This activity will highlight new updates in our understanding of how diabesity develops and describe the negative physiologic effects of this disease on multiple body systems, notably the cardiovascular and renal systems. Optimal treatments for diabesity will be identified, along with an overview of the health burden of diabesity related to long-term complications and reduced function, quality of life and life expectancy. 

Guardianship can provide safe and healthy care for individuals with special health care needs. Familiarity with the requirements and processes surrounding the assignment of legal guardianship is essential for health care professionals (HCPs) to competently determine guardianship eligibility. This activity will provide an overview of the types of guardianship that exist, how the need for a guardian is determined and the process of establishing guardianship. It will help guide HCPs through common issues and challenges that may arise during this process, including the need for determining the individual’s competency. HCPs will also gain insight into how to identify circumstances that may require further intervention and review indications that ethics committee involvement or risk management processes may be necessary.

This session focuses on developing equal access to transplant services for the Hispanic population, as well as on how equity-based approaches can be used as a model for treatment programs for other diseases, such as sickle cell disease, immunodeficiencies, cancer, and other chronic conditions.

This presentation exams the challenges surrounding rare-disease diagnosis and treatment, delving further into the significant impact of the diagnostic odyssey on adults, children, and their families as they seek care for their rare conditions. A panel of individuals speak about the challenges of their own rare-disease odysseys and provide insight into the pronounced effects their prolonged and necessary diagnostic pursuits have had on their personal lives, finances, and physical and mental health.