Wednesday, November 12, 2025
5–6 PM PT | 8–9 PM ET
Register Here: https://tedcommunity.org/connected/
Session Description:
Facilitated by educator and TED patient Julie Owens, this session shifts the focus from impact to action — highlighting lifestyle strategies that can improve quality of life for those living with TED. Two highly esteemed award-winning medical professionals will share science-backed guidance on topics like anti-inflammatory nutrition, movement as medicine, sleep hygiene, stress management, and psycho-social wellbeing. You’ll also get a sneak peek at the TED Community’s upcoming Quality of Life Program, a free online series launching in 2026 designed to help patients implement these approaches in meaningful ways. The final 15 minutes will feature a physician-curated Q&A drawn from the Zoom Questions.
Facilitator:
Julienne ‘Julie’ Owens, MS, Patient Leader Certified
Julie is a 30-year educator, certified professional development trainer, advocate, and consultant. Her experiences with numerous health challenges, disappointments, and setbacks prepared her to do what she does best: advocate. Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Thyroid Eye Disease, Graves’ Disease, and Acromegaly are all medical diagnoses she’s all too familiar with, and, unfortunately, has first-hand experience as a collaborative caregiver and patient.
Medical Panel:
Dr. Alon Kahana, MD, PhD
Dr. Alon Kahana is Professor of Oculoplastic Surgery and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and founder of Kahana Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery in Michigan. A leading international authority on Thyroid Eye Disease and orbital surgery, he combines pioneering research and clinical care—ranging from TED to complex orbital reconstructive cases—with training oculoplastic and orbital surgery fellows, academic leadership, and chief editorial service. He is also a principal investigator on multiple clinical trials related to thyroid eye disease.
Margarita Ochoa-Maya, MD
Dr. Margarita Ochoa-Maya is a board-certified endocrinologist with extensive experience in rare diseases, including Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). Trained at Harvard and Boston University, she currently serves as a Medical Director at Amgen Rare Disease Business Unit. A passionate advocate, she partners with patients and caregivers to amplify the patient voice, support education, and drive more compassionate, patient-centered care. Known for her patient-centered approach, she combines deep clinical expertise with a passion for education and advocacy, empowering individuals to take an active role in their health.
Q&A Curator:
Shula Pollard, PhD
Dr. Shula Pollard is an Executive Medical Director at Viridian Therapeutics, where she leads scientific communications and data generation initiatives in support of Viridian’s TED clinical development program. Her expertise spans medical device and pharmaceutical industries, with a focus on communicating clinical trial data, generating meaningful patient-reported outcomes, and ensuring clinicians are educated on emerging data.
About CONNECTED 2025
CONNECTED 2025 is the first global virtual conference created by and for people impacted by Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). Hosted by the TED Community Organization—the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit solely focused on TED—this immersive, weeklong event brings together patients, caregivers, medical experts, advocacy leaders, and industry partners for six days of education, empowerment, and connection.
