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In the Face of Shifting Learning Environments, the Society for Science Awards $214,000 to 66 Educators Tasked with Guiding Students in Scientific Research

Society for Science

Today, the Society for Science is proud to release the names of 66 stellar educators who will serve in the organization’s Advocate Program in the 2021-2022 school year. Fifty-eight Advocates will each receive a $3,000 stipend while eight Lead Advocates will receive $5,000 each. Throughout their one-year terms, these dedicated Advocates will encourage at least three to five students — who identify as a race or ethnicity historically underrepresented in STEM — in science and engineering research and help them enter those projects into competitions. Now in its seventh year, the Advocate Program strives to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators through hands-on research and competition, and supports full representation of all identities in STEM fields. Advocates will break down barriers to competition participation by providing support for selecting competitions, gathering materials, meeting deadlines, preparing for competition and ensuring inclusivity. “In the coming school year, students and teachers will have to remain flexible during a fluctuating public health emergency,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science and Publisher of Science News. “Through the Advocate Program, we hope students continue to participate in meaningful and transformative science research experiences. We hope this program continues to be a catalyst for underrepresented students to consider future STEM careers. The 66 Advocates are a truly amazing group of mentors for the next generation of scientists and engineers.” Twenty-seven returning Advocates have shared that the program kept students engaged in scientific research and competition despite the pandemic last year. In the last month, just as the U.S. population saw COVID-19 restrictions lift, infection rates decline and vaccination rates soar, and the educational community was shifting back to some form of normal, the delta variant began to spread. In the upcoming school year, we can expect a changing roadmap to dictate student learning in a variety of environments (i.e. in-person, remote or hybrid) and that schools will vary their safety protocols across the nation. Throughout this flux, returning and new Advocates will seek to keep their mentees engaged. The Advocate Program uses a tiered mentorship model, where educators are not only mentoring their students and raising future generations of scientists and engineers, but they are also mentoring, learning from and evolving supportive relationships with each another. Advocates will further develop their science research programs in another unusual year, connect with professionals in the science community and meet like-minded educators who value authentic student research and the educational opportunities that science competitions offer. To date, Advocates have supported more than 4,000 students during their participation in the program, of which, 3,076 students have successfully competed in at least one science research competition. During the 2020-2021 cycle, approximately 80 percent of student mentees participated in science competitions at the local and/or national level. Moreover, students of Advocates are responsible for over 5,000 unique competition entries, with many students entering more than one competition. Ninety percent of those students are from low-income households and 70 percent are of a race or ethnicity underrepresented in STEM. This year, the Advocates are from 31 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and include 23 middle school teachers, three who work with both middle and high school students, 29 high school teachers, six affiliated with universities and five out-of-school educators. The following are 2021-2022 Lead Advocates, who will oversee groups of Advocates: McKenzie Baecker, Two Rivers Public Charter School (Washington, DC) Scotti Benton, Jasper County Middle School (Monticello, GA) Elizabeth Bieri, Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School (Birmingham, AL) Robin Driver, Eisenhower High School (Yakima, WA) Reshawndra Hutchins-Trapp, Elite Scholars Academy (Jonesboro, GA) Jeremy Jonas, Tucson High Magnet School (Tucson, AZ) Sam Loftus, Shasta Middle School (Eugene, OR) Yajaira Torres-De Jesús, Colegio Rosa Bell (Guaynabo, PR) The following are 2021-2022 Advocates: Adenike Akinyode, Eastside High School (Gainesville, FL) Laura Alberici da Barbiano, Blanson CTE High School (Houston, TX) Ramon Benavides, Del Valle High School (El Paso, TX) Dallas Bergstrom, Miller Career & Technology Center (Katy, TX) Caitlin Bonham, Kenwood Academy High School (Chicago, IL) Humberto Bracho, Frick United Academy of Language (Oakland, CA) Justin Brown, Kealakehe High School (Kailua-Kona, HI) Leslie Cannon, The ATLAS Academy at Tennyson Middle School (Waco, TX) Philip Clarke, Centennial School District (Gresham, OR) Cameron Cooley, Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (Memphis, TN) Sarah Cooper, Southeast Career and Technical Academy (Las Vegas, NV) Renee Cordes, Flathead High School (Kalispell, MT) Christine Danger, University of Florida & Hillsborough Public Schools (Tampa, FL) Lakshmi Darbha, Aavanee (Frederick, MD) Dannielle Davis, Circle of Excellence Network (St. Louis, MO) Michelle Denson, Atlanta Public Schools (Atlanta, GA) Jessica Doiron, Freedom High School (Woodbridge, VA) Martrice Donaldson, School District of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) Lauren Dudley, Chapman University (Orange, CA) Mark Eastburn, Princeton High School (Princeton, NJ) Kathleen Galau, Thunder Mountain High School (Juneau, AK) Jennifer Gentry, Vanderbilt Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach (Nashville, TN) Christine Girtain, Toms River High School South & Toms River High School North (Toms River, NJ) Angela Groves-Price, WP McLean Middle School (Fort Worth, TX) Todd Ireland, 100 Black Men of Douglasville, Inc. (Douglasville, GA) Sunday Iwalaiye, Prince George’s County Public Schools (Laurel, MD) Karen Johnson, Evanston Township High School (Evanston, IL) Edwina Kinchington, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy (Pittsburgh, PA) Andrea LaRosa, Westside Middle School Academy (Danbury, CT) Debra Las, John Adams Middle School (Rochester, MN) Gaurang Limachia, GoSTEM (Chicago, IL) Amy Mallozzi, Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) Priscilla Martinez Fuentes, Homer Hanna Early College High School (Brownsville, TX) Margarette Marturano, Seminole Ridge High School (Wellington, FL) Erin Mayer, Casey Middle School (Boulder, CO) Allyson McFalls, Blowing Rock Elementary School (Blowing Rock, NC) Amy Melby, Yuma High School (Yuma, CO) Ryan Melton, Grenada Career and Technical Center (Grenada, MS) Jessica Menchaca, Del Valle ISD (Del Valle, TX) Raquel Miranda, Project Youth 4 Youth International (El Paso, TX) Lalitha Murali, Glen Hills Middle School (Glendale, WI) Jacqueline Nichols, Sunnyside Unified School District (Tucson, AZ) Bree Oatman, South Dakota Discovery Center (Pierre, SD) Susana Oliu, John Muir High School Early College Magnet (Pasadena, CA) Yolanda Pender-Bey, Mount Vernon Elementary School (Chicago, IL) Macy Pickman, USD 409 (Atchison, KS) Eileen Poserio, Wolf Point High School (Wolf Point, MT) Cecilie Prine, Lander Middle School (Lander, WY) Mary-Elizabeth Quan, Ontario-Montclair School District (Ontario, CA) Nate Rayor, Mescalero Apache School (Mescalero, NM) Carter Shank, Kings Science and Technology Magnet Center (Omaha, NE) Bradley Spencer, Weber School District (Roy, UT) Scott Troy, Westminster High School (Westminster, CO) Joshua Truitt, Hilsman Middle School (Athens, GA) Kiara T. Vann, Stratford STEM High School (Nashville, TN) John Wiley, Challenge School (Denver, CO) Sara Yeh, Ray Wiltsey Middle School (Ontario, CA) Jean Yoo, Almeria Middle School (Fontana, CA) The Advocate Program is made possible by the Arconic Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and Regeneron. In addition to receiving stipends, each Lead Advocate will supervise six to eight new Advocates with whom they host monthly calls, facilitating monthly reports on how their students are doing in their research endeavors and offering helpful guidance and support. Lead Advocates are returning educators who hold additional responsibilities; each hosts a session at an Advocate Training Institute and creates a webinar providing guidance to any educator seeking to bolster STEM research programs in their schools. This past June, this year’s cohort attended a virtual Advocate Training Institute, where sessions covered topics such as research in hybrid learning environments, designing and implementation of a STEM research course, s trategies to level up student research and using public resources to support student projects. For additional information about the Advocate Program, visit: https://www.societyforscience.org/outreach-and-equity/advocate-program/ About Society for Science Society for Science is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazine, Science News and Science News for Students, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science). Contact Details Society for Science Aparna Paul +1 781-375-8353 aparna@societyforscience.org Company Website https://www.societyforscience.org/

