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SullivanCotter Announces the Release of 2021 Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Compensation and Productivity Benchmarks

SullivanCotter

SullivanCotter, the nation’s leading independent consulting firm in the assessment and development of total rewards programs, workforce solutions, and technology and data products for the health care industry and not-for-profit sector, is excited to announce the release of its 2021 compensation and productivity benchmarks for nearly 260,000 physicians, physician leaders and advanced practice providers nationwide. Organizations are currently struggling to understand how to utilize the new survey benchmarks and effectively adjust for a number of unprecedented changes from last year and, as a result, are looking for more reliable and stable datasets moving forward. “This year more than ever, hospitals and health systems require critical data-driven insights as they look to normalize the impact of COVID-19 on clinical workforce compensation and productivity and address substantial modifications to the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule. To help clients plan for 2021 and beyond, SullivanCotter will be offering enhanced analyses and reporting as well as guidance on best practices for evaluating the newly released survey data,” said Chris Brandt, Senior Director, Data Analytics and Reporting, SullivanCotter. In addition to standard, non-adjusted benchmarks as historically reported, organizations who purchase an eligible survey report will receive complimentary COVID-19-adjusted work RVU and TCC per work RVU data – providing greater insight into the effect of the pandemic and enabling hospitals, health systems and medical groups to quickly measure the impact on compensation and productivity within their organizations. Newly available for purchase this year are three tiers of detailed productivity reporting – including monthly work RVU volumes by specialty in addition to individual CPT code level details. When combined with SullivanCotter’s innovative Benchmarks360™ platform, organizations can more effectively analyze and visualize this data with access to dynamic filters, multi-year coding profiles, and annual updates to CPT codes. SullivanCotter will also be offering adjusted benchmarks for total cash compensation, work RVUs, collections and other related ratios for use in conjunction with the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule. This includes proprietary data from SullivanCotter's 2021 surveys as well as other third-party market datasets (with appropriate licensing and non-disclosure agreements in place). The 2021 surveys are now available for purchase at SullivanCotter.com. To learn more about this year’s enhanced reporting and analyses, please contact surveys@sullivancotter.com or dial 888.739.7039. About SullivanCotter SullivanCotter partners with health care and other not-for-profit organizations to understand what drives performance and improve outcomes through the development and implementation of integrated workforce strategies. Using our time-tested methodologies and industry-leading research and information, we provide data-driven insights, expertise, data and technology products to help organizations align business strategy and performance objectives – enabling our clients to deliver on their mission, vision and values. Contact Details Becky Lorentz +1 314-414-3719 beckylorentz@sullivancotter.com Company Website https://sullivancotter.com

