Andrew Laster, MD
Arthritis & Osteoporosis
Consultants of the Carolinas
Medical Honoree

Dr. Laster is a board-certified rheumatologist and a founder of Arthritis & Osteoporosis Consultants of the Carolinas (AOCC). Established in 2000, this community based independent practice with 14 providers is one of the largest rheumatology practices in the South East.

Dr. Laster received his MD degree from Johns Hopkins where he also was on the Osler house staff and completed his fellowship in rheumatology at Duke. He currently is a member at large on the Board of Directors for the American College of Rheumatology. Dr. Laster has also had a longstanding interest in osteoporosis and has advocated for accessible bone density testing for many years as chair of Public Policy and then President of the ISCD (International Society for Clinical Densitometry).

To support or join Dr. Laster , please visit his team page today! 

Shomara Anderson
Osteoarthritis
Veteran Honoree

Shomara is a retired U.S. Army combat veteran with over 23 years of service to this great nation. As an Army veteran with six combat deployments, he knows firsthand the impacts of arthritis on one’s daily lifestyle.

After his fourth combat deployment in 2014, Shomara was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a condition that causes the cartilage in the joints to wear down. It frequently affects his hips and lower back, causing difficulty bending and hip-related mobility issues. This condition continues to affect Shomara’s ability to perform daily tasks, leading to his military retirement. Nowadays, Shomara runs with a purpose to bring awareness to the different types of arthritis that may affect service members as they transition to civilian life.

Addy Luciani
Oligoarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Youth Honoree

Addy is a sweet, fun loving 3-year-old. She was diagnosed at 2 years old with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Addy participates in dance and swimming and does her absolute best to not let her arthritis slow her down or discourage her. 

After months of questions and testing, and a few days of Addy not being able to walk, she was able to get a solid diagnosis and treatment plan. Thanks to her incredible doctors, Dr. Vora, Dr. Klein and Dr. Shah, her family has so much hope for Addy’s progress. They were so amazing and have made Addy feel cared for and confident.

To support or join Addy, please visit her teams page today!

Garrison & Jude
Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Youth Honoree Sibling Team

Meet our Youth Honoree Sibling Team! Jude is 11 and Garrison is 9, hence their $9,000 team goal. Jude has yet to meet a stranger. Garrison is the shy one. Jude loves sports. Garrison prefers art. This sibling duo can agree on two things, books are great and arthritis is terrible. Garrison has to endure the physical pain of arthritis. Jude does not. It is scary for a little girl to have arthritis. It is scary for a brother to watch his little sister fight a disease that you can’t see. But no matter how scary the journey gets, these brave siblings will travel it together. Jude and Garrison are a brave and strong sibling team. It's heartwarming to see how they support each other and fight arthritis together!

Read more about their story and help them reach their $9000 goal!