August 18, 2021 01:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time

American Kidney Fund Commends the CDC, FDA and CMS for Supporting a Booster Shot of the COVID-19 Vaccine for Immunocompromised People

American Kidney Fund

LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund (AKF), today issues the following statement in response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing immunocompromised people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot: “People who are immunocompromised, including kidney transplant recipients, have been living with fear and uncertainty ever since research showed that they were less likely to develop antibodies from COVID-19 vaccines. AKF and the patients we serve are grateful to CDC and FDA for moving quickly to support a booster shot recommendation for those who had the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines and are solid organ transplant recipients or are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have a similar level of immunocompromise. This extra layer of protection against COVID-19 comes as much-needed reassurance for patients who have a significantly higher risk of severe illness, hospitalizations and death from the coronavirus. “Further, AKF is grateful that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that Medicare will cover the cost of this booster shot for Medicare beneficiaries. “Anyone who is uncertain about whether they qualify for this booster shot should speak with their physician. “AKF urges the CDC and FDA to quickly assess whether those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should also receive a booster shot. “While getting the vaccine, and a booster shot, are strongly encouraged for those who are immunocompromised, it is still important for the kidney community to take CDC-recommended precautions, like wearing masks in public places and practicing social distancing, to protect themselves from COVID-19, particularly as cases from the Delta variant surge across the U.S. “If people who are immunocompromised become exposed to COVID-19, it is critical to speak with their doctor or care team and seek treatment with antibody therapy right away. The FDA’s recent emergency use authorization of a preventive monoclonal antibody treatment for those who are immunocompromised is a great step towards preventing serious illness in this patient population. However, this treatment is primarily available at large hospitals and health systems in large urban areas, meaning that patients in rural areas or those without adequate transportation may not have access to this beneficial treatment. Additionally, education about the possibly of getting post-exposure antibody treatment is critical, and factors like internet access and health literacy put some at a disadvantage. “Ensuring equitable dissemination of the vaccine, the booster shot and antibody treatment to protect immunocompromised individuals continues to be a challenge that needs to be prioritized. As new information and research becomes available, AKF will continue keeping kidney patients informed and advocating for the protections they need in their fight against kidney disease.” For more information about COVID-19 and kidney disease, visit KidneyFund.org/covid-19. Kidney patients can access additional COVID-19 resources at KidneyFund.org/coronavirus. ### About the American Kidney Fund The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation’s leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease—from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation’s top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact Details Stefanie Tuck 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 +1 202-470-1797 AKF@jpa.com Company Website http://www.kidneyfund.org/

August 18, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Cyvatar’s Stephanie Simpson Named a Finalist for the Top 10 Women in Cybersecurity at the 2021 Black Unicorn Awards

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced the selection of another member of its senior executive team as a finalist for outstanding achievement at this year’s Cyber Defense Magazine Black Unicorn awards, announced during the 2021 Black Hat USA conference. Stephanie Simpson, vice president of platform management, was chosen as a finalist for the Top 10 Women in Cybersecurity; she competed against the industry’s leading cybersecurity experts for this prestigious award. “We’re pleased to name Stephanie Simpson as a finalist for the Top 10 Women in Cybersecurity among an elite group of female information security professionals at the third annual Black Unicorn awards,” said judges Robert R. Ackerman Jr., David DeWalt, Dr. Peter Stephenson, and Gary Miliefsky. “This year’s competition was fierce, and she should be proud of her achievement.” Stephanie was selected from women around the world who vied for top honors. She has two decades of software product leadership, from ideation to launch, to fill gaps in the industry and meet customer needs. She has brought many award-winning innovations to market including Cyvatar’s cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) platform, developed with fellow Black Unicorn winner Craig Goodwin. As an engineer, Stephanie is no stranger to disruptive technologies, and customers and colleagues alike benefit from her passionate, transformative leadership style. “Female technical talent in cybersecurity is hard to find, and we’re fortunate to have such an accomplished practitioner as Stephanie on the executive team at Cyvatar,” said Corey White, Cyvatar co-founder and chief executive. “Diversity and inclusion are foundational to our success, which makes Stephanie’s vision, energy, and leadership vital as we recruit top talent across the organization.” Only Cyvatar offers subscription-based CSaaS designed to provide outcomes, continuous remediation, ongoing solution maintenance, and the ability for all of its customers to execute their security strategies at speed and scale. Find out how CSaaS can work for your business at cyvatar.ai. About Cyber Defense Awards This is Cyber Defense Magazine’s 9th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber and David DeWalt of NightDragon with much appreciation to emeritus judge Robert Herjavec of Herjavec Group. To see the complete list of finalists for the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 please visit https://cyberdefenseawards.com/black-unicorn-awards-finalists-2021/ About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to making cybersecurity effortless for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at https://cyvatar.ai/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

