About Us
The United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. (UOAA) is a national network for bowel and urinary diversion support groups in the United States. Its goal is to provide a nonprofit association that will serve to unify and strengthen its member support groups, which are organized for the benefit of people who have, or will have intestinal or urinary diversions and their caregivers.
UOAA’s Mission
- UOAA is an association of affiliated, nonprofit, support groups who
are committed to the improvement of the quality of life of people who
have, or will have, an intestinal or urinary diversion.
- It is dedicated to the provision of information, advocacy and service
to, and for, its affiliated support groups, their members and the
intestinal/urinary diversion community at large.
- It is organized to grow and develop while remaining independent and financially viable.
Membership in UOAA is open to any former UOA chapter or other nonprofit support group that chooses to affiliate with it.
The Phoenix magazine, the official publication of the UOAA, is published quarterly and serves as a major source of funding for the organization’s activities. All interested individuals are encouraged to subscribe.
UOAA has a IRS 501(c)(3) charity status that its affiliated support groups can use as an umbrella.
For current information about UOAA’s activities, see the UOAA Update newsletter.
UOAA’s Board of Directors:
| President: | Kristin Knipp, Ohio | |
| President-elect: | Dave Rudzin, Illinois | |
| Vice President: | LeeAnn Barcus, Missouri | |
| Secretary: | Carol Haack, Iowa | |
| Treasurer: | Scott Bowling, Maryland | |
| Director: | Lynne Kramer, Pennsylvania | |
| Director: | Susan Burns, Missouri | |
| Director: | Bob Parish, California | |
| Director: | Steve Strizic, Washington |
Board of Trustees:
| Chair: | George Salamy, New Jersey | |
| Member: | Sherry Lessard, Oregon | |
| Member: | Bob Baker, Connecticut | |
| Member: | Stanley Baker, Maryland | |
| Member: | Marilyn Mau, Illinois | |
| Member: | Shelley Dittmer, Florida |
Historical Information
UOAA was founded in 2005 after the United Ostomy Association (UOA), the previous national ostomy organization in the U.S., closed its doors. In 2009, in recognition of their efforts, the Management Board of Directors conferred the title of UOAA Co-Founders on Kenneth Aukett and Linda King Aukett. For information on UOAA’s creation, see Ken Aukett’s New Beginning presentation (PDF file from June 2006).