<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Dear Friends, For the past five and a half years, I have had the privilege to serve the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program as its Executive Director, and through it, the celiac community across the United States. On my first day of work, I had a desk and a chair, and a burning desire to make a difference. I was hired by Dr. Stefano Guandalini and a core group of dedicated board members who had articulated their vision for a program for people with celiac disease and their families. Five and a half years later, our organization is strong as we've served more than 17,000 people, answering more than 10,000 telephone and e-mail requests for information, educating 4,000 people in support group presentations, performing 1,760 free tests and distributing more than 1,000 care packages, while raising 1.3 million dollars for celiac disease research and education. As we approach Celiac Action Day (where we will test 400 more people, thanks to our partnership with Prometheus Laboratories) I am proud to say that the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program is continuing on its trajectory of success in its creative and unique way. It has been an honor to work with such an outstanding organization, led by Dr. Guandalini, a celiac disease expert of the highest caliber. In early October, I'll be starting a new job. I will miss working with the celiac community very much. Many of you know I traveled extensively to support groups for several years, and I know how much dedication and energy that support group leaders invest in their groups. It was a pleasure to have talked to so many patients, family members, people living with celiac disease and leaders over the past five years. I have developed many good friends and I wish I could send you all a personal letter! Please know that the program will continue on just as it has, but for a short time, the office will have one less person! I hope that support groups and any other businesses or organizations that provide help to people with celiac disease will provide our website address for assistance in addition to our phone number: www.celiacdisease.net <http://www.celiacdisease.net/> . This will help my colleague Ronit in the short term, until the organization finds the new full time person who will step into my position. CARE PACKAGES WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE, don't worry! My last day with the program will be October 6th, but I'll be volunteering with the program on October 14th at our annual screening. I'll also be walking on October 14th to raise funds for our program (I'm looking for team members!) at our Pumpkins in the Park event. If you'd like to sponsor me you can visit our website! Because of my passion for the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program, for it's mission and purpose to transform the lives of people with celiac disease through education and research, I'm often asked if I'm a celiac, or a nurse, or a doctor, or a dietitian. I'm not any of the above. When I learned about celiac disease, I was watching the evening news on television, and I learned for the first time from Dr. Guandalini that children could stop growing just from eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It was that, and the fact that an average celiac patient waits 11 years for a diagnosis that motivated my desire to help. I hope that I have, and I appreciate the opportunities that this community has given me to do so. Best Wishes, Michelle Melin-Rogovin Executive Director University of Chicago Celiac Disease Program 5839 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 4069 Chicago, IL. 60637 Celiac Disease Information Line: 773-702-7593 FAX: 773-702-0666 www.celiacdisease.net * Please remember some posters may be WHEAT-FREE, but not GLUTEN-FREE * Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC