We are excited to shine a light on Ava Quinn, an inspiring young advocate and passionate supporter of the Kawasaki Disease Foundation (KDF). Her recent project is already making a remarkable difference in the Kawasaki Disease (KD) community. As part of her master’s program in Applied Developmental Psychology (ADP) at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, Ava has partnered with KDF to develop an innovative Health Care Transition Toolkit for Children with Kawasaki Disease—an invaluable resource designed to guide youth as they transition from pediatric to adult care.
This toolkit features a comprehensive readiness assessment, a personalized health planner, pre-surveys, and a practitioner questionnaire, all meticulously grounded in research and crafted with input from the KD community. The feedback from the KDF Board, KD youth, and other community members has been overwhelmingly positive, filled with hope and enthusiasm. Ava’s initiative not only demonstrates her forward-thinking approach but also reflects her deep commitment to empowering young people who face the long-term challenges of KD. Her personal connection to the cause, stemming from her cousin’s difficult journey with a delayed diagnosis and lifelong coronary artery complications, drives her passion for this work.
We are proud to recognize Ava’s creativity, dedication, and compassion. A physical edition of the toolkit, titled My Health Planner, is currently in production and will soon be available to the public. We eagerly anticipate the profound impact this remarkable resource will have in supporting and uplifting young survivors during this critical phase of their healthcare journey!
