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2022 Walk to Cure Arthritis Honorees

 

Travis Curry, MD
Southern Joint
Replacement Institute
Medical Honoree


Dr. Travis Curry was born and raised in Louisiana, outside of Baton Rouge. He played collegiate baseball in Texas and Mississippi, before entering medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. This is where he also acquired his orthopedic training and concluded his education with a fellowship in joint replacement in Nashville, TN at Vanderbilt University and Southern Joint Replacement Institute. His desire to help those in need began with mission work in college and he continues to serve people in middle Tennessee as well as abroad with mission work. He has practiced as an orthopedic surgeon for over 15 years.

 

 

McKenzie Vater, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Rheumatology Honoree


Dr. McKenzie Vater is a Pediatric Rheumatology Fellow at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She attended medical school at the University of Louisville School of Medicine while maintaining her devotion to the Kentucky Wildcats. She completed her residency, chief residency and worked as a pediatric hospitalist for a year at Vanderbilt prior to starting rheumatology fellowship. In addition to clinical rheumatology, she hopes to continue her scholarly work in medical education and health equity. Her hobbies include biking, running, reading, and spending time with her husband, Lee, their 1-year-old daughter, Adelaide, and their rescue cat, Scratch.

 

Libby Murphy
Chronic Recurrent
Multi-Focal Osteomyelitis
Teen Honoree


At 8 years old, after many medical procedures, Libby was was diagnosed with . a rare auto-inflammatory disease that attacks her bones called Chronic recurrent multi-focal osteomyelitis (CRMO). The day she was diagnosed she thought nothing would ever be the same, but thanks to all of her doctors and research with the Arthritis Foundation, she has an active life with treatments that help.

Arthritis Foundation events like the Walk to Cure Arthritis, help kids like Libby get treatment and support. Libby says that the programs and events help kids feel like they’re not alone in their journey to remission. She is thankful for her family and the Arthritis Foundation’s partnership with her doctors.

 

Brooklyn Warpool
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Child Honoree


Brooklyn is a 9-year-old girl who was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in September 2021. She is an athletic girl and will not let arthritis get her down! Brooklyn plays softball, basketball, and loves to run around and play with her friends and siblings. She also loves to draw. She wants to be a veterinarian for pets when she grows up. Before her diagnosis, she didn't know that children could have arthritis. She is so grateful to her rheumatologist and chiropractor for helping her get the inflammation under control, and the Arthritis Foundation for Champ the bear.