Catalyst Convos

In this episode of Catalyst Convos , hosts Amy Grover and Carrie Ostrea sit down with Marissa Penrod, Founder and CEO of Team Joseph. Marissa shares how her son’s diagnosis with Duchenne muscular dystrophy changed the trajectory of her life and how that journey has evolved as more young people with rare diseases are living into adulthood. She opens up about the shift from focusing solely on clinic...

On this episode of Catalyst Convos , hosts Amy Grover and Carrie Ostrea are joined by two rare disease caregivers, Mark and Bill, who open up about their journeys as fathers, husbands, and unwavering supporters of their families. Mark shares his experiences navigating life alongside his wife, who lives with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), while Bill speaks about raising a son with Duchen...

In this episode of Catalyst Convos , host Carrie Ostrea speaks with Dr. Maya Doyle and Jessica Campbell about what it really means to support families living with rare and chronic conditions. Dr. Doyle is a professor of social work at Quinnipiac University, specializing in healthcare, transition of care, and medical trauma. Jessica Campbell is a licensed social worker at Jett Foundation and a pare...

In this episode of Catalyst Convos, hosts Amy Grover and Carrie Ostrea explore the often-overlooked barriers to care faced by rare disease patients in rural communities. Joining them are Darby Gavin from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and Terri Klein, President and CEO of the MPS Society. Darby shares insights from NORD’s national surveys and the Living Rare Study, revealing t...

On this episode of Catalyst Convos , host Amy Grover is joined by Laura Romero, a university student living with epilepsy, and Desiree Taliancich, a nurse practitioner diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). Together, they dive deep into the unique healthcare challenges in the Hispanic community and share invaluable advice on self-advocacy, persistence, and the significance of ear...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Catalyst Convos ! Join hosts Amy Grover and Carrie Ostrea as they embark on an inspiring journey with Rich Daly, the Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst Pharmaceuticals. In this captivating discussion, Rich opens up about his personal battle with epilepsy and the profound impact it has had on his life and career.  Together, they explore the philosophy that fuels...

Welcome to Catalyst Convos , a show that brings you a wide range of conversations relevant to those impacted by rare and difficult-to-treat diseases, including Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Epilepsy, and Small Cell Lung Cancer. Featuring genuine experiences from community members and expert perspectives, these conversations aim to educate, inspire, and empo...