The Peggy Lillis Foundation is preparing for its 17th Annual Changing the Odds Gala, an event set to take place on Friday, September 18. The gathering will be hosted at 26 Bridge in Brooklyn, New York, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders. Patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers will attend to support ongoing education and advocacy efforts. The foundation focuses specifically on Clostridioides difficile, or C diff, a bacterial infection that poses significant health risks. In the United States alone, this condition is linked to nearly half a million cases annually. The mortality rate remains high, with roughly 30,000 deaths attributed to the infection each year.
Christian Lillis, the CEO of the foundation, described the evening as a vital space for community and remembrance. “The gala is an opportunity for people who have survived C diff to come out and celebrate,” Lillis said. He noted that it serves those who cared for patients, as well as those who lost loved ones. Lillis lost his mother to the infection, which is why the organization bears her name. The event includes a cocktail reception, dinner, casino games, raffles, and dancing, providing a social setting alongside the formal recognition of annual awards.
Addressing Systemic Gaps in Care
While the gala offers a moment of celebration, the foundation remains focused on the structural issues driving the spread of the infection. Lillis identifies fragmentation across the healthcare system as a primary driver of continued cases. He points to significant gaps between inpatient and outpatient care settings. Additionally, there is underinvestment in infection prevention protocols. Patient input in drug and guideline development remains limited, a issue the foundation aims to address through its policy work. These barriers complicate recovery and increase the likelihood of recurrence for many individuals.
For patients moving through the often isolating journey of recovery, the fragmentation Lillis describes creates a tangible barrier to getting the right care at the right time. When hospital discharge plans do not align with outpatient resources, the risk of reinfection rises, leaving individuals to manage a serious condition without clear guidance or coordinated support.
Honoring Advocates and Innovators
This year’s theme revolves around the entire C diff experience, from initial diagnosis through treatment. The goal is to ensure patients have the resources needed to minimize the disruption the infection causes. Four individuals will be recognized for their contributions to this fight. “The honorees that we have represent every category that lends itself to the fight against C diff,” Lillis stated. The awards span laboratory research, bedside care, and peer support, reflecting the many dimensions of the challenge.
Carol Raye will receive the Advocate Award. After developing a severe infection in 2011, she endured months of illness before receiving a fecal microbiota transplant. Raye became a leading volunteer for the Foundation, chairing its Peer Support Network. She mentors patients who are currently managing their own recoveries. Her work highlights the importance of direct human connection in the healing process.
The Leadership Award will go jointly to Alexander Khoruts, MD, and Peter Westerhaus. Khoruts is a gastroenterologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. He directs the institution’s Microbiota Therapeutics Program. His work has helped establish fecal microbiota transplantation as a standard treatment option for recurrent cases. Westerhaus founded Achieving Cures Together, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating microbiome research. He established the organization following his own experience with multiple C diff infections.
Bobby Warren, MPS, will receive the Innovator Award for his work in antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention. Warren directs the Disinfection, Resistance and Transmission Epidemiology Lab at Duke University’s Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention. His research examines environmental contamination and disinfection strategies. These efforts are directly tied to reducing healthcare-associated infections, including C diff.
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