August 24, 2021 02:42 PM Central Daylight Time

GRYT Health Announces New Additions to Board of Directors and Employee Team

GRYT Health

GRYT (“grit”) Health, a digital oncology company that empowers people to be in charge of their own health, announces the appointment of Sheila Thorne, president and chief executive officer, Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group, LLC, to its Board of Directors. "Sheila Thorne is a powerhouse in the healthcare marketing industry and a champion of patient rights and equality. On behalf of the entire GRYT Health team, I'm sharing our excitement over her addition to our Board of Directors," said Shelley Nolden, cancer survivor, co-founder, and chairwoman of GRYT Health. "We're thrilled to have Sheila join her voice with ours as we work to change healthcare and accelerate GRYT Health's commercial growth and community impact while always preserving our patient-first principles." A native New Yorker and former senior executive in five preeminent marketing and communications companies, Sheila has spent more than two decades designing marketing, media and health education campaigns for the top 50 pharmaceutical companies across a broad range of therapeutic categories from molecule to market. A former high school teacher of foreign languages, she has worked on behalf of the healthcare industry throughout North America, Western Europe and Latin America with a focus on communities of color. She teaches and has lectured on health equity and cultural competency at Quinnipiac University School of Medicine, Rutgers, New York University and Queens College. She has given over 250 keynote presentations and workshops on cultural competency, anti-bias, and diversity. She is published in Pharmaceutical Executive, PharmaVoice, Medical, Marketing & Media and has numerous articles published in a variety of consumer health and ethnic publications. Sheila is known for her unique ability to galvanize communities of color around health and social justice issues. She has been featured in Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise, The Positive Community, Madame Noire, The Network Journal and a frequent panelist during the sessions of the Annual Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Institute, and the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum. Sheila has received numerous awards for her innovative health marketing strategies to reach people of color, including PharmaVOICE Top 100 earlier this month. "I am truly excited to join the GRYT Health Board," stated Sheila Thorne. "I look forward to working with this extraordinary group of patient advocates who use their humanity to reach all those living and surviving with a chronic or life-threatening disease, no matter what they look like, what language they speak, or where they come from." GRYT Health is also proud to announce a significant number of employee additions and promotions. “We are blessed to have seen tremendous business growth this year, which allowed us to significantly invest in increasing our staff, as well as employee growth opportunities, in an ongoing effort to provide direct support to patients and caregivers today, while empowering them to use their experience to improve healthcare tomorrow,” said Dave Craig, cancer survivor, co-founder, and chief executive officer. “A company started and run by cancer survivors, the patient is the center for everything we do. We bring services to others that we wish we would have had during our own diagnoses.” Through its app and desktop platform, GRYT Health offers support services through connection and education, as well as the ability for patients, survivors and caregivers to share their experiences to help others. Currently, working in collaboration with half of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies, GRYT Health champions patient experience research, clinical trial patient activation, and virtual patient education programs, including leading The Advocacy Exchange and The Global Virtual Cancer Conference, now in its third year. GRYT Health is proud to announce the following employee changes: Matt Berner has joined the team as an Umbraco front end developer. He has held similar roles for 15 years and finds joy in creating a digital product that improves people’s lives. Matt is a 2006 graduate of Muhlenberg College and currently lives in Macungie, Pa. Dave Bjork was recently hired as vice president of empowerment. In this role, he leads the business development and project management of virtual patient education programming with our industry partners. He is a lung cancer survivor, advocate, and host of The Research Evangelist podcast, which elevates the voices of others to inform and empower. Dave earned his degree at the University of Pennsylvania and his background includes over 20 years in industry and non-profit management roles. He currently lives in Georgetown, Mass. Christian Bullock was recently promoted to director of digital strategy. In this role, Christian oversees search engine optimization and digital advertising. Having gone through his own cancer diagnosis, Christian found GRYT Health in 2018 and joined the team in an advisory capacity. Christian prides himself on communicating with other cancer patients and survivors in an empathic and understanding way. Prior to joining GRYT Health, Christian cut his teeth in various agency management and digital media roles. He has a particular interest in astronomy and likes to read whenever he can. He graduated from Washington State University and currently resides in Battle Ground, Wash. Rachel Byrd joined the organization in 2020 and was recently promoted to senior research coordinator. She obtained her Bachelors of Science degree in Neuroscience from Central Michigan University and her Masters of Science degree in Health Science with an emphasis in Molecular Medicine from Montana State University. Cancer has touched her life through her younger sister, who is now nearly 20 years cancer free, and through the loss of her aunt and uncle. Rachel grew up in Michigan, but currently calls Bozeman, Mont., home. Megan-Claire Chase was recently hired as partnership director. In this role, she is working to build relationships with non-profit patient advocacy groups to engage their expertise in virtual patient education programs and amplify their resources to support the GRYT Health community. Megan-Claire is an accomplished media and marketing professional with over 15 years of experience in these industries. After being diagnosed with breast cancer (stage IIA invasive lobular) in 2015, she became heavily involved in patient advocacy and research post-treatment. She is a powerful communicator, public speaker, researcher, published writer and blogger of Life on the Cancer Train. In her spare time, she is a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program and a contributing writer for WebMD under their breast cancer section. Megan-Claire and her work has been featured in national press including The New York Times and People Magazine, as well as through numerous patient advocacy organizations. She grew up in Macon, Ga. and received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Communication with a minor in Theatre from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y. Chris Chamars was