Special Guests : Wambui Machua, M.D., earned her bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular genetics from Oklahoma State University and her medical degree from American University of Integrative Sciences/University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine, Dutch Caribbean. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine.

Prior to joining Piedmont, Dr. Machua completed her fellowship training in rheumatology at Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia and was previously involved in multiple clinical trials in the Atlanta area. Dr. Machua is board certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine and currently a primary investigator in several lupus studies.

She serves on the Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia chapter, Medical Advisory Board and is a lupus consultant. 

Special Guest: Venetia K. Thompson has battled symptoms of lupus since she was a very young child but it took decades before she would be diagnosed with the disease. 

She worked three years at the Missouri Lupus Foundation of America Chapter working in public relations and received an award for Chapter Volunteer of the year. Venetia moved to Delaware and continued her work with the LFA in the Delaware Chapter.  Working as Acting CEO and Chairing the Board for seven years, Venetia has continued working with the Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter where she facilitates a lupus support group and a self helpcourse (SLESH) and is Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors. 

She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Fontbonne University and is business owner of Very Venetia, Inc.