Find Your Community at the MGFA National Patient Conference

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa

Phoenix, Arizona 

March 30 – April 1, 2025  

This annual event brings together all members of the myasthenia gravis community, including individuals living with MG, care partners, family members, and leading MG experts. 

The 2025 conference will feature a wide range of sessions on MG research, treatment updates, and discussions designed to help you and your family better manage your MG journey. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about the latest in MG treatments and discoveries while connecting with others in the community. 

This year, we are excited to introduce several new elements, including interactive workshops, expanded Q&A sessions with top MG researchers and clinicians, and dedicated networking opportunities for attendees to connect with one another and share their experiences. 

There is no cost for patients and care partners/family members to attend in person, thanks to generous support from our partners.

We are excited to offer a virtual option for this year’s conference, as well. The virtual conference sessions take place March 31 and April 1. Register via the form below and you will receive details about how to access the sessions, ask questions, and interact with other participants. All are welcome to join the event virtually at no cost.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the latest in MG treatments and discoveries while connecting with others in the community.

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Fees and Registration

	Early Bird In Person	In Person  Register by March 27	In Person   On Site Registration	Virtual Register by March 29
Patient or Caregiver	CLOSED	CLOSED	CLOSED	FREE
Health Care Professional	CLOSED	$550	$650	FREE
MGFA Partners and Sponsors	CLOSED	$750	$850	FREE

Registration is now closed for in-person attendance. If you are an industry partner or healthcare professional and need to pay your registration fee, please email Genna Mvalo.

Virtual registration remains open until Sunday, March 29.

Register – Virtual

Event Agenda 

Sunday, March 30

The conference kicks off in the afternoon with an engaging “Meet the MGFA” session, offering attendees a chance to connect with the organization’s mission, leadership, and initiatives. This is followed by a welcome dinner at the resort, where you can enjoy great food while building connections with fellow attendees, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. 

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.	Registration Desk is Open Conference Center
1- 3 p.m.	MGFA Resource Fair
3 – 5 p.m.	Experience Rooms and Exhibitor Booths are Open
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.	Welcome Dinner and Reception Sponsored by argenx

Monday, March 31

The first full day of the conference is an exciting opportunity to engage, learn, and connect. Join us for an inspiring lineup of interactive sessions designed to empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike. Dive into the latest breakthroughs in treatment and management of MG, gain valuable insights from experts, and share experiences with others who understand your journey. Take time to explore exhibitor booths and build meaningful connections. The day wraps up with a lively Western-themed dinner and award ceremony, where we recognize the MGFA’s service leaders and partners.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.	Breakfast Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine  Experience Rooms and Exhibitor Booths
9:30 a.m.	Welcome Address Samantha Masterson, MGFA President and CEO
9:45 a.m.	Keynote Address: Understanding the Disease Processes Driving the Subtypes of MG and Related Neuromuscular Junction Disorders Kevin O’Connor, PhD, Yale School of Medicine
10:35 a.m.	Fireside Chat: New Infusion Therapies/Treatment Considerations Suraj Muley, MD, Director of Neurology, Bob Bove Neuroscience Institute & Professor of Neurology, University of Arizona School of Medicine
11:50 a.m.	Treatment Expectations in MG: The Changing Conversation Jeffrey Rosenfeld, PhD, MD, Loma Linda University
12:35 p.m.	Lunch Sponsored by Alexion Experience Rooms and Exhibitor Booths
1:40 p.m.	Empowered Voices: Navigating Legislative Advocacy and Self Advocacy for Lasting Change Melinda J. Burnworth, PharmD, NORD
2:20 p.m.	Panel Discussion: The Path for You – Shared Decision Making Moderated by Kelly Graham Gwathmey, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University Featuring Janel Worcester-Brown and Randy Clough
3:10 p.m	Experience Rooms and Exhibitors
6:20 – 9:00 p.m.	Western-Themed Dinner & Volunteer and Service Awards Ceremony at Rustler’s Rooste Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

