The Autoimmune Registry hosts a monthly webinar to bring together patient advocacy groups related to autoimmune diseases. This month, we have invited Estela Mata from Looms for Lupus, who will share personal stories from diagnosis to daily challenges, empower individuals, strengthen community ties, and influence change across healthcare systems. She will also be highlighting the importance of self-advocacy, care management, and building collaborative partnerships with providers, utilizing registries, clinical trials, and peer support.
Details: Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 2-3 pm Eastern via Zoom
Agenda:
2:00 - 2:05: Convene
2:05 - 2:10: Introductions
2:10 - 2:40: Navigating Autoimmune & Chronic Illness, Building Community, and Creating Change
2:40 - 3:00: Q&A
Estela Mata
President, Healthcare Advocate
Looms for Lupus
Estela Mata is dedicated advocate for health equity, she leads transformative initiatives at the intersection of healthcare, community engagement, and patient empowerment. As the president and co-founder of Looms for Lupus, she drives awareness and support for lupus, overlapping conditions like fibromyalgia, and mental health. Her leadership has positively impacted thousands through education and advocacy. She engages with the community, to empower patients to use their voices, share their stories and perspectives to help shape policy decisions.
Estela is an ambassador of hope and co-founder of Mata Advocacy and Support (MAS) an advocacy consulting firm dedicated to making a positive impact in the community. With 30 years of healthcare experience and personal insights as a patient and caregiver, Estela bridges connections between all stakeholders: industry and patients alike. Estela’s unique gift lies in her ability to connect with diverse communities. As a community engagement liaison, she adeptly bridges gaps, speaking fluently to both English and Spanish speakers.
Estela’s influence extends globally. She collaborates with national and global entities, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As a Virtual Advisor Team member for both the All of Us Research Program and the Scripps Research Digital Trials Center, Estela contributes to cutting-edge research and patient-centered innovation. She serves as a Board of Director of the Organization for Latino Health Advocacy (OLHA), a national nonprofit dedicated to improving health outcomes for Latinos and other medically underserved communities throughout the United States, where her insights influence statewide healthcare strategies. She’s also a dedicated member of the City of Baldwin Park Measure BP Stakeholders Oversight Committee.