August 2019

I am writing you to provide an update on the recently formed International Association for Regenerative Therapy (IART.) At the October 2018 HHPF Madison Conference, it was announced that after a lengthy study by the HHPF Board and its governance team, a new aligned association would be created to sustain and expand regenerative medicine treatments such as prolotherapy. I am happy to report that the new "International Association for Regenerative Therapy" (IART) is set to launch this fall!

With the support of the HHPF Board, I have been selected to serve as President of the new IART Board. I am very excited and honored to serve in this position. Two colleagues have also joined the IART board: Adam Balin, MD, serving as Treasurer, and Martin Gallagher, MD as Vice President. IART will serve as an independent organization yet remain aligned with HHPF. IART will focus on education and training while HHPF will focus on service and other philanthropic endeavors to advance the treatment of chronic pain. We wish to maintain the passion and values that have made HHPF such an inviting organization.

IART's mission will be to teach globally, certify professionals in prolotherapy and other regenerative medicine treatments and to share innovative techniques to treat chronic pain and relieve suffering. IART will be a professional membership association that will:

• Offer membership for medical professionals interested in using prolotherapy and other regenerative therapies as a treatment for chronic pain;
• Partner with HHPF to host the annual prolotherapy conference in Madison starting in 2020;
• Develop other educational trainings and materials in prolotherapy and other regenerative therapies;
• Provide mentorship and networking opportunities for medical professionals;
• Certify practitioners of prolotherapy and over time, other regenerative therapies; and
• Advocate for the increased availability of regenerative therapies.

The IART Board has been busy building the new association. Since October 2018, we have:

• Successfully completed all the legal steps to secure IART's corporate, non-profit status.
• Developed an inclusive membership structure that is open to health care providers, individuals or organizations interested in practicing, learning, teaching, researching and supporting prolotherapy and other regenerative therapies to treat pain and improve function.
• Hired an association management company, Badger Bay, to manage the association's operations. Their work is initially focused on membership recruitment, website and social media development, board and organizational development, and accounting.
• Negotiated the transfer of ownership of the HHPF Procedural Guide to IART.
• Developed a logo and branding for the new association.
• Identified prospective members and prepared for an initial membership launch.
• And developed a board, officer and committee structure to support current and long-term plans. 

Our next major step is to launch our membership which will include several membership categories along with the opportunity to become a founding member. More information on membership is coming soon!

While I've shared the most recent news about IART, HHPF is also focusing on its mission of philanthropy and service to relieve suffering from chronic pain. The Foundation will fundraise to support:

• Medical service trips that offer Prolotherapy, ENT and vein therapies to underserved populations
• Service-learning trips to Honduras and Mexico; and
• Grants and awards for training and research projects that advance the treatment of chronic pain.

I will keep you informed about IART's launch. This is an incredibly exciting effort and there are many details that still need to be finalized. We are grateful for HHPF's support and look forward to sharing the message of both organizations with others.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or the IART office.

Sincerely,

Annette Zaharoff, MD

President

(210)219-5920

amzsportsmd@msn.com

Martin Gallagher, MD

Vice President gpmmwa@gmail.com

Adam Balin, MD

Treasurer ahbalin@gmail.com