Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a potentially deadly virus that tragically causes an estimated 100 to 300 deaths each year among children younger than age 5. Children from families with low-income status, children of color and children with compromised immune systems are at particular risk. Join us for a discussion about the recent progress in making mAbs available for the upcoming RSV season and next steps that are needed to ensure that all children are covered.

Moderator

Adjoa Kyerematen, MS
Vice President of Public Affairs & Communications
National Minority Quality Forum

Adjoa Kyerematen is Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), the leading research national nonprofit focused on health equity and advancing minority health. Adjoa co-chairs the Cancer Stage Shifting Initiative, NMQF’s initiative aligned with President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot 2.0 program, and leads strategic campaigns that shape policy, execute community interventions, and drives awareness to advance cancer equity.

Adjoa was named to PRWeek’s 40 under 40 top PR Professionals and a Capitol Hill/federal government agency veteran, Adjoa is a strategic communications expert with an award-winning record and health equity expertise.

Prior to this, Adjoa worked at CMS’ Center for Innovation (CMMI) as a Senior Advisor in the center’s leadership office where she crafted messaging, advised on communication efforts and stakeholder engagement among payers, pharmaceutical companies, health systems and other federal agencies.

She currently serves on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Advisory Panel on Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science (CEDS) which analyzes critical knowledge gaps in health communication particularly in vulnerable communities.

Panelists

Erin E. Jones, JD
Director, Legislative and Strategy Counsel
March of Dimes Office of Government Affairs

Erin Jones currently serves as the Director, Legislative and Strategy Counsel within March of Dimes Office of Government Affairs. Erin has been with the organization for 17 years.

With more than 28 years of experience in health care, behavioral health, advocacy, and public policy, Erin has held various positions within March of Dimes and as Interim Director of Behavioral Health at Eastern CT Health Network, Medicaid Outreach and Advocacy Director for MAXIMUS and the State of Connecticut, Counselor and Case Manager at Easter Seals of Connecticut.

Erin earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Saint Joseph’s College, her Master’s degree of science in Clinical and Counseling Psychology at Central Connecticut State University and Juris Doctorate at Yale University School of Law.


William V. La Via, M.D., FAAP
Medical Director, Medical Affairs, RSV Prevention
Sanofi

I completed pediatric residency training as well as pediatric infectious diseases fellowship training at the University of California, Irvine medical center and the affiliated Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, CA. After training I spent 14 years in practice mostly in academic infectious diseases but 3 years were spent in private practice. In 2005 I moved to Medical affairs at MedImmune, which became a specialty division of AstraZeneca after its acquisition.

I supported their infectious disease biologic portfolio, vaccines and respiratory biologics. During the pandemic, I transitioned to work at Karius, a pioneer in the detection of microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) for serious, deep-seated infections, as a medical director in Medical Affairs.

I have been interested in RSV since first conducting a clinical study during residency and am passionate about finding a solution to mitigate the impact on infants and young children each winter season. This led me to Sanofi where I joined Medical Affairs to work as a medical director focused on RSV disease prevention in 2020.