recently hired as a programs and partnership specialist. Chris has extensive experience in the healthcare and community relations industries, including time as an EMT, teaching health education and doing community outreach with the Peace Corps in Moldova, and at The Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt. and a dual Masters of Science degree and MBA in Global Healthcare Management from The Heller School at Brandeis University in Mass. Chris currently lives in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Leah Hennessey was recently hired as marketing manager. Leah is a designer and leukemia survivor with a passion for storytelling and making positive impacts on the lives of patients and survivors. After her diagnosis, she started a fundraising campaign called The Positive Project, for Roswell Park Cancer Center, where she received her treatment, including a bone marrow transplant, by selling handmade illustrative cards with uplifting messages inspired by fellow patient’s stories. Leah has been working with startups since 2015 and loves high-growth, high-energy environments. In her spare time, Leah enjoys running, biking, drawing, reading, and playing with her dogs. Leah grew up in Chatham, N.Y., received a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University at Buffalo and currently lives in Baldwinsville, N.Y. Liz Hiles was recently hired as an engagement specialist. Diagnosed with Stage III-B, non-metastatic bladder cancer with a T4 tumor in August 2016, she had her bladder removed with a stoma/urostomy placed, followed by chemotherapy. Liz has worked with several non-profit organizations as well in the education field. After healing from her experience with cancer, she transitioned to writing and advocacy work full-time. She is passionate about advocating for young adults in the cancer, bladder cancer and ostomy communities, serving as a community manager and contributing writer for select groups. Liz hails from Cincinnati and received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology from Ohio University in Athens, as well as certifications in Women’s Studies and Cross-Cultural Competencies. Dr. Daniel Platt joined GRYT Health in 2020 as vice president of research and patient engagement and was recently promoted to chief medical officer. He has spent the majority of his life engaged in making the healthcare system more responsive to the needs of patients. Dan holds a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree with distinction in research from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He recently moved back to Rochester after having spent the last 10 years in Boston as a resident in neurology and consultant to biotech, pharma, and industry. Dan has extensive experience in the immuno-oncology space, having also served as the executive director, medical strategy and development, for Advaxis Immunotherapies. He is passionate about improving the prevention and treatment of cancer, educating and advocating for patients, and reshaping healthcare to be effective, efficient, and equitable. Uma Rana recently joined the organization as senior vice president of empowerment. Uma was the lead project manager for Bristol Myers Squibb Patient Advocacy and has led many key strategic initiatives across the organization. Her extensive experience in program/project management, strategy, operations, resource planning, financial, procurement, and relationship management will enhance GRYT Health’s core capabilities and help drive project success. Uma holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Pre-Med/Biology with Honors from Rider University and a MBA from New York Institute of Technology. She currently lives in East Windsor, N.J. Eileen Shannon was recently hired as vice president of client relations. In this role, she works closely with GRYT Health champions within client organizations to learn what makes them most proud of their work, and to help align resources to deliver those results. Eileen brings over 14 years of experience in non-profit fundraising and alumni relations. As a supporter of both family and friends who have experienced cancer, Eileen finds profound personal meaning in GRYT Health’s mission. Eileen holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Professional & Technical Communication and a Masters of Science degree in Communication & Media Technologies, both from Rochester Institute of Technology. She resides in Rochester, N.Y. Sam Schneider was recently hired as a senior research coordinator. Sam joins GRYT Health from Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Institute where he spent three years as a research scientist in CAR T-cell (cancer) research, drug development, and clinical trials. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry from Western Washington University. Sam grew up in Bainbridge Island, Wash. and now lives in Hilo, HI. Benjamin Valence joined the organization in 2019 as a front-end developer and was recently promoted to the role of manager of front-end development. In this role, he oversees a team of professionals to develop, build and host virtual patient education offerings for GRYT Health’s industry and advocacy clients. Ben has an eye for detail, and deeply cares about providing an exceptional user experience. He understands the emotions and need for information that go along with cancer, having been a caregiver for his sister during her treatment for colon cancer. Skilled at working with his hands, Ben has enjoyed experiences as a craftsman and barber. He has also served as a youth pastor for local churches in Rochester, N.Y. Ben grew up in and currently lives in Henrietta, N.Y. Jessica Valence was recently promoted to the role of vice president, education and empowerment. In this role, she helps to create virtual spaces for patient-focused companies to connect with their audiences in a new and authentic way. Jessica has been with GRYT Health since 2017 and has held a number of roles in assisting the company to evolve, including positions in Marketing and Operations. As a colon cancer survivor, Jessica holds a unique passion for helping to elevate the patient's voice and providing organizations a better understanding of the needs within their own communities. Prior to GRYT Health, she worked with a number of Rochester-based start-ups to amplify awareness and increase efficiencies. Growing up in Rochester, N.Y., Jessica attended Monroe Community College and earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Art Education from Roberts Wesleyan College. She currently lives in Rochester, N.Y. GRYT Health is a digital oncology company that empowers people to be in charge of their own health through education, engagement and support. We offer a community free from judgment that focuses on humanity and the value each person brings. Our mission is to improve quality of life and increase survival for people facing cancer through the relentless focus on patient experience. We put patients first and work with healthcare organizations that do the same. We use the patient voice to enhance drug development and access; and together, we are helping to move healthcare forward. Visit www.grythealth.com to learn more. Contact Details Nichole Owens +1 315-263-4618 nichole@grythealth.com Company Website https://www.grythealth.com

