Manish Jain, MD
Medical Honoree

Dr. Manish Jain is a rheumatologist on the north side of Chicago. He is a life-long Chicagoan, and is a Loyola Rambler, Northwestern Wildcat, and Rush Medical School graduate (sorry, no mascot). He took a brief foray out of Chicago to do his medical residency in Ann Arbor, and his fellowship training in New York City – fully planning on coming back to Chicago to practice. He currently runs a busy private practice in rheumatology with his dad (also a rheumatologist), participates in medical education as the Program Director for Transitional Year residents at AMITA St Joseph’s Hospital in Chicago and Research Director for residents at AMITA St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, participates as an investigator in clinical trials at Great Lakes Clinical Trials in Andersonville, and is incredibly excited about patient advocacy. He still gets high blood pressure thinking about Cody Parkey’s “double doink” kick. He currently lives in Wilmette with his wife – an oncologist - and two daughters (ages 4 and 2), and a cockapoo named Baba Ganoosh.

Join Dr. Jain in the fight against arthritis, register or donate today!

Michelle Boston
Psoriatic Arthritis
Adult Honoree

Michelle Boston was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in January of 2015. Prior to this diagnosis, Michelle had extreme pain in her larger joints, including hips, knees and shoulders. After numerous emergency room visits during her time as a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an emergency room doctor finally suggested consulting a rheumotologist.

After 4 years of pain, Michelle finally had an answer, psoriatic arthritis. As treatment started, the emergency room visits declined, and Michelle was on the hunt to find some positive light in regards to her new diagnosis. After stumbling upon the Arthritis Foundation website, Michelle decided to get involved and make a difference in any way she could. She created Team Boston and participated in the 2016 Walk to Cure Arthritis Chicago. Team Boston was one of the top 10 fundraisers that year! In the summer of 2017, Michelle was a camp counselor for Camp JAM in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where she was able to serve as a role model for younger children also battling this invisible disease. In the summer of 2018, Michelle and her mother, Joanne, attended the JA Conference in Seattle where Michelle was able to learn more about how to lead a successful life with arthritis.

Michelle has now found the right treatment plan, and continues to live her life as pain free as possible! Michelle is a 5th and 6th grade teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. She loves to travel, and has visited 4 of the 7 continents. She also enjoys making homemade cards and reading for her book club.

Join the fight against arthritis, register or donate today!

Kayla Munao
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Youth Honoree

Kayla is fourteen and was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a form of arthritis, in December of 2016. She was misdiagnosed multiple times over the years. After many blood tests one came back positive with the marker for AS. She has been living with the effects of this disease since she was 5. She began seeing rheumatologist, Dr. Erin Arnold, in 2016.

Even though Kayla has AS, she is no different than any other fourteen-year-old. She lives with her brother Kenny, her parents and their dog, Ace. Both her brother and mom have forms of arthritis. Kayla likes to do many different things like riding horses, baking, going to concerts, hanging out with friends, and spending time with family and their horse Brett. There are times when she is unable to do these things because of the pain this disease causes. During seventh-grade she was unable to write because of the pain and swelling in her hands. This summer Kayla attended the Arthritis Foundation JA Camp where she made new friends who have the same disease. She had an amazing time rock climbing and shooting a bow and arrow. 

Kayla originally became involved with the Arthritis Foundation to be around other kids like her. Now she is trying to raise awareness and help fund programs that the Arthritis Foundation supports. Kayla thinks it is very important for people to know that not only adults get this disease. One thing she has realized over the years is that because AS and arthritis are invisible diseases, it is a lot harder for people to realize you are sick because you “don’t look sick”. 

Join the fight against arthritis, register or donate today!