August 16, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Elsevier launches advanced clinical tool to bring world-class medical content to physicians globally at the point of care

Elsevier

Elsevier, a global leader in research publishing and information analytics, is pleased to announce the launch of an enhanced version of ClinicalKey ®, which will provide physicians with quick access to Elsevier’s trusted medical resources in addition to clinical decision support at the point of care. The new ClinicalKey for physicians in the U.S. and various international markets will help them diagnose and treat patients faster, and more effectively, based on the latest evidence. This enhancement is coming as time-pressed clinicians are facing the daunting task of having to keep current with a high volume of medical research output. The rate at which medical knowledge has been expanding in recent history is exponential. In 1950, the total amount of medical research doubled in approximately 50 years. This accelerated to 7 years in 1980; 3.5 years in 2010; and just 73 days in 2020 1. Recognizing this issue, Elsevier conducted extensive research with hundreds of clinicians and leveraged global insights to inform the development of a solution that would support them with patient care in an environment where evidence-based data and guidance changes quickly. Elsevier also partnered with institutional leaders to evolve ClinicalKey and help address these challenges. Dr. Romil Chadha, MD, MPH, FHM, FACP, Assistant Chief of Operations, Division of Hospital Medicine, UK Health Care, who collaborated with Elsevier to help develop the next version of ClinicalKey, said: “As a practicing physician, and leader of a team of hospital clinicians, I have seen first-hand the realities of information overload for healthcare professionals and the challenges it presents. There is a strong need in the healthcare industry for a single solution that enables clinicians to make fast decisions at the point of care with confidence, because they are based on the latest evidence. I was honored to work with Elsevier to redesign ClinicalKey to help meet this need.” 2 While ClinicalKey will retain all current elements and functionality as a reference resource, it now includes new features that make it easier to use for clinical decision support, such as: New user interface: The cleaner interface leverages existing clinical workflows to naturally align with each user’s thought process to improve content discovery. Represented by a system of colors and icons, each page includes a clear visual hierarchy of factors such as importance, relevance, and recurrence, to help clinicians in their process of finding an answer to their question. Improved search functionality: The new search interface supports clinicians by getting them the information they need in the moment they need it. A powerful algorithm instantly provides the most relevant and comprehensive content, while also allowing the ability to quickly drill down to precise pieces of information. Significant Point of Care content: Clinicians have quick access to both in-depth research materials and concise, summarized content. The dynamic linkage between the content types promotes an easy and fast experience when diagnosing a patient or creating a treatment plan, without having to repeat a search query. The ability to access high-level content that is based on volumes of evidence-based research, is helping clinicians save precious time in emergency situations that require quick and confident decisions for patient care. Jan Herzhoff, President, Health, Elsevier said: “The responsibilities of clinicians today are becoming increasingly complex with more and more patients presenting with comorbid, chronic conditions that can be difficult to manage, especially in today’s fast-paced, demanding healthcare environment. This next generation of ClinicalKey is deeply rooted in learnings that we made with our partners from across the globe, combined with the latest design thinking. It supports every moment in the healthcare continuum with trusted, evidence-based answers, from quick point-of-care answers to deep clinical research through one single search.” Elsevier has been working continuously to enhance its global portfolio of clinical solutions, making these tools more responsive and accessible at the point of care. During the process of building and enhancing ClinicalKey, local solutions in specific international regions have also been developed. These include ClinicalKey China, and ClinicalKey Now, a solution that responds to needs in key local markets outside of the U.S., so that they can have confidence in their decisions to sustain continuity of care for patients. Other products in Elsevier’s portfolio include ClinicalPath, an evidence-based oncology pathways embedded in the clinical workflow to allow oncology practices to predict, measure and manage treatment decisions and costs, and Elsevier Clinical Nursing which combines trusted evidence and technology to empower nurses to excel. To learn more about ClinicalKey and the unique experience it provides users, please visit its website. --- Note for editors 1 Densen P. “Challenges and opportunities facing medical education”. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2011;122:48-58. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3116346/ 2 Dr. Romil Chadha’s quote represents the opinions of the author and not that of the University of Kentucky or UK HealthCare. About Elsevier As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems. In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, health professionals, institutions and funders. Elsevier employs 8,100 people worldwide. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on our 2,500+ digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell; our 40,000 eBook titles; and our iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world. Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.elsevier.com Contact Details Elsevier Teresa Mueller, Vice President, Global Health Markets +31 6 20987384 t.mueller@elsevier.com Company Website https://www.elsevier.com/

