Posted on April 11, 2016

 

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2016 ADAO Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference Speakers and Honorees

On behalf of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), we would like to thank all of our attendees, speakers, honorees, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who participated in the 12th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference! This year’s conference, “Where Knowledge and Action Unite,” held April 8 – 10, 2016 in Washington, DC, marked 12 years of ADAO’s leadership in raising asbestos awareness, spearheading advocacy efforts, and fostering our united community. The conference brought together medical, academic, occupational experts, asbestos victims, and friends of ADAO from nine countries to spread awareness about asbestos, clarify recent academic and legislative news, disseminate educational/preventative resources, and work towards a ban on asbestos.  This year, we were honored to feature nearly 40 conference presenters, an Awards and Recognition Dinner, a Unity and Remembrance Brunch, and a Candle Light Vigil honoring and supporting all those touched by asbestos. ADAO’s campaign, “Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention.” was once again an underlying theme repeated again and again by conference attendees, mesothelioma warriors, and experts alike as their voices resonated in unison with a call for hazardous chemical regulation reform.

 

2016 ADAO Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference Private Trolley Tour

2016 ADAO Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference Private Trolley Tour

Here are some of the 2016 12th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference highlights and related links!

Each individual conference presentation video will be uploaded to the ADAO YouTube library by June 1st.

ADAO would like to acknowledge a few individuals who, unfortunately, could not attend the conference in person:   Doug Larkin, Co-Founder of ADAO; Dr. Phillip Landrigan, recipient of the 2016 Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Achievement Award; Christine Winter, recipient of the 2016 Alan Reinstein Award; Dr. Richard Lemen, whose wisdom as an ADAO Science Advisory Board Member has been critical to ADAO’s success; Barbi McQueen, ADAO Honorary Celebrity Board Co-Chair; Jill Cagle, Mesothelioma Widow and Singer; and the inspirational Lou WilliamsMesothelioma Warrior. We missed and were thinking of you all!

We are so proud and thankful for all of our experts and community members who made this amazing conference possible – your voices, stories, and willpower inspire us daily and make our work and this event possible. And a special thanks to all of our 2016 Sponsors that made this and other ADAO efforts possible!  Corporate sponsors include Motley Rice LLC (Platinum Sponsor), Simmons Hanly Conroy, LLC (Platinum Sponsor), Delaware Insulation Asbestos Disease Trust (Platinum Sponsor), Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett (Gold Sponsor), and Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney and Meisenkothen (Silver Sponsor). Individual donors include Lisa Crandall (Diamond Donor); the Von St. James Family, the Neuenschwander Family, and Mesothelioma Heroes Foundation (Emerald Donors); The Amento Family and Michele Mikulic (Sapphire Donors); and Sarah McOnie and The Mconie Agency for their in-kind donation.

We want to thank all of our dedicated volunteers, with extra thanks and appreciation to: Herman Hamilton, Ellen Costa, Tony Rich, Domani Tripam, Ann Samuelson, Marilyn Amento, Cody Egan, Emily Reinstein, Cortney Segmen, Bob and Laura Kuzmick, and Betty, Stacey, Megan, and Robin Tucker.

Here’s what ADAO conference attendees are saying:

Paul Brodeur, Keynote Speaker, and Linda

Paul Brodeur, Keynote Speaker, and Linda Reinstein

“The conference was wonderful. What I liked best were the interesting, caring, and highly motivated people I met.” Paul Brodeur

“ADAO”s conference brings together all of the perspectives regarding the issue of asbestos-science, public policy, and the impact on families.” Dr. Arthur Frank

“The 12th Annual ADAO Conference was the best yet.  Well-organized with a blend of science, the experience of asbestos warriors, and historical perspective that was riveting and helped all of us understand how we got from there to here.  It will not be forgotten.  This year’s conference sets a high barrier for the 13th in 2017.” Dr. Christine Oliver

This year’s 2016 ADAO Conference brought an incredible body of U.S. and international labor and occupational health expertise together creating new synergies in the global ban on asbestos and opportunities in prevention.  It was a memorable element of the conference to see the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Belgium, England to connect as they did.  Hoping that the communication and exchange with these countries continues to grow as one global voice!” Ellen Costa

“The annual ADAO Conference is the best place to be educated about asbestos, the many dangers it poses and learn from industry experts, medical professionals and people in the community who are doing something about it. I can’t encourage you enough to attend this information packed conference.” Heather Von St. James

“ADAO conference is a unique opportunity to meet scientists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, activists, asbestos victims, families from different countries and exchange experiences. The subject is always the same: asbestos and its terrible consequences to human kind. Every multidisciplinary approach is a piece of a giant puzzle built and assembled for several hands willing to contribute for a world free of asbestos where nobody will die anymore from this  killer fiber. I am very happy and proud to be part of this committed family. Congratulations, Linda for all you achieved in these years.  Cheers and long life to ADAO!” Fernanda Giannasi

“ADAO conference raised awareness and prevention knowledge. Asbestos destroys innocent lives. We need to unite and eradicate asbestos from our world.” Lou Williams