August 24, 2021 02:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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New CBD-Infused Hair and Skin Care Line Launching at Cosmoprof

LuckCBD

LUCKCBD announced today the official launch of its line of “Good Mojo” CBD hair and skin care products. These high-performing products include USA-grown CBD isolate along with other high-quality and effective ingredients. LUCK CBD is committed to offering products specially formulated with CBD to help people achieve their goal of beautiful, healthy hair and skin. LUCK CBD will debut its product line at the upcoming Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) exhibition in Las Vegas, Nev. on Aug. 29-31, 2021, at booth number 45192. LUCK CBD has been selected as one of the few brands to be featured in Cosmo Trends, the annual beauty report that advises the beauty industry of the most innovative products at Cosmo Prof. “We’re very excited to bring Good Mojo to the beauty space with our line of CBD-infused products. Not only does CBD represent one of the fastest-developing sectors in the country, but I’ve felt the market was missing something particularly in hair care. We use a healthy-hair matrix that includes organic pea shoot extract, amino acids, and USA-farmed CBD. We believe this combination results in outstanding formulas that work,” says Annie Seal, President, and Owner of LUCK CBD. “Our products use these efficacious, high-quality ingredients and we’re seeing that LUCK CBD products truly help people reach their personal hair goals.” The product line includes shampoo, conditioner, hair serum, hair mask, and all-over skin oil. The color-safe shampoo and conditioner are available in two scents, rosemary lavender, and peppermint essential oils to provide an aromatherapy experience. Each LUCK CBD product contains CBD oil that is Botanacor or Pro Verde certified to ensure consumers are receiving the highest quality CBD, without the THC and within federal regulations. LUCK CBD products are packed with ingredients that can help restore hair. We believe the CBD helps ingredients work efficiently. The super gentle sudsing agents helps hair to rinse clean, so there is no residue, film, or oil left on the hair. The result is clean, nourished hair, so that ones’ natural beauty can shine through. LUCK CBD products contain a variety of high-quality ingredients, including: Organic pea shoot extract, which has been shown to help with hair regrowth Amino acids, which are known for their contributions to hair structure and strength Argan, which is known to be a non-clogging superfood for the skin that can help boost the skin naturally Jojoba, which has antibacterial properties and antioxidants, which has been shown to soothe and nourish irritated skin MCT, which is a concentrated form of coconut oil that’s high in fat and can help condition and tone skin CBD isolate, which has been shown to have a myriad of health benefits LUCK CBD believes in the magic of CBD as one of nature's miracles. LUCK CBD is focused on creating products based on this Good Mojo philosophy. When consumers have Good Mojo, they feel joyful, more amazing, and hopefully more motivated to pay happiness forward. LUCK CBD’s goal is to bring these revolutionary beauty products into households across the country to help consumers satisfy their personal hair and skin goals. “Each product is made specifically to help consumers get what they desire for their own hair and skin, whether it is volume, hair growth, shine, better texture and more,” says Seal. “We are excited to launch at Cosmoprof so that we can introduce LUCK CBD products to the entire beauty community.” LUCK CBD products are available online at www.luckcbd.com and select local salons in the St. Louis, Mo. area. About LUCKCBD and The Luck Company, LLC LUCKCBD, and The Luck Company, LLC, is a certified women-owned business that offers beauty and wellness products based on the magic of CBD. Founded in 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri, the company has formulated a myriad of products formulated to assist with healthy living goals. Visit www.luckcbd.com for more information. Contact Details Jeremy Rives jrives@sedlockpartners.com Company Website https://www.luckcbd.com

August 24, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Centre for Neuro Skills Signs Agreement With Political Subdivision Workers’ Compensation Alliance Covering More Than 500,000 Texas Public Entities’ Employees

Centre for Neuro Skills

The Texas Brain Injury Alliance reports that 144,000 Texans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year - one every 4 minutes. Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), a premier provider of treatment for traumatic and acquired brain injury, announced today it is now a participating provider in the Political Subdivision Worker’s Compensation Alliance’s (PSWCA) direct contracting program. Five risk pools that offer workers’ compensation coverage and claims services to public entities in Texas, representing more than 3,000 public employers and 500,000 employees, formed PSWCA in 2006. The types of public entity employers include schools, community colleges, cities, counties, community centers, water districts and other local public authorities. “Our focus is identifying and contracting with the best quality and most efficient health care providers,” said Phil Hambrick, PSWCA’s director of provider network development. “Our goal with our participating providers, such as the Centre for Neuro Skills, is that rehabilitation therapies lead to better outcomes for injured employees.” CNS has four locations in Texas. It recently opened its newest clinic in Austin. Other Texas CNS facilities are in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. All CNS clinics offer a continuum of care approach to therapeutic rehabilitation and disease management services for those recovering from traumatic and acquired brain injuries. “What sets CNS apart is our whole team approach on patients and their caregivers,” said Paul Greenspan, AVP payor strategy at CNS. “Our entire team in Texas looks forward to working with PSWCA and providing essential rehabilitation therapies to Texas’ public entity employees who need them. We strive to ensure the best possible recovery with the goal of helping injured workers maximize their independence and improve their quality of life. Our return-to-work rates are outstanding with 56 percent of CNS patients returning to work.” About Centre for Neuro Skills Centre for Neuro Skills is an experienced and respected world leader in providing intensive rehabilitation and medical programs for those recovering from all types of brain injury. CNS covers a full spectrum of advanced care from residential and assisted living to outpatient/day treatment. Founded by Dr. Mark Ashley in 1980, CNS has seven locations in California and Texas. For more information about Centre for Neuro Skills, visit: www.neuroskills.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube. Media, please note: Visual assets, including photos, are available. To request an interview with CNS leadership, please call ontact Sean Dowdall at (415) 286-7121 or CNS@landispr.com. # # # Contact Details Sean Dowdall +1 415-286-7121 CNS@landispr.com Company Website https://www.neuroskills.com/

August 24, 2021 06:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Healthtech wearable glucose tracker Ultrahuman raises $17.5m in series B funding

