The New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation Presents Top Honors to Leading Professionals at the 2009 "Women of Distinction" Luncheon!

On Friday, March 20, three of New York City’s outstanding female executives were honored for their dedication to increasing arthritis awareness and fundraising to continue research for a cure to this chronic disease. Honorees included Marilyn DeQuatro, SVP of EmblemHealth, Nancy Hill, President & CEO of The American Association of Advertising Agencies and Margaret D. Smith, MD of St. Vincent’s Medical Center.  Navah Perlman, an acclaimed concert pianist who also suffers from arthritis, was the Luncheon Chair for this event, which raised over $55,000 toward arthritis research.

The New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation has taken a leadership role in women’s health care and ensuring optimal care for people living with arthritis. The Women of Distinction Luncheon draws attention to the fact that more women than men are diagnosed with arthritis, of which nearly 60 percent of 46 million people with arthritis are female. DeQuatro, Hill and Dr. Smith all have personal experiences with arthritis, having close relatives who suffer from the disease and treating patients on a daily basis.

“It is a privilege to volunteer for a cause in which I so strongly believe and have been personally touched,” says DeQuatro, who is also a New York Chapter Arthritis Foundation Board Member. Hill’s mother and grandmother have arthritis which drives her support of the foundation. Dr. Smith has been a practicing rheumatologist for over 30 years, and remains an active New York Marathon runner and amateur pilot. Perlman, a mother of four, has been playing the piano since the age of six and currently plays with numerous orchestras throughout the world while battling the challenges she faces with arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation is dedicated to helping people cope with arthritis and offers a wide range of educational programs, patient services and financial assistance programs to improve the lives of women with the disease. For more information on the New York Chapter’s services, visit the website at: arthritis.org/new-york/ or call (212) 984-8700.

About the Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. Founded in 1948, with headquarters in Atlanta, the Arthritis Foundation has multiple service points located throughout the country.

The Arthritis Foundation is the largest private, not-for-profit contributor to arthritis research in the world, funding more than $400 million in research grants since 1948. The foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

Primary Contact:
Laura Vialva
New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation
(347) 993-5902
[email protected]

Secondary Contact:
Kipp Cheng
SVP, Communications
4A’s
(212) 850-0720
(917) 710-3916
[email protected]