EOS CONNECTION PATIENT EDUCATION CONFERENCE ON EOSINOPHIL-ASSOCIATED DISEASES

Register for Eos Connection 2025

Registration includes access to a pre-conference webinar that will be hosted in the days leading up to the event as well as an all-virtual research round-up that we’ll host July 16-18. Additional details will soon be posted about these.

Registration options

Onsite conference: $50 per person
Virtual attendees: $0 per person

APFED will provide five (5) meals for onsite attendees. On Friday, June 27, meals will includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and on Saturday, June 28, meals will include breakfast and lunch. All meals will be served buffet style and include allergy-friendly options, with ingredients labeled.

What to Expect

This hybrid event will feature live events at the DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park, with select sessions streamed online for virtual participants. We hope to see you there!

Everyone who registers for the conference can:

Meet and network with patients, families, and other community members
Learn about eosinophil-associated diseases and practical strategies from experts
Explore new research in our virtual Poster Hall
Learn about resources, products, and services in the virtual Exhibit Hall
Access session recordings on-demand for six months following the live events

Review conference code of conduct.

Travel Details

Hotel

DoubleTree by Hilton Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park
4810 Page Creek Lane, Durham, NC 27703
919.941.6000

Discounted room rate available until June 5, 2025.

Group room rate: $149 per night + applicable taxes.

Reserve a room

Travel Grants

APFED will award up to 10 travel grants of up to $1,000 USD each on a first-come, first-served basis. The grants may be applied to travel expenses to attend APFED’s annual patient education conference onsite in Raleigh-Durham, NC. Recipients will also have conference registration fees.

Learn more and apply for a travel grant

Research Posters

APFED’s annual patient education conference will feature a virtual poster hall to learn about the latest research on eosinophil-associated diseases. Researchers are invited to submit an abstract by May 9, 2025.

Agenda
All session times are in Eastern Time. The agenda is subject to change.

Thursday, June 26
Friday, June 27
Saturday, June 28

June 26, 2025 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM

Check-in

June 26, 2025 04:00 PM to 05:30 PM

Eos & Everyone: Welcome Mixer

Adult Meet Up (Pay your own tab)

Piney Point Grill Bar (Hotel Lobby)

June 26, 2025 08:00 PM to 09:30 PM

Teen Mixer

June 27, 2025 08:00 AM to 09:00 AM

Breakfast

June 27, 2025 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Session 1 (June 27)

Live + streaming

EGIDs by the Numbers: Prevalence and Health Care Impact
Elizabeth Jensen, MPH, PhD
Epidemiologist

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Learn how common EGIDs are and how these conditions can affect health care needs and services.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE): The Latest Guidelines Explained

Review of the latest updates in the diagnosis and management guidelines for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), patients and families will learn how these changes may impact their care and treatment options.

EoE Treatment Options and Advancements in Clinical Trials

David A. Leiman, MD, MSHP

Gastroenterologist

Duke Health

Learn current treatment options for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and explore the latest advancements from clinical trials, including novel therapies and evolving management strategies.

Non-EoE EGID Treatment Options and Advancements

Evan S. Dellon, MD, MPH

Academic Gastroenterologist

UNC School of Medicine

Learn current and emerging treatment options for non-EoE EGIDs (eosinophilic gastritis, colitis), and clinical trials to better navigate care decisions and discuss personalized treatment plans with your healthcare team.

June 27, 2025 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM

Lunch

June 27, 2025 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Session 2 (June 27)

Live + streaming

Sticking with the Plan: Treatment Adherence and EGIDs and Tips for Staying on Track

Alexander Reddy, MD

Gastroenterologist

Duke Health

Understand the importance of treatment adherence in managing eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs), explore common challenges, and share strategies to support long-term success with diet and medication plans.

Accessing Prescribed Medications: Tips, Tools, and Resources

Empower yourself with practical strategies and resources to navigate insurance, financial assistance, and healthcare systems in order to access prescribed medications and treatments.

Medication Matters: How Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners Support Your Eos Care

This session will help participants understand how clinical pharmacist practitioners support those with eosinophilic GI disorders and how pharmacists help manage medications, monitor for side effects, assist with prior authorizations, and provide education to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Stuck in the Middle: Understanding and Navigating Food Impaction

This session will help participants understand what food impaction is, why it happens, how to recognize the signs, and what steps to take for treatment and prevention. Gain practical knowledge to navigate impactions safely and confidently.

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health Outcomes for EGID Patients

Elizabeth Jensen, MPH, PhD

Epidemiologist

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

This session will provide an overview of what is known about pregnancy and reproductive health in individuals with EGIDs. Participants will learn about the potential impacts of EGIDs and treatments on fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and maternal and fetal health, as well as considerations for planning a healthy pregnancy and postpartum care.

