Meet Our Navigators
CONTENT SPONSORED BY
FIRST Peer Navigators
Our current peer support navigators have long-standing relationships with FIRST. They bring a range of personal experiences and perspectives as individuals living with ichthyosis or a related skin type and parents/caregivers supporting loved ones across different disease and life stages. We are grateful for their dedication and commitment to providing others with encouragement and connection
Maggie McCoy
Arlington, Virginia
CIE adult
Arlington, Virginia
CIE adult
Maggie lives and works in Arlington, Virginia. She was born with congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (CIE) and has been part of the FIRST community since attending her first conference at age four. Maggie feels fortunate that her family became involved with FIRST early on and they have benefited greatly from the support and connections they have found through the ichthyosis community Over the years, she has advocated on behalf of patients, participated in research and shared her story to support others navigating life with ichthyosis. Outside of FIRST, Maggie works in communications and fundraising for Aspire Afterschool Learning, an out-of-school-time nonprofit. In her free time, Maggie can often be found at the library or spending time in nature.
Trisha Rabold
Newnan, Georgia
Parent of son affected with lamellar ichthyosis
Newnan, Georgia
Parent of son affected with lamellar ichthyosis
Trisha lives in Georgia with her husband, Michael, and their son, Wyatt. Wyatt was born with a collodion membrane and later diagnosed with lamellar ichthyosis. Trisha has been involved with FIRST for more than 12 years, advocating for her son and others affected by ichthyosis who share a similar journey. Over time, her support of the rare disease community has expanded to other conditions that also affect Wyatt and their family. In her free time, Trisha enjoys fishing and making lifelong memories with her family.
Mark Steinitz
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Parent of daughter affected with harlequin ichthyosis
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Parent of daughter affected with harlequin ichthyosis
Mark is a proud Pittsburgh dad whose greatest joy is being Hunter’s father. Since joining the FIRST community in 1995, he has shared his family’s journey raising Hunter and connected with other families navigating life with ichthyosis. Mark has long been involved with FIRST, serving as moderator for the dads’ group at the National Conference and volunteering his time to fundraising, advocacy and awareness efforts. Through these experiences, he has built meaningful connections within the community and continues to be a trusted friend and advocate for individuals and families affected by ichthyosis.
Courtney Westlake
Sherman, Illinois
Parent of affected daughter affected with harlequin ichthyosis
Sherman, Illinois
Parent of affected daughter affected with harlequin ichthyosis
Courtney lives in Illinois with her husband, Evan, and their two children, Connor and Brenna. Brenna was born with harlequin ichthyosis. Courtney has been involved with FIRST for 14 years, contributing her time and perspective as a parent, fundraiser and advocate. She combines her passion for storytelling with her career as a professional writer and her commitment to advancing causes that are important to her. In her free time, she loves traveling, reading, gardening, and spending lots of time with her family.
Request Peer Support
Who Can Request Peer Support?
- Individuals living with ichthyosis or a related skin type
- Parents or family members who are primary caregivers seeking support and resources
How to connect
If you would like to connect with a Peer Support Navigator, please contact Chris Wassel, Community Engagement Director, at cwassel@firstskinfoundation.org.
After receiving your request, FIRST will work to match you with a trained Peer Support Navigator whose experiences may be relevant to your situation. You can expect to hear back from us soon.
After receiving your request, FIRST will work to match you with a trained Peer Support Navigator whose experiences may be relevant to your situation. You can expect to hear back from us soon.
What Peer Support Is – and Isn’t
| Peer support involves: | Peer support is not: |
| Providing emotional support and encouragement Helping others find resources Making connections Active listening and validation | Giving medical advice Serving as a mental health counselor Crisis intervention Offering thoughts on diagnosis or prognosis |
