Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network Inc

The HPS Network attended the national meeting of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), March 25-28, 2010 at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. This medical meeting was smaller than many the Network attends, however, the contacts made were valuable. Many of the physicians in attendance were of Puerto Rican background and almost all were Spanish-speaking, increasing the chances that they might encounter a patient with HPS during their careers. In addition, the conference had a healthy turn out of medical students. One student did his class project on HPS after learning about it at the conference.

Hilda Cardona, Heather Kirkwood and Donna Appell manned the HPS booth on the show floor.

Increasing the awareness of HPS and its prevalence in the Puerto Rican community was a strategic accomplishment for the HPS Network as NHMA advocates for health issues of special interest to the Hispanic community as a whole.