Ultrahuman

Ultrahuman, the rapidly growing metabolic fitness platform, today announced it has raised $17.5 million, as it aims to help over a billion people in the world suffering from a metabolic health disorder. This brings the total funds raised so far to $25mn. Ultrahuman is committed to making metabolic fitness accessible to millions of people globally. The funds raised will be used for geographical expansion and to improve their biomarker technology. The series B funding came from Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI), which is backed by DisruptAD and managed by Falcon Edge, Steadview Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Blume Ventures and Utsav Somani’s iSeed fund. Marquee founders and angel investors also participated including Tiger Global’s Scott Schleifer, Sandeep Singhal, Kunal Shah, Sujeet Kumar, Deepinder Goyal, Gunjan Patidar, Gaurav Munjal, Revant Bhate, Mohit Gupta, Vikram Dhingra and Roman Saini. The Ultrahuman Cyborg wearable helps people optimize their exercise and nutrition based on glucose biomarkers. The Ultrahuman wearable launched in June 2021 has already amassed thousands of users in the waitlist with users raving about their experience on Twitter after using the wearable. The metabolic health crisis is unarguably one of the largest healthcare crises that exists today. Over a billion people in the world suffer from a metabolic health disorder which contribute to almost 85% of all chronic diseases in the world. By helping people understand how food and exercise affects their metabolic health, people would be able to make informed choices about what they eat and their activity levels. The approach is a geography / diet agnostic way to help people eat and exercise better. A single biomarker like glucose can reveal so much about how a particular food item affects the user’s metabolic health by measuring the glucose response. This response is unique to an individual and it depends on various factors like their microbiome diversity, stress levels, time of the day, food ingredient quality etc. Ultrahuman was started by Mohit Kumar and Vatsal Singhal who were also co-founders at Runnr that later merged with Zomato. Mohit is an avid cyclist, biohacker and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast. Vatsal is a cross fit enthusiast and biohacker. Mohit was training at one of the largest MMA Camps in the world (Tiger Muay Thai). There he observed athletes train smartly via usage of data, recovery tools and protocols. He got together with Vatsal and they came up with a vision for Ultrahuman where they can make the journey of fitness for people more personalised and impactful. “Biomarkers will change how the fitness and the healthcare industry works. By being able to continuously monitor their biomarkers like glucose, users can not only avoid chronic diseases but make lifestyle changes that help them improve their fitness levels for longevity and performance, ” said Ultrahuman Founder and CEO Mohit Kumar. Navroz D. Udwadia, Co-Founder, Falcon Edge Capital, said, " We are excited to partner with Mohit and Vatsal, founders of Ultrahuman. We believe they can transform the way people view personal wellness globally. Their thoughtfulness around UI / design and consumer experience is inspiring. We are thrilled to back what could be a pioneering biomarker-driven global healthcare business. Their dual obsessiveness around product engineering and customer experience is already showing result in terms of product market fit and retention. ” Commenting on the investment, Ravi Mehta, Founder and MD Steadview Capital, said, “ We are excited to be a part of Ultrahuman’s journey as it takes what we believe to be a disruptive approach to personal wellness. Ultrahuman’s biosensor-enabled, data-first model, in our view, is the future of any personalized healthcare ecosystem, ” “We at Nexus are super excited about Ultrahuman’s biomarker based approach to build hyper- personalised diet and exercise journeys for users. We are seeing a very strong pull for Ultrahuman’s Cyborg platform globally and feel that it will be a foundational approach to personal wellness in the years to come, ” added Sameer Brij Verma, MD Nexus Venture Partners. “Mohit and team have taken their personal fitness journeys and translated them to a world class product and experience in just over a year. We expect Ultrahuman to help shape how health is proactively monitored across global audiences, “ said Karthik Reddy, Founder of Blume Ventures. About Ultrahuman Ultrahuman is headquartered in the US and India. It is the world's most advanced metabolic fitness platform. It helps people create long-term habits and changes via instant nudges and deep health insights instead of diets and strict exercise routines. For more information and updates on Ultrahuman, please visit ultrahuman.com Contact Details Ultrahuman Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com

August 19, 2021 08:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions Introduces SafetyNet to Create a Virtual Backup Plan for Live Events

