PF Warriors Chooses Shelly Mathis as its Executive Director
Hope is what brought Bill Vick and Shelly Mathis together about eight years ago. Hope is what will ensure that their long-term vision for finding a cure for pulmonary fibrosis (PF) – and expanding PF Warriors’ global influence – becomes a reality.
Founder Bill Vick has announced that Shelly Mathis is now executive director of PF Warriors. Together, as patient and caregiver, they will continue to expand the organization, offering members information, inspiration and hope.
“Shelly was there at the beginning looking to understand the disease that affected her husband,” recalled Vick. “My wife, Patti, and I were on that same journey. It occurred to us that we could bring people together and share our personal experiences with each other. Through the years, Shelly has become an inspiration for other caregivers, a resource for newly diagnosed patients, and a truly valuable member of our team. This announcement is a long time coming.”
Mathis will now manage the day-to-day activities for PF Warriors, according to Vick. By handing over the daily operations, Vick will focus more of his time on expanding the support group’s membership and global reach.
“It’s amazing to see how PF Warriors has evolved through the years,” said Mathis. “I believe that our continued growth can be linked to our close-knit community of volunteers. When we support each other, we impact the whole community.”
PF Warriors now has more than 10,000 members globally and reaches over 20,000 people each month on social media. It has developed a comprehensive video library of resources, established caregiver and patient chat programs, and built volunteer-led exercises to improve lung health. In addition, its expert-led meetings via Zoom draw more than 200 people each month. “All of our programs and educational resources are free to our members because we know that knowledge brings hope,” noted Vick. “With Shelly at the helm, we will continue to offer these resources so PF patients can live their best lives.”