August 16, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cyvatar’s Craig Goodwin Named a Finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts at the 2021 Black Unicorn Awards

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced the selection of a member of its senior executive team as a finalist for outstanding achievement at this year’s Cyber Defense Magazine Black Unicorn awards, announced during the 2021 Black Hat USA conference. Craig Goodwin, Cyvatar co-founder and chief product and strategy officer, was selected as a finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts; he competed against the industry’s leading cybersecurity experts for this prestigious award. “We’re pleased to name Craig Goodwin as a finalist for the Top 10 Cybersecurity Experts among the elite group of information security professionals at the third annual Black Unicorn awards,” said judges Robert R. Ackerman Jr., David DeWalt, Dr. Peter Stephenson, and Gary Miliefsky. “This year’s competition was fierce, and he should be proud of his achievement.” Craig was selected from security practitioners around the world that vied for top honors. He is a battle-tested CISO who has built a successful career delivering transformative IT and security programs by combining holistic security, IT, and business leadership expertise to produce extraordinary results. Craig’s innovation brings the membership economy to cybersecurity with Cyvatar’s CSaaS platform, which is rapidly becoming the de facto operating system for today’s security programs. “At a time when so many companies struggle to find top security resources, we’re blessed to have an exceptional talent like Craig leading company strategy,” said Corey White, Cyvatar co-founder and chief executive. “Because we offer cybersecurity as a service, people are the lifeblood of our organization. The work Craig and his team have done to bring the award-winning Cyvatar platform to customers enables us to deliver fast, affordable, fully managed security programs to any size business at prices that don’t break the bank. His achievement means no customer has to go without the very best cybersecurity available today.” Only Cyvatar offers subscription-based CSaaS designed to provide outcomes, continuous remediation, ongoing solution maintenance, and the ability for all of its customers to execute their security strategies at speed and scale. Find out how CSaaS can work for your business at cyvatar.ai. About Cyber Defense Awards This is Cyber Defense Magazine’s 9th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber and David DeWalt of NightDragon with much appreciation to emeritus judge Robert Herjavec of Herjavec Group. To see the complete list of finalists for the Black Unicorn Awards for 2021 please visit https://cyberdefenseawards.com/black-unicorn-awards-finalists-2021/ About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to making cybersecurity effortless for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at https://cyvatar.ai/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

August 11, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Seasoned HR Expert Joins Phase 4 Services to Offer Advice on Developing Strong Teams and Maintaining Workplace Culture

