The World Health Organization estimates that 107,000 workers will die every year because of asbestos-related diseases. This equates to 300 asbestos-related deaths per day. And yet, asbestos is still legal in the United States.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), a United States nonprofit, organizes an annual conference dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure and eliminating asbestos-related diseases altogether. Since 2005, ADAOs annual conference has brought together more than 400 people from over 14 countries around the world to discuss joint efforts in asbestos education, advocacy and awareness.
This year’s 12th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference will take place Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10, 2016, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Washington D.C.
Nearly 40 people will speak at this year’s conference. Speakers range from asbestos-related disease patients helping to build a global community of support to esteemed research, advocacy and medical experts from six different countries.
Keynote Speakers You’ll Want to Hear
While all of the speakers bring unique value to the conference, there are two keynote speakers you won’t want to miss. Each will share their personal passions related to asbestos awareness, and inspire hope for all working towards a global ban on asbestos.
Saturday’s keynote speaker is Paul Brodeur, an award-winning investigative journalist. In 1968, he helped bring to light the occupational and environmental health problems posed by asbestos through four books on the subject including Expendable Americans and Outrageous Misconduct: The Asbestos Industry on Trial.
Sunday’s keynote speaker is Dr. Eudice Goldberg, Pediatrician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Dr. Goldberg is also co-founder of the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation, in which she works with others to build a health network to improve early diagnosis and facilitation of treatment for mesothelioma.
More Key Events You Won’t Want to Miss
The conference begins Friday with a private tour of Washington, D.C. for patients and their families.
By Saturday morning, the conference will be in full swing with sessions to discuss the following topics:
- Progress and challenges related to asbestos awareness
- Medical advancements in diagnosing and treating asbestos-related diseases
- Asbestos prevention around the country
- Global ban on asbestos action
Saturday will conclude with an awards and recognition dinner to celebrate the conference, honor advocates for asbestos victims and enjoy a performance by Jordan Zevon. Get a sneak peek of Zevon’s performance by watching last year’s production.
Watch more videos from the 2015 ADAO Asbestos Awareness Conference.
The conference will conclude on Sunday with a unity and remembrance brunch to honor the fight against asbestos-related diseases of all loved ones who’ve passed.
Simmons Hanly Conroy is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the 2016 Asbestos Disease Awareness Conference. We look forward to attending, and encourage anyone impacted by asbestos exposure to consider attending as well.
Register to Attend the Conference Now>>>
To learn more about the conference, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.