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions today introduced SafetyNet ™, a new program to provide a virtual event backup options for associations, tradeshows, event managers or trade groups that have a live event scheduled now or in the near future. SafetyNet provides a standby virtual event platform that can be activated if needed when attendance for a live event declines or if there is a requirement to pivot to an all-virtual program. A SafetyNet platform can be brought online in a matter of days without technical support or programming. Cloud Conventions is a sophisticated event management platform that redefines the attendee and exhibitor experience with a strong focus on delivering virtual and hybrid events, regardless of size or budget. “It seems like a repeat of 2020 as event managers, associations and other trade groups are struggling to decide if they should cancel their live event, shift to virtual or hybrid, or take other precautions to make attendees and exhibitors feel safe,” said Carolyn Bradfield, CEO of Cloud Conventions. “Any group hosting live events today needs a virtual backup plan that can be activated to ensure attendees and sponsors can participate in industry sessions, continuing education and still make connections that they would miss when they can’t attend in person.” SafetyNet maintains a low-cost Cloud Conventions virtual platform on standby behind a private login until required. It is hosted on a custom URL, is fully branded, customized and organized to host live or on-demand sessions, exhibitor and sponsor booths or provide a resource center for all event-related content. Attendees can be imported from a live event registration system and have their record transferred to SafetyNet including demographics and event access permissions. Sponsors are assigned a virtual booth template and configured to go live without technical assistance, in a matter of hours. “Now that live events have partially returned, many groups ask themselves if virtual events are worth it, so they only focus on their in-person event, often to their detriment,” added Bradfield. “A 2020 study of 1,000 respondents, ‘ Association Trends: From Disruption to Opportunity’ produced by Community Brands, details that having a virtual option for membership participation has changed from a nice-to-have to a must have. Some live events scheduled for the fall of 2021 are being abruptly cancelled due to on-going COVID risks. This is clearly an indicator that the pandemic is far from over. A SafetyNet option is the best insurance that the show will go on, no matter what.” SafetyNet is offered for a low, setup fee to create a fully branded and configured virtual environment. If the organizer chooses to go live with a hybrid or all-virtual event, the setup fee applies to the event package. Show managers can choose as much or as little assistance from Cloud Conventions to bring their event online quickly with all the features needed to educate and engage attendees. Having a virtual option guarantees a rewarding experience for attendees, better ROI for sponsors and ensures smoother event operation for organizers. Explore SafetyNet at: https://cloudconventions.com/page/139455/safetynet. About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions from Convey Services is Cloud Conventions is an enterprise virtual/hybrid event management platform that redefines the exhibitor and attendee experience to allow companies to provide easy access to in-depth product information, showcase their brands with graphics and videos, create calls to action and generate immediate sales leads. Used around the world for large managed events and smaller self-directed meetings, conferences and corporate kickoffs, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, continuing education, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Cloud Conventions supports multiple languages and currencies, internal, external and single-sign on registration, and supports all conferencing carriers and platforms. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Community™, SafetyNet™, Cloud Kickoffs™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 19, 2021 10:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time

In the Face of Shifting Learning Environments, the Society for Science Awards $214,000 to 66 Educators Tasked with Guiding Students in Scientific Research

