Life to educate, empower, and support people with arthritis. She also created and hosts the Arthritis Life Podcast and runs the online self-management course and support group Rheum to THRIVE, where she helps people adjust to their conditions and live full and meaningful lives.

About New Mexico's Support Group Leader When Carolyn Begeman was diagnosed with Axial Spondyloarthritis, it took about six months until she was ready to talk about her condition openly. At the Albuquerque/Santa Fe Support Group, she found others who understood the grief at suffering for a decade misdiagnosed, at not being able to be physically active in the way she had been, and the difficulties of managing work and life with pain and fatigue. The support group members were also there to celebrate as Carolyn found a medication that helped — a lot! Carolyn is excited to be able to pay it forward as a support group leader and welcomes anyone in the spondylitis community to join the meetings. She spends her time outside the meetings working as a climate scientist, walking and hiking with her dog and wife, knitting, and cooking (when energy allows!).

https://spondylitis.org/resources-support/support-resources/support-groups/new-mexico/ 

Gail Wright is a teacher of students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. She’s been teaching in a variety of settings for 27 years. Gail was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis in January of 2014. She enjoys exercising, hiking, being outdoors – especially in the mountains, gardening and being with great friends. She has an amazing, supportive husband and two great kids.

https://spondylitis.org/resources-support/support-resources/support-groups/chicago-nw-suburbs/

Christopher T. Ritchlin, MD, MPH, is a distinguished Professor of Medicine and Chief of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. He leads clinical trials as the Director of the Clinical Immunology Research Unit, evaluating the effectiveness of anti-TNF agents and other biologic molecules in treating PsA, RA, and axSpA.

Christopher T. Ritchlin, MD, MPH, is a distinguished Professor of Medicine and Chief of Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. He leads clinical trials as the Director of the Clinical Immunology Research Unit, evaluating the effectiveness of anti-TNF agents and other biologic molecules in treating PsA, RA, and axSpA.

Sue Seto is a Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner™, in practice since 2017.

In her Feldenkrais^® practice, she helps with joint replacements, mobility concerns, neurological concerns, balance, posture, gait, chronic pain, and fall prevention.  

Sue teaches the Feldenkrais Method™ in support of joint health. Arthritis commonly requires movements specifically designed for improvement and maintenance. Challenges may present when finding opportunities for a safe movement practice. Sue’s lessons focus on joint supportive movements.

Sue continues to attend postgraduate training focusing on intelligent movement, vision, Functional Integration^®, Awareness Through Movement^®, chronic pain, and aging well. Sue also attended the BoneFit training of Osteoporosis Canada, as well as the international GLA:D program: Managing Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis.  Sue searches for the best movements for arthritis and range of motion while teaching the Feldenkrais Method™.

Denis Poddubnyy, MD, PhD, MSc is a professor of rheumatology at Charité University Hospital in Berlin. His research activities focus on early diagnosis and treatment of patients with SpA. He is a member of the executive committee of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) and the steering committee of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA).

Denis Poddubnyy, MD, PhD, MSc is a professor of rheumatology at Charité University Hospital in Berlin. His research activities focus on early diagnosis and treatment of patients with SpA. He is a member of the executive committee of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) and the steering committee of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA).

https://sites.google.com/view/spine-group/home 

About Eric Bonanno, Spokane's Support Group Co-Leader Eric Bonanno is retired after spending the majority of his professional career in the hockey business. He grew up with a family history of AS, watching his father struggle through many differing medical opinions before finally being diagnosed correctly with AS. Eric enjoys all sports, spending time with his family and with their dog, Zoey. He loves movies and says the movie theater is his “Happy Place”.

https://spondylitis.org/resources-support/support-resources/support-groups/spokane/ 

Meghan Wilde is a licensed clinical psychologist who holds a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. She has provided mental health services to individuals through her work at the Community Research Foundation (San Diego), the Cognitive Therapy Institute (San Diego), and the Mental Health Center of Denver (Colorado), where she also trains future clinical psychologists.

Meghan Wilde is a licensed clinical psychologist who holds a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. She has provided mental health services to individuals through her work at the Community Research Foundation (San Diego), the Cognitive Therapy Institute (San Diego), and the Mental Health Center of Denver (Colorado), where she also trains future clinical psychologists.

About Joan Polzin, Spokane's Support Group Co-Leader Joan Polzin is a retired teacher in Spokane. She was diagnosed in 2007 and had no idea what spondylitis was. To help her learn more she started a support group in Spokane. Since then two other family members have been diagnosed with AS. She owns her own business, enjoys travelling in her motorhome to renew with nature. Other joys are meeting new people and connecting them to services. She loves gardens, attending plays and symphony concerts, reading, and having fun with friends and family. She is actively involved in Delta Kappa Gamma, Key Women Educators International, her church, D.A.R., and caregiving for her partner. She is passionate about living a grateful life.

https://spondylitis.org/resources-support/support-resources/support-groups/spokane/ 

About Bridgewater's Support Group Leader Robert Ambrose Bob is a Piscataway NJ, resident who has been married to his wonderful wife, Nancy, for 39 years. They have 3 grown sons, a grandchild, and 2 rescue dogs. Bob’s hobbies include avidly following the N.Y. Mets, the N.Y. Giants, and listening to and collecting rock music for his extensive iPod music library. After delivering mail for 20 years, Bob retired in 2013 due to physical limitations related to AS. It was after retiring that he reached out for much needed support and was able to attend the Bridgewater N.J. AS Support Group Meeting; he enjoys the fellowship and support (emotional, mental, and educational), that the members of the group provide. Bob is enthusiastic to be the leader of the group and he looks forward to the continued sharing of strength, hope, and courage with others living with AS. Bob’s mantra is, “Stay Strong and Keep Moving!”

https://spondylitis.org/resources-support/support-resources/support-groups/bridgewater/ 

Nancy E. Lane, MD is an Endowed Professor of Medicine, Rheumatology, and Aging Research at the University of California at Davis School of Medicine. She also serves as Director for the Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Director of the K12 NIH Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH), and Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded Program on Sex Differences in Musculoskeletal Diseases Across the Lifespan.