Tuesday, April 1

In our final day, attendees can continue to engage with one another, hear from experts within the rare disease field, and enjoy the company of their fellow community members. The day’s scheduled events will conclude by early afternoon to allow you to enjoy the resort or set off on your travels home.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.	Breakfast Experience Rooms and Exhibitor Booths
9:35 a.m.	Unexpected Gifts: Transform Your Challenges and Rewrite Your Story  Vickie Petz Kasper, MD, Author, Podcast Host, and Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology
10:25 a.m.	Treatment Access and Affordability Ninya Bostic, National Policy & Advocacy Director, Johnson & Johnson
11:45 a.m.	Exercise & Nutrition with MG   Sarah Wright, DO, MS, Pediatric Neurologist, Children’s National Hospital
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.	Lunch Sponsored by UCB
1:50 p.m.	Closing Plenary

Experience Rooms

New this year: explore Experience Rooms hosted by our partners during breaks throughout the conference. Some of the experiences you can expect include:

• The “Go for Growth” experience room will be an inspiring space where individuals living with MG can nurture their growth, set meaningful goals, and rest and recharge.
• An adaptive yoga demonstration.
• Find materials, guidance, and inspiration to create a “junk journal.”
• Meet an advocate to talk about how to adapt your hobbies to live your best life with MG.

Thank you to our partners Alexion, argenx, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, NMD Pharma, and UCB for hosting these Experience Rooms! Be sure to learn more about each Experience Room when you check in at the conference.

All events take place at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa.

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
8000 South Arizona Grand E, Phoenix, AZ 85044
View Map

Our room block is now closed. You may call the hotel’s reservation department at 877.800.4888 to reserve accommodations.

The Arizona Grand Resort & Spa is a world-class AAA Four Diamond resort with golf, restaurants, a full-service spa, and the Oasis water park, all nestled in the beautiful South Mountains. The resort offers amenities to support those in the MG Community with accessibility needs, such as ADA-accessible guest rooms and a wheelchair-accessible golf cart service to take you between sections of the resort. MGFA’s conference will take place in a building near our room block to minimize your need to walk between locations.

The resort is located about ten minutes south of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Parking is included for resort guests.

Volunteer

Consider volunteering some of your time to help us produce this fantastic event. Volunteer opportunities include greeting attendees, registration, event set up, supporting patients and caregivers, and more. We will work with you to help find the best opportunity while always considering your own well-being.

We will also have volunteer opportunities for those attending virtually. Please reach out if you are interested.

Fill out our Volunteer Connect form to be considered for a volunteer role.

Things To Do in Phoenix

Learn more about what to do in Phoenix while you’re in town, including mobility-friendly and accessible attractions and resources. Our venue is near outdoor activities, cultural arts, museums, great dining, and shopping. March is a great time to enjoy outdoor activities, especially in the morning and evening.

• South Mountains offer nearby hiking within the Sonoran Desert landscape. Javelina Canyon Trailhead near the resort offers two easy to moderate hike options, while the Pima Canyon Trailhead is a good starting point for an easy, flat trail as well as more moderate options. Pima Canyon Trailhead also has restrooms, water, and a shaded ramada.
• Nearby casual dining options include The Farm at South Mountain, a bucolic oasis of greenery where you can enjoy a coffee or sandwich under the pecan trees. Don’t miss the In-N-Out Burger just outside the resort entrance for a true West Coast experience!
• The nearby Papago Park area is home to the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, and the Hole in the Rock.
• Downtown Phoenix is home to many wonderful museums, including the Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, as well as world-class restaurants, performing arts venues, and sports. The Diamondbacks home opener series is the weekend our conference begins. You can also catch a Suns game, Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan, or Cirque de Soleil at the Footprint Center.

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2024 National Patient Conference

You can watch all the sessions, volunteer awards, and the keynote speech from the 2024 conference in Tampa.  View the 2024 National Patient Conference recap here.