Phase 4 Services

Phase 4 Services, a laboratory management and consulting firm focused on supporting and growing hemp and cannabis testing labs, has hired experienced HR maven Kara Mittan to lead their human resources and administrative operations team. As VP of Human Resources, Mittan will assist Phase 4’s laboratory clients with effectively scaling their teams and implementing systems designed to maintain employee satisfaction and increase productivity. “We’ve seen first hand what challenges can arise when you go from a small, tight knit team to a large organization with multiple departments,” said Michael Kahn, Founder and CEO of MCR Labs, a cannabis testing lab operating in several Northeast cannabis markets. “Without Kara guiding the process and putting the tools in place to help us grow effectively, we likely would not have had the same success we've achieved in keeping pace with how fast this industry is expanding.” Having served as an HR director at several organizations since 2008, Mittan has significant experience across a diverse array of industries including international companies coordinating operations on multiple continents. Phase 4 Services is gaining critical HR knowledge and insight with Mittan’s addition to the consulting team. This will enable the firm to better guide clients in regards to building strong teams, fostering intra-organizational communication, and developing a healthy workplace culture. About Phase 4 Services: Phase 4 Services is a scientific consulting and laboratory management firm dedicated to growing, supporting, and enhancing hemp and cannabis testing laboratories. Founded by experts in analytical testing, pharmaceutical chemistry, business administration, and development strategy, our team is equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to ensure partner laboratories are successful in their pursuit of advancing public health and safety for cannabis patients and consumers. For more information visit http://phase4services.com. Contact Details Phase 4 Services Joe Crinkley +1 857-230-0839 PR@phase4services.com Company Website https://phase4services.com/

August 10, 2021 10:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time

LivLyme Foundation Founder Olivia Goodreau to Discuss Perils of Lyme Disease in Free Webinar Hosted by Industry-Leading Quidel Corporation

Quidel Corporation

Olivia Goodreau, who founded the LivLyme Foundation at 12 years old and has since become a widely respected advocate and national spokeswoman for Lyme disease prevention and treatment, will discuss her “journey with Lyme” and the importance of early testing as part of a webinar to be held Thursday, Aug. 19. The webinar is the latest in an ongoing series sponsored by Quidel, the California-based diagnostic health care manufacturer known for successfully developing rapid diagnostic health solutions. ______________________________________________________________________ Webinar Registration The free online educational program will take place Aug. 19 at noon EDT. Registration is available now at https://education.quidel.com/registration/2580/1/r/LD-1. You may attend the webinar by accessing the same link on or after Aug. 19 at noon EDT. ______________________________________________________________________ Now 16 years old, Goodreau founded the LivLyme Foundation in 2017 to help raise money for individuals who cannot afford their Lyme medication or doctors’ visits and to fund research to find a cure for Lyme and tick-borne diseases. She has since awarded 54 grants to children and adults ages 2-21 along with four grants to top universities to fund tick-borne disease research. Goodreau is also the inventor of TickTracker, the free global app that has over 50,000 users in multiple languages worldwide. TickTracker was selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the “top tech tool” that is solving global health problems, beating out Oracle and IBM, among others. As part of the webinar, Goodreau will discuss her journey with Lyme, including when she became ill, the number of physicians she visited, how she was diagnosed and her passion for the importance of early testing. She will also discuss her work on the “public stage,” having presented TickTracker at the White House and having met with countless members of Congress, celebrities, scientists and governmental agencies to educate and spread awareness about tick-borne diseases. Goodreau’s webinar presentation is particularly relevant today as Lyme disease is on the rise to record numbers throughout the country and has the potential to affect as many as 476,000 citizens before the year is out. For accurate and fast testing, more and more clinicians are turning to the Sofia® 2 Lyme FIA by Quidel. This revolutionary test provides the patient and physician with indicative results within 15 minutes, as opposed to days, which has historically been the norm (and during which time organisms can spread and become systemic). It can be performed in the privacy of a doctor’s office, local clinic or even by a nurse at a children’s summer camp; and it is the only test that can get results from a simple finger prick of blood. Among those expected to attend the free Aug. 19 webinar are physicians; allied health professionals; health researchers; and representatives of physician offices, laboratories, urgent care centers, patient advocacy associations and others interested in the subject. About Quidel Corporation Quidel Corporation (Nasdaq: QDEL) is a leading manufacturer of diagnostic solutions at the point of care, delivering a continuum of rapid testing technologies that further improve the quality of health care throughout the globe. An innovator for over 40 years in the medical device industry, Quidel pioneered the first FDA-cleared point-of-care test for influenza in 1999 and was the first to market a rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test in the U.S. Under trusted brand names, Sofia®, Solana®, Lyra®, Triage® and QuickVue®, Quidel’s comprehensive product portfolio includes tests for a wide range of infectious diseases, cardiac and autoimmune biomarkers, as well as a host of products to detect COVID-19. With products made in America, Quidel’s mission is to provide patients with immediate and frequent access to highly accurate, affordable testing for the good of our families, our communities and the world. For more information about Quidel, visit quidel.com. Contact Details Jim Yeager +1 818-264-6812 jim@breakwhitelight.com Company Website http://Quidel.com

