Disease Elevator Pitches
AiArthritis Voices 360 Main, Full Episode 85
Air Date: May 7, 2023
- This episode is a Step 2, as outlined in our 6 Step Patient-Led Problem Solving Process.
Have you found yourself struggling to explain your AiArthritis disease to others?
In this episode, our co-hosts Leila, Charis, and Patrice put a new topic on the table: how to explain your AiArthritis disease in a 30-60 second elevator pitch. From your workplace to your personal life, our co-hosts will provide practical tips on how to tailor your elevator pitch to different audiences such as co-workers, family, friends or strangers to help you confidently communicate your AiArthritis and advocate for yourself. Join us in this episode to listen to varying elevator pitches as well as have the opportunity to share your own and continue to help us build patient resources!
Share your AiArthritis disease elevator pitch!

Email us at
info@aiarthritis.org with the subject: Elevator Pitch
Episode Highlights:
- What is an AiArthritis disease elevator pitch?
- Leila, Charis, and Patrice share their own elevator pitches for their varying AiArthritis diseases.
- Learn how to tailor your own 30-60 second elevator pitch to help explain your disease to others and advocate for your needs.
- Why an elevator pitch is important for anyone living with an AiArthritis disease.
- Importance of creating varying elevator pitches for different audiences such as your work, family, friends, or even strangers.
- Understand how to handle workplace conversations regarding your AiArthritis disease and what accommodations you need.
- How you can use humor to help describe your diseases.
AiArthritis Voices 360 is produced by the International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis. Visit us on the web at
www.aiarthritis.org/talkshow. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook (@IFAiArthritis) or email us (podcast@aiarthritis.org). Be sure to check out our top-rated show on
Feedspot!
All our main 1st Sunday of the month episodes are either an initial "put the topic on the table" episode (Step 2 in our organization's 6-step problem solving process) or a "revisit to the table" episode (Step 6 in our organization's 6-step process), where we build on a past show because we have moved forward in developing help, tools, or projects around the issue (Step 5 in our organization's 6-step process).
After each show airs we spin off the conversation into many discussions over various formats, which we now call #360its (new in 2022)!
And now, let's 360it!
The main Sunday episode is where we "put the topic on the table," but it's not where the conversation ends! Now we spin off the conversation into different discussion segments. Below you will find several 360its. Some are videos from the main episode, while others are audiograms (soundbites).
Soon we will be launching additional 360its, which will build on these conversations. We'll hear from patients in the United States, Canada, and Australia who are here to help you through the transition to biosimilars. We are also planning a WATCH PARTY, where we will play back segments of webinars that aim to teach you more about biosimilars - and you'll have your fellow patients at AiArthritis to talk through it all with you! Stay tuned.
360its COMING SOON!
Your Co-Hosts & Guests: Who is at the table this episode?
Leila Lagandaon
Leila
is the Health Education and Engagement Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus Nephritis and Sjögren’s Syndrome. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them. Leila is on social media as @LupusLifestyle.Lei sharing bits and pieces about her life with lupus and connecting with others. Connect with her on Instagram or TikTok.
Charis Hill
Charis, who uses they/them pronouns, is a disability activist, writer, speaker and model living with many conditions including Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA), Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Charis’ multi-tiered work uses narrative engagement to advance social justice for multiply-marginalized disabled people. Charis’ story is regularly featured internationally in media outlets and in the documentary: "Becoming Incurable." In addition to Charis' leadership on patient advocacy organization committees and regular speaking engagements about health and disability, they boast bylines in HealthCentral, Healthline, and Business Insider; including cover stories for Arthritis Today and Spondylitis Plus magazine; and they have been awarded by the Arthritis Foundation and Spondylitis Association of America for their work on legislative advocacy for state and federal policy efforts.
Patrice Johnson
Patrice was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Patrice has been in remission off and on during these last 11 years. Patrice also has had several comorbidities: severe hearing loss which resulted in her now wearing hearing aids, a Baker's Cyst, a vein ablation, plantar fasciitis, pseudo gout, and she also has osteopenia. Patrice has been a volunteer with AiArthritis for over 2 years and has been co-host and a host for the podcast several times. Patrice went to EULAR virtually with AiArthritis in 2020 and 2021 and attended the virtual ACR conference in 2021 with AiArthritis.
Pull up your seat at the table
Now it's YOUR TURN to join the conversation!
What do you think about this episode?
We want to know what you think! By continuing the conversation with your opinions and perspectives - we all get a better understanding of the problems facing our community. Better yet, through these conversations we can start working and developing solutions.
We mean it when say 360. Not only do we want your input anytime and anywhere, but we also are eager to see where the conversation will take us. So please, "pull up a seat at the table" and let's start talking!
Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org, message us on social media (find us by searching for @IFAiArthritis)
Continue the conversation in our own AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show Group!
Pull up a seat and join the conversation on the topic from today and past episodes. You may even get an opportunity to talk directly with the co-hosts and any episode guests!
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