Rylie
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Teen Honoree
 Rylie, age 14, is a Georgia native who resides in Woodstock. Her journey started when she was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at the young age of three. Rylie’s JIA had many repercussions including missed school, travel back and forth to her doctor in North Carolina, trauma around medication, a UTI which resulted in C-Diff, a long hospital stay over her 6th birthday, and uveitis. She tries to use it as motivation, not fear. Her journey has made her who she is today. Rylie is not only a JA Warrior but also an actress. She’s been featured in lead roles in both feature and short films produced here in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
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As a Board Certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Charles Claps works extensively to assist patients along their arthritis journey. Dr. Claps is a joint replacement specialist and is honored to serve patients with this debilitating disease. Dr. Claps is thrilled to be serving as this year’s Co-Medical Honoree. Despite the pandemic, the Arthritis Foundation and physicians like Dr. Claps continue to serve the community through advancements, programs and scientific discovery. The pain of arthritis does not stop, even during a pandemic.
As a former certified athletic trainer and current orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mathew Levine understands the debilitation and disruption caused by hip and knee arthritis. Making a positive difference in the lives of his patients is the driving force of his practice. "It is a privilege to be able to care for my patients with arthritis and other autoimmune conditions and to watch them succeed through both surgical and non-operative procedures. I enjoy working as a team with my patients to return them to an active lifestyle.”
Amanda was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis in 2016 at the age of 27. She had suffered from joint and back pain, as well as uveitis and scleritis flares, since her teens. She is passionate about raising funds for the Arthritis Foundation for advocacy work, bettering education with physicians and the public in order to reduce the time between the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, and for research to find better treatment options.