“This year’s conference had an incredible balance of science, history, and emotion. From listening to Paul Brodeur share his legendary efforts, to hearing powerfully emotional stories from asbestos victims like Emily Bankhead and Mike Mattmuller, the 2016 conference made the connection between asbestos and asbestos-related diseases undeniable. Thank you all for continuing to spread awareness, advocacy, and community through a unified voice.” Emily Reinstein

“The annual ADAO conference once again underscored the civil injustices committed against the countless workers and families exposed to asbestos. Simmons Hanly Conroy congratulates Linda, Doug and the volunteers for hosting another successful conference, and we look forward to continuing our support as they work to secure a ban on asbestos in the United States and around the world.” Todd Adamitis

“This year’s conference was especially upbeat and powerful, echoing the sounds of progress from around the world.” Paul Zygielbaum

“The 12th Annual ADAO Asbestos Conference brought together a powerful collection of voices of the victims, their families, the medical and technical experts and others fighting for an end to the 100 year-old asbestos tragedy.  The most inspiring and informative conference I’ve attended this year!” Mark Catlin

“It was inspiring and energizing to be with people committed to the urgent social justice movement to eradicate asbestos exposure. It’s a huge obstacle to overcome, but a cause worth fighting for.   By working together, we give victims a voice in hopes to obliterate asbestos and mesothelioma.” Anne McGinness Kearse

“When you think they can’t get any better, they do. Our finest conference ever!” Herman Hamilton

“My favorite part of the conference was listening to Emily Bankhead’s story. Hearing other victims speak on behalf of their loved ones is truly touching. It builds our sense of community and helps us know we are not alone in our struggles.” Robin Tucker

“My favorite thing about the conference was spending time with the families we work so hard to represent – and seeing how ADAO’s wonderful work is positively affecting their lives.” Erin Nowel

“For those of us involved in the asbestos abatement industry, the ADAO Conference reminds us that our work to safely and effectively manage asbestos in buildings is critically important to the safety and welfare of workers, occupants and guests in our nations buildings.” J. Brent Kynoch

“The ADAO conference was an amazing opportunity to hear from top experts on the continuing scourge of asbestos and stand with the victims of asbestos disease.” Ben Somberg

“We were impressive and felt the honesty and openness of everyone working in unity to correct a very serious problem of continuing to use asbestos and asbestos products was important.” Bracy and Mary Lynne Borel.

“I am always very grateful to have the opportunity to attend ADAO’s Global Asbestos Disease Awareness Conference, a critical conference to the health and safety to individuals globally, and this year was no exception.  After spending a weekend with an incredible number of medical and safety experts, mesothelioma survivors and other individuals affected by asbestos exposure, I once again left the conference with the knowledge, inspiration and renewed energy to do more to help ensure asbestos gets banned globally and that the general public is aware of their risk of asbestos exposure and how to find support if they have been exposed.” Domani Tripam

“I enjoyed the opportunity to be able to sit in on the ADAO Conference here in the Uk. I was able to deliver a speech and take part via Skype which I was very proud to be invited to do. A huge thank you to all those that took part you made it a very interesting conference.” Mavis Nye

“The ADAO Conference gets better every year, and hit a new high water mark this year with participation from Senator Markey’s office, the Surgeon General warning, the keynote from Paul Brodeur – a National Treasure, and the Borel family, finally acknowledged for landmark contributions to the legal system .”  Congratulations to LINDA and Emily Reinstein, Doug Larkin and the ADAO Board for moving the needle of change.” Sue Ann Taylor

“For me the best part of the conference is the silver lining as Marilyn puts it.  The new people you make connections with and reconnecting with others I haven’t seen in a while.  Also, Dr. Flores presentation was my favorite, mainly because that was my first time seeing those photos during surgery.  I never thought I could stomach them but surprisingly I wasn’t bothered by it.” Mike Mattmuller

“Truly inspirational to hear about all the incredible work going on to ban asbestos, not only in the US, but around the world. Thank you for putting on such an amazing event!!” Dr. Eudice Goldberg

“This year’s conference brought a unique and invaluable mix of real-life stories from both asbestos victims and those who have lost loved ones, together with illuminating talks by some of the world’s foremost public health experts who are on the front lines of this battle against asbestos-triggered diseases.  It was truly inspiring to listen to all those who presented and it gave me newfound hope and optimism about a world one day soon where asbestos has been banned in the United States and far fewer innocent people’s lives cut short from the diseases it causes.” Alex Formuzis

“I attend many conferences and when they are done I am always left feeling was it worth my time.  After attending my second ADAO conference and meeting the families, survivors and listening to their stories I feel different and that we are actually accomplishing something and part of a growing movement.” Carmine Tiano

“I am honoured for having participated to the ADAO annual conference. It was a unique opportunity for sharing knowledge, life stories, and emotions with activists, sufferers from asbestos-related diseases, health professionals, and other experts involved in the transnational struggle against asbestos. ADAO offers an example of the the potentialities and strenght of a movement that, emerged from the suffering caused by the perversiness of economic profit, fights in name of social and environmental justice for the past and next generations”  Agata Mazzeo

“ADAO advocacy, prevention and education has grown global in its reach, yet it is an organization with a heart you can touch.” Ann Samuelson

“The quality and expertise of the conference speakers astounds me more and more each year. I learn so much about asbestos and asbestos disease at every ADAO conference.” Marilyn Amento

Together, we make change happen. 

Linda

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