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OPMD In-person Symposium

Sponsored by the OPMD Association and The Carroll & Marguerite Wheeler Foundation, and UTSA Health

Saturday March 1, 2025, 10:00 – 3:30

Westin San Antonio North 9821 Colonnade Boulevard, San Antonio, TX 78230

Join us in San Antonio for a one-day, in-person educational event for patients living with Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy, family members, and care teams. Sessions will provide clinical insights, patient perspectives, research updates and important resources. Register for this no-cost event below. Lunch is provided.

Planning to attend the event? For your convenience, a reduced-rate block of rooms has been reserved for our attendees. Reserve your stay

In Honor of Jay Miller

The OPMD Symposium 2025 is funded in honor of Jay Miller.

Joseph “Jay” Richard Miller passed away May 31, 2024, of complications from Ocular Pharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD). Jay was born and raised in Borger, Texas and moved to Arizona in 1987. He never lost his Texas accent and his Texas friendliness.

After a 2-year stint at the University of Oklahoma, Jay graduated from West Texas State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting. He had a successful CPA firm for over 30 years. Jay was a friend to many and an avid football fan – the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Arizona Cardinals were his favorites, loved golfing and had a lifelong passion of fly fishing – which his dad started teaching him when he was 10 years old. The proudest accomplishment for Jay was his 6 beloved grandkids. Nicknamed Bampa by his oldest grandchild, he loved the name and telling the story of the origin. He was also known as JayJay to his wife’s 3 adored grandkids.

Jay and his wife moved back to their roots and settled in Austin just prior to his passing.

 

Speakers

Dr. Matthew Wicklund,
MD, FAAN Professor of Neurology and Vice Chair for Research UTSA Health
Julia Castro,
SCM, CGC Neurology Genetic Counselor UT Health San Antonio Neurology Glenn Biggs Institute
Kristen Posey,
M.S./CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist
Emily Peters,
RDN, LD
OPMD Association advocate since 2024
OPMD Warrior, diagnosed in 2015
Melissa Lopez,
a voice for those who are underrepresented, and an OPMD.org volunteer, shares perspectives from her journey as someone newly-diagnosed with OPMD in 2024.

Dr. Autumn Clegg,
Associate Professor in the School of Health Professions in the Department of Occupational Therapy at UT Health San Antonio