Celebrating UOAA Volunteers

By Christine Ryan, UOAA Executive Director

In honor of the recent National Volunteer Week, UOAA would like to pause for a moment to recognize the extraordinary volunteers who help us achieve our mission. You’re simply the best!

Did you know in 2024 that 360 volunteers gave over 6900 hours to support the many projects and efforts UOAA worked on? This included 11 individuals who served as volunteer leaders on our 2024 Board of Directors. And we cannot say enough about the passionate volunteers who are working tirelessly on our 2025 Conference Planning Committee. Additionally, all of the members serving on our Medical Advisory Board and Patient Advisory Board are also dedicated volunteer leaders.

We also have 2,000 volunteer advocates in our Advocacy Network ready to answer our call to take action on the causes important to our community!

Left: UOAA National Leadership Volunteers at a National Conference. Right: UOAA Advocacy Volunteers in Washington D.C. with the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC).

UOAA is proud of the passionate volunteers on our Advocacy, Education and Children to Young Adult Webpages Development Committees, all working behind the scenes advocating and creating educational resources to ensure UOAA is the trusted go-to place for ostomy and continent diversion information. Some of these volunteers have been serving for almost a decade! Then of course, we have many volunteers working on ad hoc special projects from designing courses to storytelling on Capitol Hill and in our blogs!  

Without all of these dedicated individuals sharing their time and talents with our small non-profit organization we would not be making a priceless impact or be where we are today! 

During this special time, UOAA would also like to formally announce its 2024 Distinguished Volunteer of the Year is Laurie Corona, MSN, RN, CWON. Laurie, a retired Certified Ostomy Nurse, has been on UOAA’s Education Committee since March of 2021, and became a Co-Chair of the Committee in May of 2022. She has been instrumental in creating the new versions of the Living with an Ileostomy Guide, Living with a Colostomy Guide, Living with a Urostomy Guide, Living with a J-Pouch, and Living with a Nephrostomy Guide, all of which are now available on UOAA’s website. She also worked with other members of the Committee and Board Members on the 2024 version of the New Ostomy Patient Guide. 

Laurie has worked tirelessly on ensuring UOAA has the most current, relevant and up-to-date educational resources to share with the ostomy community. Needless to say, over the past 4 years Laurie has dedicated countless volunteer hours to UOAA and is very passionate about helping the ostomy community through education and information. Laurie is stepping off of the Education Committee in May, 2025 and she is wished all the best in her future endeavors.

Feeling inspired to make a difference in the lives of the ostomy and continent diversion communities?  You can get involved with UOAA in the following ways:

• Join our Advocacy Network
• Join a UOAA Committee seeking new members
• Become an Ostomy Friend – If you would like to volunteer your time to support and inspire others living with a new ostomy – complete UOAA’s Ostomy Friends Online Course and you will be matched through “Team HOPE” with a new ostomate, creating a personal connection between the two of you.
• Would you like to become a social media ambassador? Contact our Communications and Outreach Manager to learn more.
• Interested in leading UOAA on its Board of Directors and ensuring a strong future for the organization? Our election process for a President Elect and 2026 Director at Large will begin in early July. Look for more information on our Become A Leader webpage soon.
• Attending our 2025 National Conference in Orlando, FL this August? We need volunteers. Contact Sharon Darnov, this year’s Conference Volunteer Coordinator and she will discuss the opportunities available during the event.

Would you like to establish an Affiliated Support Group in your area? Click here to learn more about how to get started and the benefits of affiliating with UOAA.

To all of UOAA’s volunteers: Thank you.  We celebrate your contributions to UOAA today and every day!