Rene Astudillo's professional career over the last two decades has been focused on nonprofit management. Prior to being hired as executive director of the Lupus Foundation of Northern California, he was executive director for 9 years at the Asian American Journalists Association. He was also executive director of the Filipino Task Force on AIDS, program manager at the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum and Education Director at Hawaii's Life Foundation.
He is also a journalist, having served as contributing editor and writer for community publications in the San Francisco Bay Area and Hawaii; and is a Certified Meeting Planner.
Lupus can be devastating to the individuals affected by the disease, as well as their family members, not only because of the difficulty of diagnosis, but also because of the enormous number of symptoms associated with it.
Lupus patients not only experience the challenge of navigating the treatment maze, but also the emotional impact of the disease on themselves and their loved ones.
As with many life-threatening, chronic illnesses, patient empowerment is an important aspect in their wellness and treatment plan. Such empowerment can be achieved through constant association with others in similar situations -- both patients and family members. By sharing experiences about their symptoms, treatments and knowledge gained from their medical providers or through known research, lupus patients and their families can better cope with the adverse impact of lupus.
Since lupus disproportionately affects communities of color, there is also a growing need to create the same kind of support mechanism for lupus patients and their families who are monolingual or who consider English as their second language. Considering the increasing number of Spanish-speaking lupus patients who have contacted LFNC for services and referrals, or who have participated in our patient education classes and conferences, the need for Spanish-language support groups has become evident.
Because lupus affects young individuals starting at age 15, there is also a need to create a model for a Young Adult Lupus Support group that can be replicated throughout California and the rest of the country.
It is with these needs in mind that the Lupus Foundation of Northern California develops and pursues programs to serve our ever-growing clientele.