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White Sutton Together is a conference specifically for individuals who have been diagnosed with White-Sutton syndrome, as well as their families and caregivers. The 2020 conference will be held in Houston, Texas at the Texas Children’s Hospital Women’s Pavilion on July 24-26. It will feature relevant speakers, networking opportunities and activities intended to foster relationships and community-building. Meet other affected families, hear presentations from relevant medical professionals and members of the WHSUS community, and build relationships during planned activities and outings. Currently, we have 68 attendees registered – below is all the information you will need to become an attendee as well!
Registration
Venue
Schedule
Speakers
Activities
Travel
The White Sutton Together 2020 Conference will be held at the world-renowned Texas Children’s Hospital. We have arranged meeting rooms in the Pavilion for Women, directly across from our host hotel, the Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center. The sessions on Saturday will be hosted there. Our thanks go out to both the Texas Children’s Hospital and the Baylor College of Medicine for their kind hospitality!
See the Map
| Friday, July 24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Location | Activity |
| 12 p.m – 5 p.m | Host Hotel Lobby | Check-In |
| 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Houston Zoo | Zoo Outing |
| 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Great Ape Gallery | Welcome Reception |
| Saturday, July 25 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | Location | Activity |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. | Pavilion (4th Floor) | Opening General Session |
| 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. | Pavilion (4th Floor) | Breakout Sessions |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. | Pavilion (4th Floor) | Breakout Sessions |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. | Pavilion (4th Floor) | Breakout Sessions |
| 12:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. | Pavilion (4th Floor) | Lunch |
| 2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. | Pavilion (4th Floor) | Parent’s Panel Discussion |
| 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Children’s Museum Houston | Group Outing |
Reid Sutton is a clinical geneticist and clinical biochemical geneticist at Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. Along with Dr. Janson White, Dr. Sutton developed the description of the spectrum of developmental and health issues in individuals with variants in the POGZ gene, that the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) has designated “White-Sutton Syndrome”. Dr. Sutton will be delivering the Opening General Session address on Saturday Morning.
Amanda is the co-founder of the White Sutton Syndrome Foundation and the mother of a child with White-Sutton syndrome. She will deliver the opening address at the Welcome Reception on Friday evening, as well as a session on Autism as it relates to WHSUS on Saturday. She will also contribute to the Parent’s Panel on Saturday afternoon.
Josh is both the Creative Director and Board Secretary for the White Sutton Syndrome Foundation, and the father of a child with White-Sutton syndrome. He will deliver a presentation on the White Sutton Syndrome medical registry on Saturday.
Renea Banks is the co-founder and Vice-President of the White Sutton Syndrome Foundation, and the mother of a child with White-Sutton syndrome. She will deliver a presentation on Philanthropy on Saturday.
Angelo is the White Sutton Syndrome Foundation Treasurer and the father of a child with White-Sutton syndrome. He will moderate the Parent’s Panel Discussion on Saturday afternoon.
Marjorie Hanft was a faculty member in the psychology department at Eastern Illinois University for 27 years during which she taught and served as coordinator of her department’s undergraduate internship program. Her daughter Rebekah was recently diagnosed with WHSUS at age 34. Marjorie will contribute to the Parent’s Panel on Saturday afternoon.
Melissa Gannaway graduated from Texas A&M University with her Bachelors of Business Administration Degree in Finance. She is a wife and working mother of three amazing kids. Her youngest daughter has been diagnosed with White Sutton Syndrome. She is deeply motivated to help others and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of those affected by White Sutton Syndrome. Melissa will contribute to the Parent’s Panel on Saturday afternoon.
Houston Zoo Outing
( 34 Passes Left )
Those who are registered for the Opening Reception on Friday night will also receive passes to the Houston Zoo that can be claimed during check-in and used all day on July 24th. Our evening reception will also be held at the Zoo, in the Great Ape Gallery (labeled “F” on the map linked to below). If you’d like to plan your outing, you can download a zoo map here.
Children’s Museum Passes
( 12 Passes Left )
We have arranged passes to the Children’s Museum of Houston that can be claimed during check-in. We are planning a group outing to the Museum and we encourage groups to attend together and use this opportunity to grow relationships with other White-Sutton syndrome families.
Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center
We have arranged a block of discounted rooms for attendees at the Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center, directly across the street from the Women’s Pavilion. These rooms must be booked no later than July 2nd in order to qualify for the special rate. Just use the code “White Sutton Syndrome” when calling 1 (888) 225-9664 or book online below.
Book Your Room
Overflow Hotel
Just down the street from our host hotel is the SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Houston Medical Center. While we don’t have a special rate arranged with this facility, it is comparable in price to the Hilton and also offers complimentary breakfast.
Ride Metro Passes
The Houston MetroRail Red Line connects many of the White Sutton Together venues, and is the easiest way to get from place to place. We are working with Ride Metro to provide White Sutton Together attendees with fare cards to ride on Friday and Saturday. More details will be available in the coming months.
Traveling from Outside the US?
You can request a Visa Invitation Letter to support your visa application by emailing us once you’ve completed registration. The Visa Invitation Letter will be emailed after the requester has registered for this conference and the registration fee has been paid in full. Original Visa Invitation Letters cannot be mailed via Post/DHL/Airmail.
