Theresa Slayton
Theresa Slayton
As a resolute Registered Nurse for more than 25 years, Theresa’s experience spans rehabilitative medicine, both as a clinical and administrative nurse, oncology nursing, Life Care Planning and currently hospice nursing, promoting palliative and hospice system services across NEPA. She aspires to maximize comfort, safety, and the independence of patients during their end-of-life care. She studied at Penn State University and was part of the final graduating class of the Scranton Community Center School of Nursing, in 1994.
In 2014, Theresa was diagnosed with Systemic Degos Disease and since that time has been on a mission, working closely with the Board of Directors of the Steffens Scleroderma Foundation, to help people afflicted with the disease, connect with highly committed medical professionals who can provide treatments that slow, suspend, and hopefully “one day” cure Degos Disease. As one of very few known to have Systemic Degos Disease, Theresa has tirelessly worked on behalf of others through www.degosdisease.org, a website to which she serves as administrator, and through the incredible work being done by the National Institutes of Health and Steffens Scleroderma Board Members, especially Dr. Lee Shapiro who selflessly advocated for Theresa to receive life-sustaining treatments that made it possible for her to lead a productive life and be with us today. Theresa’s story, which is still unfolding, is featured in a February 26, 2016, article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
