Joy Hooper RN, BSN, CWOCN, OMS, WCC is a dedicated RN with 23+ years of experience as a certified wound, ostomy, and continent nursing in South Georgia. She is a pioneer in the field, having developed the Anatomical Apron, created an ostomy clinic, founded an ostomy support group, and advocated for digestive diseases in Washington, D.C. She was honored as the UOAA 2019 WOCN of the Year and is a lead instructor for national ostomy certification courses, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing care and education in the ostomy community.

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Sharon Darnov  is a double ostomate who irrigates. She strongly believes in ostomy support activities and is

a Director-At-Large of the UOAA.  Sharon is also a board member of JVS SoCal, a non-profit organization offering training programs

and employment services. She is the Board Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee.  For the past 10 years Sharon has managed her family’s multi-family properties. Her career was in the U.S. and international commercial banking industry, focusing on operational efficiencies, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning; and managing multi-million-dollar bank projects.  She received an MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management. (Thunderbird) and a BA from UC Berkeley.

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​​​​Dawnette Meredith is a trailblazing advocate for ostomy awareness, education, and support. She is the founder and president of Ostomy 101 Inc., a groundbreaking nonprofit platform that improves patient access to ostomy resources and supports clinicians in over 200 U.S. hospitals and 50 countries. Dawnette is also the creator of Ollie the Ostomy Bear and author of the Awesome Ollie children's book, both central to her National Ostomy Bear Project, which brings comfort and education to pediatric patients nationwide. In addition, she leads her local UOAA support group, co-founded the first ostomy support group in Tijuana, Mexico, and manages an ostomy supply closet serving uninsured ostomates in Southern California and Tijuana, transforming lives through compassion and innovation.