Society for Science

Today, the Society for Science is proud to release the names of 66 stellar educators who will serve in the organization’s Advocate Program in the 2021-2022 school year. Fifty-eight Advocates will each receive a $3,000 stipend while eight Lead Advocates will receive $5,000 each. Throughout their one-year terms, these dedicated Advocates will encourage at least three to five students — who identify as a race or ethnicity historically underrepresented in STEM — in science and engineering research and help them enter those projects into competitions. Now in its seventh year, the Advocate Program strives to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators through hands-on research and competition, and supports full representation of all identities in STEM fields. Advocates will break down barriers to competition participation by providing support for selecting competitions, gathering materials, meeting deadlines, preparing for competition and ensuring inclusivity. “In the coming school year, students and teachers will have to remain flexible during a fluctuating public health emergency,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science and Publisher of Science News. “Through the Advocate Program, we hope students continue to participate in meaningful and transformative science research experiences. We hope this program continues to be a catalyst for underrepresented students to consider future STEM careers. The 66 Advocates are a truly amazing group of mentors for the next generation of scientists and engineers.” Twenty-seven returning Advocates have shared that the program kept students engaged in scientific research and competition despite the pandemic last year. In the last month, just as the U.S. population saw COVID-19 restrictions lift, infection rates decline and vaccination rates soar, and the educational community was shifting back to some form of normal, the delta variant began to spread. In the upcoming school year, we can expect a changing roadmap to dictate student learning in a variety of environments (i.e. in-person, remote or hybrid) and that schools will vary their safety protocols across the nation. Throughout this flux, returning and new Advocates will seek to keep their mentees engaged. The Advocate Program uses a tiered mentorship model, where educators are not only mentoring their students and raising future generations of scientists and engineers, but they are also mentoring, learning from and evolving supportive relationships with each another. Advocates will further develop their science research programs in another unusual year, connect with professionals in the science community and meet like-minded educators who value authentic student research and the educational opportunities that science competitions offer. To date, Advocates have supported more than 4,000 students during their participation in the program, of which, 3,076 students have successfully competed in at least one science research competition. During the 2020-2021 cycle, approximately 80 percent of student mentees participated in science competitions at the local and/or national level. Moreover, students of Advocates are responsible for over 5,000 unique competition entries, with many students entering more than one competition. Ninety percent of those students are from low-income households and 70 percent are of a race or ethnicity underrepresented in STEM. This year, the Advocates are from 31 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and include 23 middle school teachers, three who work with both middle and high school students, 29 high school teachers, six affiliated with universities and five out-of-school educators. The following are 2021-2022 Lead Advocates, who will oversee groups of Advocates: McKenzie Baecker, Two Rivers Public Charter School (Washington, DC) Scotti Benton, Jasper County Middle School (Monticello, GA) Elizabeth Bieri, Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School (Birmingham, AL) Robin Driver, Eisenhower High School (Yakima, WA) Reshawndra Hutchins-Trapp, Elite Scholars Academy (Jonesboro, GA) Jeremy Jonas, Tucson High Magnet School (Tucson, AZ) Sam Loftus, Shasta Middle School (Eugene, OR) Yajaira Torres-De Jesús, Colegio Rosa Bell (Guaynabo, PR) The following are 2021-2022 Advocates: Adenike Akinyode, Eastside High School (Gainesville, FL) Laura Alberici da Barbiano, Blanson CTE High School (Houston, TX) Ramon Benavides, Del Valle High School (El Paso, TX) Dallas Bergstrom, Miller Career & Technology Center (Katy, TX) Caitlin Bonham, Kenwood Academy High School (Chicago, IL) Humberto Bracho, Frick United Academy of Language (Oakland, CA) Justin Brown, Kealakehe High School (Kailua-Kona, HI) Leslie Cannon, The ATLAS Academy at Tennyson Middle School (Waco, TX) Philip Clarke, Centennial School District (Gresham, OR) Cameron Cooley, Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (Memphis, TN) Sarah Cooper, Southeast Career and Technical Academy (Las Vegas, NV) Renee Cordes, Flathead High School (Kalispell, MT) Christine Danger, University of Florida & Hillsborough Public Schools (Tampa, FL) Lakshmi Darbha, Aavanee (Frederick, MD) Dannielle Davis, Circle of Excellence Network (St. Louis, MO) Michelle Denson, Atlanta Public Schools (Atlanta, GA) Jessica Doiron, Freedom High School (Woodbridge, VA) Martrice Donaldson, School District of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) Lauren Dudley, Chapman University (Orange, CA) Mark Eastburn, Princeton High School (Princeton, NJ) Kathleen Galau, Thunder Mountain High School (Juneau, AK) Jennifer Gentry, Vanderbilt Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach (Nashville, TN) Christine Girtain, Toms River High School South & Toms River High School North (Toms River, NJ) Angela Groves-Price, WP McLean Middle School (Fort Worth, TX) Todd Ireland, 100 Black Men of Douglasville, Inc. (Douglasville, GA) Sunday Iwalaiye, Prince George’s County Public Schools (Laurel, MD) Karen Johnson, Evanston Township High School (Evanston, IL) Edwina Kinchington, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy (Pittsburgh, PA) Andrea LaRosa, Westside Middle School Academy (Danbury, CT) Debra Las, John Adams Middle School (Rochester, MN) Gaurang Limachia, GoSTEM (Chicago, IL) Amy Mallozzi, Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) Priscilla Martinez Fuentes, Homer Hanna Early College High School (Brownsville, TX) Margarette Marturano, Seminole Ridge High School (Wellington, FL) Erin Mayer, Casey Middle School (Boulder, CO) Allyson McFalls, Blowing Rock Elementary School (Blowing Rock, NC) Amy Melby, Yuma High School (Yuma, CO) Ryan Melton, Grenada Career and Technical Center (Grenada, MS) Jessica Menchaca, Del Valle ISD (Del Valle, TX) Raquel Miranda, Project Youth 4 Youth International (El Paso, TX) Lalitha Murali, Glen Hills Middle School (Glendale, WI) Jacqueline Nichols, Sunnyside Unified School District (Tucson, AZ) Bree Oatman, South Dakota Discovery Center (Pierre, SD) Susana Oliu, John Muir High School Early College Magnet (Pasadena, CA) Yolanda Pender-Bey, Mount Vernon Elementary School (Chicago, IL) Macy Pickman, USD 409 (Atchison, KS) Eileen Poserio, Wolf Point High School (Wolf Point, MT) Cecilie Prine, Lander Middle School (Lander, WY) Mary-Elizabeth Quan, Ontario-Montclair School District (Ontario, CA) Nate Rayor, Mescalero Apache School (Mescalero, NM) Carter Shank, Kings Science and Technology Magnet Center (Omaha, NE) Bradley Spencer, Weber School District (Roy, UT) Scott Troy, Westminster High School (Westminster, CO) Joshua Truitt, Hilsman Middle School (Athens, GA) Kiara T. Vann, Stratford STEM High School (Nashville, TN) John Wiley, Challenge School (Denver, CO) Sara Yeh, Ray Wiltsey Middle School (Ontario, CA) Jean Yoo, Almeria Middle School (Fontana, CA) The Advocate Program is made possible by the Arconic Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and Regeneron. In addition to receiving stipends, each Lead Advocate will supervise six to eight new Advocates with whom they host monthly calls, facilitating monthly reports on how their students are doing in their research endeavors and offering helpful guidance and support. Lead Advocates are returning educators who hold additional responsibilities; each hosts a session at an Advocate Training Institute and creates a webinar providing guidance to any educator seeking to bolster STEM research programs in their schools. This past June, this year’s cohort attended a virtual Advocate Training Institute, where sessions covered topics such as research in hybrid learning environments, designing and implementation of a STEM research course, s trategies to level up student research and using public resources to support student projects. For additional information about the Advocate Program, visit: https://www.societyforscience.org/outreach-and-equity/advocate-program/ About Society for Science Society for Science is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazine, Science News and Science News for Students, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science). Contact Details Society for Science Aparna Paul +1 781-375-8353 aparna@societyforscience.org Company Website https://www.societyforscience.org/

