BJ Kitch Lopez.

I switched careers at the age of 35 and went to nursing school. While in school one of my classmates became a very dear friend who was being treated for rheumatoid arthritis but after studying about lupus asked her doctor to test her for lupus which was positive. In 1986 I took a position as an office nurse with a local rheumatologist and began volunteering with the local lupus chapter. In 2000 when the partners in our office were going their separate ways, I was offered a job with the Lupus Foundation as the Branch Director. I've been here ever since and I love it!