Takieyah Mathis is a global award-winning chronic illness advocate, speaker, and author, best known for her impactful work with the National Psoriasis Foundation. She lives with both psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and her journey of resilience has made her a passionate voice for others navigating chronic illness. Takieyah is a devoted wife and mother, a dedicated social work student, and a powerful community leader—advocating not only for those with chronic conditions, but also in areas of mental health, self-esteem, youth empowerment, and health equity. She blends her personal experiences with professional insight to educate, inspire, and lead change. Her mission is to bridge the gap between healthcare professionals and patients by promoting empathy, education, and empowerment. Takieyah has been featured across national platforms and continues to use her voice to uplift others, one conversation, classroom, and community at a time.

Chris joined the FIRST staff in 2010.  Prior to FIRST, Chris worked in the pharmaceutical, insurance and non-profit sectors, in the areas of database management, marketing, communications and social media. After having 5 daughters of her own, Chris felt drawn to the non-profit world and luckily found FIRST.  Many members have worked one-on-one with Chris as she initially launched FIRST’s grassroots fundraising arm and managed its growth and sustainability. Chris is excited with her role as Community Engagement Director where she will be working with all of our members, sponsors and pharma companies while coordinating FIRST’s social media, newsletters and research programs.

Emily Hertzberg has been battling psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis for over 20 years. Since her diagnosis, she has become her own health advocate and tried numerous forms of treatment options for PsA. PsA does not define her. She is so much more!  She is a patient advocate, she is a fighter, she is  a warrior. She started a movement called psoriatic arthritis warriors on Instagram: @psoriaticarthritiswarriors. She is passionate about sharing her health journey to inspire others to not feel so alone with these chronic conditions. Check out her PsA advocacy work here: https://linktr.ee/psoriaticarthritiswarriors

Cydney is a dedicated mom of four who passionately creates content about living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). As a patient advocate, she strives to raise awareness, share her personal experiences, and provide support for others navigating the challenges of HS. Through her platform, she offers insights, encouragement, and a sense of community to those affected by the condition

Dr. Victoria Barbosa is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of Chicago where she serves as Director of the Hair Loss Program and spearheads equity efforts in the Section of Dermatology. She has published and lectured extensively both nationally and internationally on the topics of alopecia, dermatology in skin color and cosmetic products. She is passionate about nurturing others on the path to becoming a physician and as such she is a member of the Executive Committee of the Pritzker School of Medicine Admissions Committee and is Co-Head of Pritzker’s Lewis Society where she serves as a career advisor to over 40 students per year. She is the Immediate Past President of the Skin of Color Society where she now chairs the Center for Leadership Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Past President's Council. She is also the Vice-President of the Illinois Dermatological Society and a past president of the Chicago Dermatological Society.  She recently received a citation from the President of the American Academy of Dermatology for her work in advancing health equity.  Dr. Barbosa holds a B.A. from Harvard College, an M.D. cum laude from the Yale University School of Medicine, an M.P.H. from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management.

Dr. Daveluy is a professor and program director at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.  He earned a bachelor's in science from Michigan State University.  He completed medical school and his dermatology residency at Wayne State University.   

He holds special interests in teledermatology, noninvasive skin imaging, skin of color, integrative dermatology, and complex medical dermatology, including hidradenitis suppurativa.  He is active on AAD committees, including MIPS Value Pathway and DataDerm Oversight.  He is the past president of the Wayne County Medical Society and Michigan Dermatological Society.   He serves on the board of directors of the HS Foundation, editorial board for the JAAD, Associate Editor for JAAD Case Reports, and Co-Chief Editor of the Journal of Integrative Dermatology.  He lives across the border in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with his husband and two very spoiled dogs.

From blazing trails in multimedia journalism for marginalized communities to emerging as a documentary filmmaker and storyteller to becoming the Founder and CEO of AHSID, Jasmine IVANNA Espy is a living testimony that owning your story is your power.

Espy tells meaningful stories across various platforms and topics, unified under the belief that people are worthy of care. Espy's unexpected diagnosis with a chronic illness evoked an unshakeable, unconditional commitment to self-expression, self-love, and advocacy.

When Espy was diagnosed with HS, loneliness, shame, and isolation began to settle in. Amid this uncertainty, she knew one thing to be true — she didn’t want anyone else to feel like she did. The more she learned about healing her body, the more tools she gathered to help others do the same. For Jasmine, advocacy means more than being able to speak up for yourself. It means owning your story. It means embracing shame. It means lobbying to ensure people without access to proper care in the medical community have a voice and are extended equity.

As the founder of the Center for Mind-Skin Medicine, Dr. Keira Barr is redefining skincare through an integrative, resilience-informed mind-body approach. As a dual board-certified dermatologist with additional certifications in integrative dermatology, mind-body medicine and advanced training in somatic trauma therapy, stress release, and breathwork, Dr. Barr brings a rare mix of science and compassion to her work. Her approach goes beyond the surface, guiding clients to release deeply held stress, reconnect with their bodies, and experience lasting, genuine healing from the inside out. An internationally recognized keynote speaker and trusted media voice, Dr. Barr is known for making complex science both accessible and deeply personal. Dr. Barr authored the seminal “Mind-Body Therapies in Acne” in the Integrative Textbook of Dermatology and the bestseller "The Skin Whisperer." She serves as Chief Medical Officer of K’ept Health, Chief Mindfulness Officer of Fleurissent Skincare, and is a trusted advisor and consultant within the personal care and wellness industry.

Dayna Pham is a health justice advocate, public speaker, and first-year medical student attending the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. Diagnosed with severe psoriasis at 22 years old and psoriatic arthritis at 24 years old, Dayna has been a fierce advocate for the psoriatic disease community, from lobbying at D.C.’s Capitol Hill with the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), to sharing her psoriatic disease journey at conferences and community events. Dayna also enjoys using commentaries and op-eds as an outlet to amplify the struggles of psoriatic disease patients, one can be accessed here: “The Impact of Step Therapy on Individuals with Psoriatic Disease in the USA: Patient and Provider Perspectives” 

Dayna is passionate about sharing her experiences and increasing representation for young Women of Color in the psoriatic disease space, shedding light on common PsO and PsA experiences to help others feel less alone. In her free time, Dayna likes to thrift and redesign clothes, mix music, play volleyball, and mentor first-generation pre-medical students from low-income communities like herself.