Meet the 2020 Scholars

"What do you believe is the greatest unaddressed patient need in the CF community, and if you could, how would you try to fix it? Who would you partner with (e.g. public figure, organization) to help fix the issue and why?"

I believe the greatest unaddressed patient need in the CF community is the importance of being active. Introducing sports and exercise into my life has made a positive impact, and I want to share these benefits with those around me. If the CF community would advocate more for the importance of combining daily physical activity with therapies, I believe that the psychological and physiological benefits would immensely enhance CF patients’ lives. I would fix this issue by making it easily accessible and financially affordable for people with CF to live out an active lifestyle and, most importantly, educate them on the importance of it. I would do this by making online workout videos so that the CF community could workout straight from home while not having to pay for a gym membership. I would include cardio exercises to dislodge the sticky mucus in the lungs, isotonic exercises to build muscle mass, and stretching to control breathing and expand the airways. However, living out an active lifestyle requires more than just workout videos. Results do not present themselves right away; for this reason it is important to have constant motivation and hope. I would love to partner with Lisa Bentley, a unique athlete who did not let CF stop her from living out her dreams of becoming an eleven-time triathlon winner. I believe that with our combined knowledge of the benefits of exercising and our determination, we can make a difference in the CF community.