Brittany Panico, MD
Medical Honoree

Dr. Brittany Panico is a rheumatologist serving the local communities around Warrenville and Geneva. She is an active member of the American College of Rheumatology and participates in several national organizations that support arthritis research and treatment.

Dr. Panico is passionate about reaching out to her community to help educate and support those who live with an arthritis condition. She believes “the more we are able to recognize and diagnose arthritis before it causes deformity and disability, the more we are able to empower those who live with a chronic condition”.

The Arthritis Foundation's educational materials about arthritis conditions and treatment options help Dr. Panico support her patients. She often includes the Arthritis Foundation's resources, support services and other information to patients following their visit and diagnosis.

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

Stephanie Hine
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adult Honoree

Stephanie Hine was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2015. She was quickly diagnosed from her first signs of symptoms. A sudden flare during her pregnancy in the summer of 2018 required that she pursue biologic therapy throughout, but she is doing much better postpartum. Getting up in the middle of the night is still challenging as she cares for her two young children, but she is so grateful for her progress.

Stephanie enjoys spending her free time with her two young boys and husband. Her hobbies include reading, wine tasting and travel. Stephanie enjoys working out and staying active, which helps her cope. She also supports the Alzheimer’s Association and is a board member for her neighborhood homeowner’s association.

Her hope for the future is to find a cure for arthritis, that one day she will reach true remission, feeling as strong as she once did. Stephanie supports the Arthritis Foundation and its efforts to find a cure.

Join Stephanie in her fight against arthritis, register or donate today!

Jennifer Rader
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adult Honoree

Jennifer was first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in October 2007. She spent 7 years trying different medications that could potentially help her symptoms to no avail. Despite her rheumatologist’s recommendation; Jennifer and her husband Jason decided to go off all medication in order to start their family. They were aware of the potential risk of building up antibodies rendering her medication ineffective after having children, but it was well worth the risk.

Seven years after her diagnosis she finally found a medication that was able to help her symptoms. Since having her two boys Cody (9) and Dylan (6), she has not found medication to put her into remission.

A natural born Athlete, Jennifer had been playing sports since she was just three years old. She was a three-sport sport high school athlete and played softball while at Millikin University. After her diagnosis Jennifer had to give up playing all sports, which was a devastating realization. However, “I may have this disease for life, but I refuse to let it define my life”.

Jennifer supports the Arthritis Foundation and it’s advocacy and scientific discovery initiatives. As an honoree, Jennifer hopes that by sharing her story it will provide strength and inspiration for others with RA. “My hope for the future is that one day there will be a cure for RA so no one has to go through this pain everyday”.

Join Jennifer in her fight against arthritis, register or donate today!

Audrey Ridge
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Youth Honoree

Meet Audrey, a kind and resilient 11-year-old. She enjoys playing outside, crafts, playing with friends, drawing and watching movies.

Audrey was initially misdiagnosed with a torn meniscus in May 2018. When the swelling and pain didn’t heal after two months, Audrey was referred to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital. Doctors diagnosed Audrey with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Audrey has endured fluid removals, steroid injections and physical therapy to help her cope.

One year later and Audrey’s knee still hadn’t healed. She was referred to an orthopedic surgeon at Lurie’s. An MRI of her right knee showed osteochondritis dissecans (detached fragments of cartilage). Audrey underwent surgery to remove the broken cartilage, perform a cartilage stimulation procedure and a guided growth plate was put in place. 

Though Audrey has struggled with walking and running for the past year, she continues to dance. Her latest triumph was practicing and dancing through the pain in her 2019 dance recital.

Audrey and her family received a scholarship to attend the JIA conference in Minneapolis where she met other kids with JIA. Audrey and her sister Alyssa have also been involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, raising funds in honor of their friend who has CF.

Audrey hopes in the future there will be a cure for JIA and that she can help anyone who is going through what she went through, She hopes to be a positive role model for them.

Join Audrey in her fight against arthritis, register or donate today!