I used to work 60-plus hours a week. I ran a busy, successful marketing business. I was the person who answered emails at midnight, wrote copy on the weekends, and juggled client visits and meetings during the week.
Then I got sick.
And I had to figure out real quick how to slash my hours without sacrificing income or losing my sense of purpose. No one handed me a roadmap. I had to build one. And it was real bumpy at first.
That experience became a chapter of my life, and eventually, a core part of my book Chronically Ill, Wildly Capable. Now I’m bringing it to the 5th Virtual Sjögren’s Summit.
What Is the Virtual Sjögren’s Summit?
The Virtual Sjögren’s Summit is a three-day online event hosted by Dr. Kara Wada, MD, a double board-certified allergist, immunologist, Sjogee, and founder of the Immune Confident Institute.
This year’s theme is Stronger With Sjögren’s: Thriving in the New Era of Treatment and Self-Management, and it runs July 16-18, 2026.
Over three days and three tracks, you will hear from more than 35 researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates covering everything from cutting-edge treatment advances to gut health, dry eye, sleep, nervous system regulation, and more. The lineup is genuinely impressive, and the community that shows up for this event is one of the most engaged, supportive groups I have encountered in the chronic illness space.
A complimentary live access pass is completely free. No credit card required. You can watch every session live July 16-18 and catch replays through July 27.
My Session: It’s Not a Setback, It’s a Pivot
I am presenting on Day 3, Saturday July 18 at 10:50 AM ET, and my session is called “It’s Not a Setback, It’s a Pivot: Reimagining Your Career with Sjögren’s.”
When Sjögren’s hit my career identity took a direct hit. I had built something I was proud of, and couldn’t keep up. I worried about how I was going to pivot while still helping to provide for my family. I know I am not alone in that in fear.
In this session I am drawing from four sections of Chronically Ill, Wildly Capable to give you both the emotional permission and the practical tools to approach your career differently. In my presentation I’ll cover:
Permission to Grieve. Before we can pivot, we have to acknowledge the loss. The career you had, or imagined having, deserves to be grieved. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons people get stuck.
A New Lens on Success. Traditional career models were not designed for people whose bodies have unpredictable needs. We are going to look at what a career can actually look like when you stop trying to fit into a model that wasn’t built for you.
(Re)discovering Your Superpowers. This section is about identifying what you bring to the table that is distinctly, powerfully yours, and how to transfer into something new.
Energy Budgeting. This is the practical piece. How do you protect your most limited resource and still show up for work that matters to you?
How to Register
Registration for the complimentary live access pass is free. If you want lifetime access to all recordings, transcripts, and speaker bonus materials, the All Access Pass is available at an early bird rate of $47 through June 21. After that it goes to $77.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Little Engine Patient Advocacy 
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