August 10, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

U.S. on pace to top 40,000 transplants in a single year for first time

United Network for Organ Sharing

In just the first half of 2021, 21,061 organ transplants have been performed in the U.S. according to data from United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network under federal contract. Organ donation from deceased donors is up 15% over last year. There were 900 more deceased donors -- people who provided one or more organs to save and enhance the lives of others -- between January 1 and June 30 of 2021 than there were during the same period in 2020. The drop in donors caused by the pandemic beginning in the middle of March last year was offset enough by high numbers early in the year that there were still 242 more donors in the first half of 2020 than in the first half of 2019. Organ transplants from deceased donors are also up -- by 11%. A total of 17,821 deceased donor transplants were performed in the U.S. in the first half of 2021 compared to 15,933 in the first six months of last year. 2020 marked the 10th consecutive record breaking year for organ donation from deceased donors and the 8th in a row for deceased donor transplants. “This significant increase in donation and transplantation as we continue to fight COVID as a nation is a bright spot that inspires hope. At the same time it’s not enough because so many patients continue to wait. We must renew our commitment to work together to improve the best transplant systemin the world by continuing to innovate and promote donation,” said Matthew Cooper, M.D., president of the UNOS Board of Directors. “In doing so we honor the gift of every donor and donor family whose lifesaving decisions make transplantation possible.” As of today, 106,602 men, women and children are on the waiting list for a transplant, which is the lowest it has been since 2009. The list topped 124,000 at its height in 2014. “Everyone of us has the potential to save multiple lives by registering to be an organ, tissue and eye donor,” Cooper said. Learn more about organ donation and transplantation and how to register to be a donor at www.unos.org. Dr. Cooper is a transplant surgeon and the director of kidney and pancreas transplantation at MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. ### About United Network for Organ Sharing United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. The OPTN helps create and define organ allocation and distribution policies that make the best use of donated organs. This process involves continuously evaluating new advances and discoveries so policies can be adapted to best serve patients waiting for transplants. All transplant programs and organ procurement organizations throughout the country are OPTN members and are obligated to follow the policies the OPTN creates for allocating organs. Contact Details United Network for Organ Sharing Anne Paschke +1 804-782-4730 anne.paschke@unos.org Company Website https://unos.org

August 09, 2021 01:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Conventions & MCI Group Partner with Medical Professionals to Deliver Virtual/Hybrid Events

