Page 38 - CF Roundtable - Winter/Spring 2026

FEATURED AUTHORS (continued from page 37)
Mel Kotlyar
Mel has CF. Born to Eastern European immigrants, Mel grew up with a deep appreciation for resilience and determination.
He was diagnosed with CF at a young age and has always lived with an urgency to embrace life fully. From founding multiple
businesses to exploring the far corners of the world, Mel embodies the spirit of adventure and perseverance. While traveling
to a tropical island, Mel met his wife Kate and together they’ve shared countless adventures. One of their most ambitious
projects was during the COVID-19 pandemic when they built out a Sprinter van and set off to explore the United States, turning
uncertainty into an opportunity for connection and discovery. As part of the ~10% of CF patients without a modulator therapy for
his mutations, Mel is deeply committed to advancing CF research. Through his involvement in clinical trials and advocacy work,
he’s passionate about fostering long-term solutions that benefit the entire CF community.
 Why We Participate In CF Clinical Trials: A Journey Of Hope And Determination (Page 26)
Aimee Lecointre
Aimee lives in UT where she enjoys spending time with her husband and family. When she’s not out volunteering you can find her
baking delicious sourdough, building Legos and taking care of her many (sometimes too many) plants.
 Research Roundup (Page 4)
Norma Jean Lindsey
Norma is 81 and has CF. She’s still enjoying life with her husband and is thankful for each and every day.
 Voices from the Roundtable — It’s Been a Long Journey, But I Made it to 81! (Page 21)
Katherine Lockwood
Katherine is 37 and has cystic fibrosis. She is an Imago-trained couples’ counselor and award-winning author of several picture
books focused on providing authentic disability representation and empowering children. You can learn more about her books:
Everyone’s Invited!, OUCH!, and My Body Beeps! on her website: acorncottagepress.com and at Amazon.
 Salty Parenting — Privileges I Wish For (Page 32)
Laura Mentch
Laura lives in Bozeman, MT and volunteers as the USACFA historian as a Friend of the Board.
 Interested In Clinical Research For CF? Wonder What’s Involved? (Page 16)
Alexandra “Xan” Nowakowski, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Xan is 42 and has CF. Xan is a director of CF Roundtable, in addition to being a medical sociologist and public health
program evaluator. They currently serve as an Associate Professor in the Geriatrics and Behavioral Sciences and Social
Medicine departments at Florida State University College of Medicine. They also founded the Write Where It Hurts project
(www.writewhereithurts.net) on scholarship engaging lessons from lived experience of illness and trauma with their spouse, Dr.
J Sumerau.
 Pearls of Wisdom — Trials And Tribulations: Barriers To Clinical Research Participation (Page 12)
Beth Sufian, J.D.
Beth is 60 and has CF. She is an attorney who focuses her law practice on disability law and is the Vice President of USACFA. You
may contact her with your legal questions about CF-related issues at CFLegal@sufianpassamano.com.
 Ask the Attorney — Medicare Coverage: Overview of Eligibility (Page 18)
Maggie Williamson
Maggie is 36 and has cystic fibrosis. She received a double lung transplant in 2014. She now lives in the U.K. with her Bengal cat,
Charlie. You can find her and all of her cooking delights on Instagram @justasprig.
 Culinary Corner (Page 31)
38 CF Roundtable Winter/Spring 2026