PEP Talk: Patients Educating Patients
Have you been recently diagnosed with a blood clot and have questions about your recovery? Please join NBCA via zoom the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm EST for a virtual patient to patient support group for DVT and PE survivors. Topics throughout 2022 will focus on women’s health, men’s health, mental health, lifestyle changes, treatment options, frequently asked questions, and family health history. We will also be featuring a variety of guest speakers – both patients and health professionals – throughout the year. The goal of each PEP Talk is to provide much needed and valuable support, resources, and recovery guidance for individuals who have been impacted by blood clots.
Meet the Hosts:
Leslie Lake
In 2018, Leslie suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE). Her quest to learn more about venous thromboembolism (VTE) led her to the National Blood Clot Alliance. Despite living in New York City, Leslie was shocked by the lack of information available to her after her PE. Leslie volunteers her time to lead the organization and is committed to raising public awareness so no person affected by blood clots is without the necessary information they need to prevent or successfully treat VTE, and that they also have the information they need to navigate the spectrum of lifestyle issues that can follow a blood clot diagnosis. Outside of work, Leslie is an avid equestrian, dog mom, and resides in Manhattan.
Todd Robertson
In 2011, Todd suffered the first of six blood clots and in 2017 experienced a close call with his first pulmonary embolism. He is a carrier of the inherited clotting disorder, factor V Leiden, and is homozygous, making him aggressive in the abnormal clotting department. He is a motivational speaker for blood clot trauma recovery and is a local patient advocate for new patients. He is working on his first book, “Blood Clots: A Road Map to Recovery”. Todd runs several Facebook support groups, including Team Stop the Clot® Facebook Support Group and has developed a level of trust and friendship with thousands of patients over the years. He loves to road and mountain bike, white water canoe, and stays active all year round. You can find Todd outside with his dog, Jett, who is his paddleboard partner and best friend!
PEP Talk Agenda
March PEP Talk: “Newly Diagnosed, Now What?”
March 1, 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
April PEP Talk: “Patient FAQ’s with Pulmonologist, Dr. Victor Tapson”
April 5, 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
What’s next after your blood clot diagnosis? Join us Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 7:00 pm EST for our second PEP Talk focusing on your blood clot journey. Join us for FAQ with Pulmonologist, Dr. Victor Tapson, MD, as he answers patient questions and addresses who should be on your healthcare team.
May PEP Talk: “VTE and SHE – What Every Women Needs to Know about Blood Clots Throughout Her Life Cycle”
May 3, 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
Watch Recording Now
Join us as we celebrate Women’s Health Month and focus on the unique blood clot risk factors that women have throughout their life cycle. We have an incredible all-female panel that will unpack female risk factors at all ages, provide prevention education, and talk about how they became their own health advocates.
June PEP Talk: “VTE and HE – Unpacking the Male Blood Clot Experience”
June 7, 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
Watch Recording Now
Topics will focus on why men are at an increased risk for VTE and what those risk factors are, Factor V Leiden, athletes risk for blood clots (especially at higher elevations), and how men can protect themselves from a recurrence.
-No July PEP Talk-
August PEP Talk: Beyond the Physical Impact of Blood Clots – The Emotional Aftermath
August 9, 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
Open to patients AND providers
Register Now
September PEP Talk: Anticoagulants – The Past, the Present, and the Future. What Every Patient Needs to Know.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
Watch Recording Now
October PEP Talk: Beyond the Physical Impact of Blood Clots – The Emotional Aftermath
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
*Rescheduled from August*
Open to patients AND providers
Watch Recording Now
November PEP Talk: Patient Questions about Family Health History and Genetic Testing
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 @ 7:00 pm EST
Register Now
Join us November 1 at 7:00 pm EST for PEP Talk, in recognition of Family Health History Month – where we will discuss the importance of knowing your family health history, understanding your risk for blood clots, and determining if there is benefit to genetic evaluation. Hear from a genetic counselor and learn more about their role in helping families understand how genetic information impacts their lives.
December PEP Talk: Lifestyle Changes – How to Adjust, Overcome, and Lower Risk of Recurrence
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 @7:00 pm EST
Register Now
Join us on December 6, 2022 @7:00 pm EST for PEP Talk: How to Adjust, Overcome, and Lower Risk of Blood Clot Recurrence. Learn from Dr. Amy Rapkiewicz – a pathologist who has over 15 years of experience identifying risk factors for blood mortality – about the role that obesity plays in blood clot occurrence. Dr. Rapkiewicz will be joined by Dr. Rachel Rosovsky, a hematologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, who will discuss the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and reducing risk factors to minimize blood clot recurrence rates.
