It was such an honor to receive the Ethel LeFrak award at the National Osteoporosis Foundation Dinner. Ethel LeFrak is nationally known for her commitment to osteoporosis awareness and prevention, and it is so exciting to be part of such an esteemed crowd. I sat with other honorees – what a great group. I am so glad others feel as passionate about osteoporosis awareness as I do, and it truly was a lovely evening.

As I mentioned, my jam-packed time in Washington, DC also included the awarding of the first prize to the winner of the Red Hat Society’s “Hats off to Bone Health” Challenge. I had the privilege of sitting down with winner Marie Davis of Baltic, Connecticut, and we talked about the challenges of life after 50 and the importance of staying healthy, especially bone healthy. We were also joined by Barbara Dehn, a nurse practitioner and expert on women's

My experience in Washington, DC reminded me about all the ways we can educate women about osteoporosis – whether it’s in front of a large group of people all coming together for the cause, or talking to smaller groups that may not be aware of the disease or their risk factors. I implore you all to talk to the women in your life – friends, relatives, neighbors and all others that you are close to – about the risk factors for osteoporosis and the importance of talking to their doctor about getting a bone mineral density (BMD) test, and treatment, if appropriate.

The stories that you have all shared with me are so empowering and encouraging. For those of you with a voice that has yet to be heard, please share your story with me so that I can continue to learn from all of you