2019 Walk to Cure Arthritis Honorees

 

Dr. Frank J. Nolan
Medical Honoree

Dr. Frank J. Nolan is a practicing Rheumatologist in Vista, CA. He is the founder and senior partner at Arthritis Consultants of North County since 1978. He shares the practice with his partner, Dr. Paul Brion, and is on staff at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside. He received his B.S. degree at Loyola University, Ca. and his M.D. from the Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA '73. His Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine were spent at Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, Ca. He completed his Rheumatology fellowship at UCLA. and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

Dr. Nolan is known for his diagnostic and listening skills as well as his compassionate nature in the care and treatment of musculoskeletal, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. He consistently earns 5-star reviews from his patients. He is the recipient of the Compassionate Doctor Recognition and Patient Choice Awards. In the San Diego Magazine his peers voted him one of the "Top Doctors in Rheumatology".

He acknowledges the critical role that his office staff plays in caring for his patients. He is also mindful of the neuroscientific evidence supporting the critical role that a positive and grateful attitude can play in the healing response.
He and his wife, JoAnn, live in Carlsbad, and he feels blessed to have his two sons and their families living nearby. JoAnn plays an active role in the practice as head nurse, infusion nurse, and Life Coach.

Dr. Nolan loves spending time with his family, including his six grandchildren, and continues to play softball with his two sons as a member of the LC35 Athletic Club.

Carley Redpath
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adult Honoree

It’s been almost three years since Carley got her diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. She currently works as a hairstylist in San Diego and absolutely loves it! Flare ups are never easy, but they’re especially hard when you need your hands for work. Carley has worked very hard to get where she is today by balancing an anti-inflammatory vegan diet, exercise and medication. She is passionate about the effects of food on the body and hopes to spread her success story with everyone she can! This disease does NOT have to rule our lives the way it wants to! 

Faith Larson
Juvenile Arthritis
Youth Honoree

Faith Larson, age 16, has played basketball since 4th grade, even while being diagnosed at the age of 6 with Rheumatoid Juvenile Arthritis. She still played throughout elementary, middle and the first two years of high school. JRA caused her to stop playing basketball due to  excessive running and jumping. JRA was a result in her having Chronic Uveitis in her left eye. Faith has had pain in her hips, knees and ankles, along with pain in other joints including her wrists and jaw. Faith could not play her junior year and was devastated, she continues and plans on playing her senior year. With a positive mindset, she doesn’t plan on letting JRA get in the way of her dreams.

Ever since she was 6, Faith has gone through Infusions, and other medications to help her walk on a day to day basis. Until 10 years later, the Infusions stopped having its effect and resulted in her knees flaring up more recently than ever. She began a new infusion medication but would like to say that even in the hard times, the struggles of being different from others and not being able to do the things you love because of an illness is devastating. In the long run no matter how hard the treatment CAN be, in the end you will look back at the hard times and realize the growth you have gained.

She would like to thank her rheumatologist, Dr. Chira, for pointing her towards the Arthritis Foundation. It has made her realize she is not alone in the journey. Giving a great Thank You to the Arthritis Foundation, our Faith still has hope! And she wishes hope to spread upon everyone who has Arthritis.

“Don’t let the Arthritis have control, you take control and you make the best out of it!”