PANDA is proud to congratulate Dr. Fayez K. Ghishan on 25 years of service to Arizona and announce the Fayez K. Ghishan MD, PANDA Endowed Directorship to ensure the future of research, programs and initiatives to improve children’s health at the Steele Children’s Research Center. Learn more about PANDA and our dedication to funding pediatric medical research in Arizona at AZPANDA.org. THANK YOU PHOENIX FOR SUPPORTING The Phoenix Women's Board of the Steele Children's Research Center

A 2ND ACT {helping is healing} ABILITIES, NOT DISABILITIES P ursuing a life of good works from a wheelchair is an inspiring second act. Creating a second second act from a wheelchair is above and beyond. But then, Jamie Heckerman is an above-and- beyond kind of woman. She was born with spina bifida, a rare birth defect affecting the development of the spine. Her first surgery took place when she was three days old, but her condition was not reversible. She became a wheelchair basketball standout in high school, earning a shot at three scholarships from the University of Illinois, the University of Alabama and the University of Arizona. Sunshine called to this Iowa girl, and Arizona benefited from it. Judy Pearson | Contributing Writer Jamie Heckerman helps Special Olympics athletes felt seen With a goal of a career in wheelchair athletics, Heckerman used her downtime from studies to volunteer for Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ). She was paired with a bowling league and tasked with collecting money and ensuring the athletes got to the right lanes. She had never had experience with this population before and it was love at first sight. “I can’t describe the feeling of being seen for your abilities rather than disabilities,” Heckerman said. “That was the case for me, playing basketball from my wheelchair. And it was true of the Special Olympics athletes, too.” Jamie Heckerman celebrates the groundbreaking of the Special Olympics Arizona building with then-board chair Doug Steele and SOAZ staff member Isaac Sanft. FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 23 | MAY/JUNE 2021