June 27, 2025 03:15 PM to 04:15 PM

Navigating Eos: Virtual Breakout Rooms

June 27, 2025 05:30 PM to 07:00 PM

Networking Dinner

June 28, 2025 08:00 AM to 09:00 AM

Breakfast

June 28, 2025 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Session 3 (July 28)

Live + streaming

Food Allergy Immunotherapy and EoE: Can They Work Together?

Understand the role of immunotherapy in treating food allergies, explore the potential risks and benefits in the context of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), and hear guidance to make informed decisions about treatment options.

Unpacking the Role of Mast Cells in Eosinophilic GI Disorders

Onyinye I. Iweala, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine (Allergy and Immunology)

Director, Allergy Mast Cell Disorders Program

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Learn the role of mast cells in eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs), how they contribute to symptoms, and what this means for diagnosis and treatment approaches.

Patient Voice: Pros and Cons of Dietary Treatment

Food as Medicine: The Role of Diet in Eosinophilic Inflammation

Raquel Durban, MS, RD, LDN

Registered Dietitian

Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center

Learn how food and nutrition can impact eosinophilic conditions, explore the latest research on how diet may help manage inflammation, and discover practical tips to support your health through what you eat.

Starting Strong: A Practical Guide to Elimination Diets for Eosinophilic Disorders

This session will introduce participants to the basics of starting an elimination diet for eosinophilic disorders. Attendees will learn the goals of dietary therapy, common approaches, tips for planning meals, and strategies to maintain nutritional balance while avoiding trigger foods. The session will also address practical challenges and provide resources to support success.

June 28, 2025 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM

Lunch

Description goes here

June 28, 2025 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Session 4 (June 28)

Live + streaming

Sessions to be announced

June 28, 2025 03:15 PM to 04:15 PM

Navigating Eos: Virtual Breakout Rooms

Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions not answered below, please contact conference@apfed.org.

Please review all applicable state and local COVID-19 travel restrictions, guidance, and resources before traveling to participate onsite at our event. APFED is closely monitoring COVID-19 protocols and may make adjustments as required by local and federal guidelines. If you experience symptoms of COVID, or feel ill, please do not attend the event and expose other attendees who may be more at risk for COVID infection.

Wear what is comfortable for you! The conference rooms may be a little cool, so you may want to bring a sweater.

Children under age 11 are not permitted in the conference ballroom where the main sessions are being held.

All children ages 4-10 must be accompanied at all times by an adult or chaperone who is at least age 15. Select activities will be available for ages 4-10 who register for the conference. Chaperones do not need to register for the conference unless they are planning to attend general sessions and/or access event meals.

Conference programming is not suitable for children under age 4.

We are planning a program with activities that are appropriate for children in middle and high school. These will be clearly listed on the final agenda.

APFED does not provide childcare services, but as a courtesy, can provide information upon request about local childcare services available.

Companions do not need to register for the conference unless they are planning to attend general sessions and/or access event meals.

The conference is open to anyone wishing to learn more about EGIDs. Healthcare providers, allied healthcare professionals, and others interested in EGIDs will find the sessions beneficial. CME/CEU credits are not offered, however, we will produce a certificate of participation, if requested.

Onsite conference registration includes five (5) meals. All meals will be served buffet-style and include allergy-friendly options, with ingredients labeled. Meals will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

If companions would like to access event meals, please register them for the conference.

Meals will be served buffet-style and include allergy-friendly options, with ingredients labeled.

APFED works with the catering staff to educate them on how to avoid cross-contact and provides recommendtions for ingredient substitution and specialty foods. We work to ensure that catering staff labels all ingredients carefully, and that buffet items are separated with designated serving utensils. Please be cautious, read all food labels, and be aware that some foods may contain ingredients that you should avoid.

To accommodate conference attendees with formula or other dietary needs, we will provide a Hospitality Suite for food storage and preparation. The suite includes a refrigerator and freezer, microwave, sink, dish soap, paper towels, and disposable tableware. This room will be staffed and open during the posted hours, Thursday-Saturday. Conference attendees can gain access to this suite outside of the posted hours. More information will be provided onsite at check-in.

Yes! Our conferences are a success thanks to the generosity of our volunteers! We often have tasks leading up to the conference, and onsite at the conference during that weekend. To add your name to our volunteer list, please contact conference@apfed.org. We may not have something to assign you right away, but we will keep your contact information handy. Please note that we cannot waive conference fees for volunteers.

A limited number of travel grants are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible applicants. Learn more and apply.

If you would like to attend onsite but the registration fee poses a hardship, please email conference@apfed.org stating your need and a request for waived conference registration.

EDUCATION PARTNERS

If you are interested in sponsoring EOS Connection 2024, please contact mjstrobel@apfed.org.

Collaborating Education Partner

Presenting Education Partners

Platinum Education Partner

Supporting Education Partners

Entero Track

Uniquity Bioscience

GSK

Welcome Reception Sponsor

Ajinomoto Cambrooke