August 18, 2021 01:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time

American Kidney Fund Commends the CDC, FDA and CMS for Supporting a Booster Shot of the COVID-19 Vaccine for Immunocompromised People

American Kidney Fund

LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund (AKF), today issues the following statement in response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing immunocompromised people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot: “People who are immunocompromised, including kidney transplant recipients, have been living with fear and uncertainty ever since research showed that they were less likely to develop antibodies from COVID-19 vaccines. AKF and the patients we serve are grateful to CDC and FDA for moving quickly to support a booster shot recommendation for those who had the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines and are solid organ transplant recipients or are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have a similar level of immunocompromise. This extra layer of protection against COVID-19 comes as much-needed reassurance for patients who have a significantly higher risk of severe illness, hospitalizations and death from the coronavirus. “Further, AKF is grateful that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that Medicare will cover the cost of this booster shot for Medicare beneficiaries. “Anyone who is uncertain about whether they qualify for this booster shot should speak with their physician. “AKF urges the CDC and FDA to quickly assess whether those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should also receive a booster shot. “While getting the vaccine, and a booster shot, are strongly encouraged for those who are immunocompromised, it is still important for the kidney community to take CDC-recommended precautions, like wearing masks in public places and practicing social distancing, to protect themselves from COVID-19, particularly as cases from the Delta variant surge across the U.S. “If people who are immunocompromised become exposed to COVID-19, it is critical to speak with their doctor or care team and seek treatment with antibody therapy right away. The FDA’s recent emergency use authorization of a preventive monoclonal antibody treatment for those who are immunocompromised is a great step towards preventing serious illness in this patient population. However, this treatment is primarily available at large hospitals and health systems in large urban areas, meaning that patients in rural areas or those without adequate transportation may not have access to this beneficial treatment. Additionally, education about the possibly of getting post-exposure antibody treatment is critical, and factors like internet access and health literacy put some at a disadvantage. “Ensuring equitable dissemination of the vaccine, the booster shot and antibody treatment to protect immunocompromised individuals continues to be a challenge that needs to be prioritized. As new information and research becomes available, AKF will continue keeping kidney patients informed and advocating for the protections they need in their fight against kidney disease.” For more information about COVID-19 and kidney disease, visit KidneyFund.org/covid-19. Kidney patients can access additional COVID-19 resources at KidneyFund.org/coronavirus. ### About the American Kidney Fund The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation’s leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease—from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation’s top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact Details Stefanie Tuck 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 +1 202-470-1797 AKF@jpa.com Company Website http://www.kidneyfund.org/

August 18, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Cyvatar’s Stephanie Simpson Named a Finalist for the Top 10 Women in Cybersecurity at the 2021 Black Unicorn Awards

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced the selection of another member of its senior executive team as a finalist for outstanding achievement at this year’s Cyber Defense Magazine Black Unicorn awards, announced during the 2021 Black Hat USA conference. Stephanie Simpson, vice president of platform management, was chosen as a finalist for the Top 10 Women in Cybersecurity; she competed against the industry’s leading cybersecurity experts for this prestigious award. “We’re pleased to name Stephanie Simpson as a finalist for the Top 10 Women in Cybersecurity among an elite group of female information security professionals at the third annual Black Unicorn awards,” said judges Robert R. Ackerman Jr., David DeWalt, Dr. Peter Stephenson, and Gary Miliefsky. “This year’s competition was fierce, and she should be proud of her achievement.” Stephanie was selected from women around the world who vied for top honors. She has two decades of software product leadership, from ideation to launch, to fill gaps in the industry and meet customer needs. She has brought many award-winning innovations to market including Cyvatar’s cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) platform, developed with fellow Black Unicorn winner Craig Goodwin. As an engineer, Stephanie is no stranger to disruptive technologies, and customers and colleagues alike benefit from her passionate, transformative leadership style. “Female technical talent in cybersecurity is hard to find, and we’re fortunate to have such an accomplished practitioner as Stephanie on the executive team at Cyvatar,” said Corey White, Cyvatar co-founder and chief executive. “Diversity and inclusion are foundational to our success, which makes Stephanie’s vision, energy, and leadership vital as we recruit top talent across the organization.” Only Cyvatar offers subscription-based CSaaS designed to provide outcomes, continuous remediation, ongoing solution maintenance, and the ability for all of its customers to execute their security strategies at speed and scale. Find out how CSaaS can work for your business at cyvatar.ai. About Cyber Defense Awards This is Cyber Defense Magazine’s 9th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber and David DeWalt of NightDragon with much appreciation to emeritus judge Robert Herjavec of Herjavec Group. To see the complete list of finalists for the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 please visit https://cyberdefenseawards.com/black-unicorn-awards-finalists-2021/ About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to making cybersecurity effortless for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at https://cyvatar.ai/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

August 16, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time