Ostomy Academy
Education for Every Ostomate
Ostomy Academy quarterly online educational seminar to bring trusted and comprehensive ostomy information to all members of the ostomy community. Top experts, medical professionals, and experienced ostomates will focus on a new series of quality of life topics in each presentation with special attention given to emotional well-being strategies.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET
Joy Hooper is certified ostomy nurse from South Georgia. She has been certified in wound, ostomy, & continence care for over 20 years and has practiced in a variety of healthcare settings. Her passion for teaching ostomy management prompted her to create and later patent, the first ostomy teaching tool designed especially for nurses, the Anatomical Apron. Joy opened a small ostomy clinic in 2008 where she provides education, and collects ostomy supplies to reissue to those in need of products. In 2010 she launched the South Georgia Ostomy Support Group in Moultrie Georgia and began participating in annual trips to Capitol Hill to advocate for digestive diseases, improved access to diagnostic procedures, and to provide insight into ostomy management. Joy is a clinical instructor for national certification courses in wound care and ostomy care with Relias Wound Care and was voted the UOAA 2019 WOCN of the Year.
At the age of 37, Joshua Nelson was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Ulcerative Colitis in November 2017. Within one year, he was evaluated by Inflammatory Bowel Disease experts from Rochester Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota Medical Center due to his deteriorating condition. He was elevated to biologics and combination therapies in an effort to manage his Ulcerative Colitis. After failing maximum medical therapies, it was determined to surgically remove his colon in November 2018 at the age of 38. In February 2019, the final surgery was completed making his ileostomy permanent. Since the decision to remove is colon, his health has returned, requires zero medication, no specialized diet, and no further complications from Ulcerative Colitis. On a side note, he is the first documented case of continued flight status as an Air Force Pilot. He is a member of the United Ostomy Association of America, Ostomy Association of the Minneapolis Area and Crohn’s Colitis Foundation.
Brenda Elsagher is an international speaker, author, comedian and has been living with an ostomy for 25 years. At 39 years old with 2 small children at home, a husband and a busy small business owner, she found out she had colorectal cancer. Brenda decided to go after two goals she had long put off: standup comedy and going to college. Winning a comedy contest at age 40, her career changed as she dealt with the effects of colorectal cancer and found that laughter helped her to cope with the new adjustments. Along the way, she found ways to educate others about a taboo subject using humor too. College helped her write her first book. Since then she has written 5 books and become a CHP, Certified Humor Professional through the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor. Brenda is UOAA volunteer serving as Director of Affiliated Support Group Affairs.
Steve Vandevender is a Director at Large for United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA). Steve is also the leader of the Peoria, Illinois Ostomy Support Group. Steve is retired from medical sales and brings years of experience in giving presentations, meeting management and volunteer leadership.
Molly Atwater is UOAA’s Director of Young Ostomate Outreach and Chair of UOAA’s Young Ostomate Outreach Committee. She underwent ileostomy surgery in June 2017 after more than twenty years of struggling with chronic constipation, a symptom of a genetic collagen disorder. As a member of the board, she advocates for ostomates ages 18-50 at the national level, frequently speaks to support groups about ostomy challenges unique to patients in early adulthood, and helps to plan the Young Adult Track of UOAA’s National Conference. Aside from her work with UOAA, she runs the social media account MollyOllyOstomy, found on Instagram and Facebook. Using her platform, she teaches more than twenty thousand followers about life with an ostomy and other chronic illnesses.
January 12, 2022 – New Year, New Mindset: Mental Health with an Ostomy or Chronic Condition
June 9, 2021 – Total Body Ostomy Health – https://youtu.be/niBfy2DkoM0
Sept 14, 2021 – Navigating Life with an Ostomy – https://youtu.be/-OMEDWcnH-w
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