Convey Services

Cloud Conventions, an enterprise virtual/hybrid event platform and the MCI Group, a leading global event management firm are partnering to deliver virtual and hybrid event solutions for medical organizations to complement their live events. The American Thoracic Society, a nonprofit organization focused on improving care for pulmonary diseases with more than 16,000 members worldwide, launched their annual conference in April 2021 as a 100% virtual event. They selected the MCI Group as its event management partner and Cloud Conventions as its virtual event platform. This August, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses(AORN), guided by an abundance of caution from the recent surge in COVID cases, transitioned their hybrid conference to a fully virtual event under the guidance of the MCI Group. Their new virtual event will educate and engage attendees and exhibitors using the Cloud Conventions virtual/hybrid event platform. “Audiences for conferences hosted by medical professional groups have unique requirements and a heightened awareness of the risks imposed by the pandemic,” said Carolyn Bradfield, CEO of Convey Services, parent company of Cloud Conventions. “Medical professionals not only want to stay up-to-date on scientific advances, but they also need to complete continuing medical education (CME) to maintain licensure. A virtual, on-demand option for engagement plus education ensures attendees have a safe environment to meet their educational needs, interact virtually with other attendees and engage live or on demand with suppliers and sponsors.” The American Thoracic Society’s all-virtual conference in April brought together 9,000 registered attendees for 140 clinical and scientific sessions, 71 special networking events and over 3800 presentation sessions and scientific posters. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses will offer on-demand and live sessions, a networking and innovation lounge, an exhibitor solutions center hosting in-booth sessions, product showcases along with an innovation theater. “Striking the balance between a live and virtual event environment is a strategic decision that medical professional groups must make as they consider event design today and even more in the future,” said James Kelley, Director at the MCI Group. “Our customers rely on MCI to guide them to deliver the best options that engage audiences before, during and after the event ensuring that virtual environments complement and not conflict with the on-site program.” A recent research study, “Association Trends: from Disruption to Opportunity” by Community Brands, revealed that 85% of association event professionals plan to invest more in virtual events in the next 12 months. This trend is driven by a 48% increase in members engaging more with their associations due to increased virtual options and on-demand education. The Tagoras 2020 “Virtual Conference Report” detailed that 75% of those delivering virtual events did so to reach audiences who could not otherwise attend. With the increase in COVID cases driven by variants, medical professional groups are now pressed to include virtual alternatives that are specifically geared to the industry, as they enter the busy fall conference season. Download the Case Study: “The 2021 American Thoracic Society Virtual Event” for free at: https://cloudconventions.com/page/135834/ats-customer-success-story. Show organizers and event managers can learn more about Cloud Conventions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com and the MCI Group by visiting http://www.mci-group.com/usa. About The MCI Group MCI is a global engagement and marketing agency. We design human-centric solutions that unleash the power of people to deliver innovation and growth for our clients. Our offering includes live & virtual events, strategic & digital communications, consulting & community solutions. We help brands, companies, associations, and not-for-profits solve their challenges, bringing their people together to shape their tomorrow. MCI is an independently owned company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with a global presence in 60 offices across 31 countries. www.mci-group.com MCI’s US headquarters is in the Washington, DC area with offices in New York, Baltimore, Dallas, and Chicago. www.mci-group.com/usa About Cloud Conventions Cloud Conventions from Convey Services is Cloud Conventions is an enterprise virtual/hybrid event management platform that redefines the exhibitor and attendee experience to allow companies to provide easy access to in-depth product information, showcase their brands with graphics and videos, create calls to action and generate immediate sales leads. Used around the world for large managed events and smaller self-directed meetings, conferences and corporate kickoffs, Cloud Conventions automates exhibitors and virtual booths, continuing education, speaker sessions and reminders, invitations and email communication, while at the same time producing detailed analytics on attendee, session and exhibitor activity. Cloud Conventions supports multiple languages and currencies, internal, external and single-sign on registration, and supports all conferencing carriers and platforms. Trade Associations and event managers can explore all of the Cloud Conventions solutions by visiting https://cloudconventions.com or contacting info@cloudconventions.com or call 888-975-1382. Cloud Conventions™, Community™, Cloud Kickoffs™, Conduct™, One-Touch Email Share™, Hub & Spoke™, 360° Virtual Exhibit Hall & Lobby Experience™ and ListLock™ are trademarks of Convey Services LLC Contact Details Convey Services Bruce Ahern +1 770-580-0810 bahern@conveyservices.com Company Website https://cloudconventions.com

August 04, 2021 03:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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U.S. on pace to top 40,000 transplants in a single year for first time

Cloud Conventions & MCI Group Partner with Medical Professionals to Deliver Virtual/Hybrid Events