Olympian and Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams and Sportscasting Legend Erin Andrews Share Their Patient Perspectives with Biotech Community

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, four-time Olympic gold medalist and entrepreneur Venus Williams will discuss her groundbreaking career, business success, and health journey in a conversation with Emmy-nominated sports reporter Erin Andrews at the BIO International Convention June 13-16, 2022, in San Diego. Both women have faced their own health challenges, becoming advocates for increased awareness and better outcomes for all.

It takes a healthy body and mind to serve up a winning career, and Williams will discuss her experience as a patient advocate with Andrews and thousands of global biotechnology and biopharmaceutical leaders on June 15 at the world’s largest biotechnology convention. Williams was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and muscle and joint pain.

Andrews is also an advocate for women in sports and cervical cancer awareness, as a survivor herself. She has overcome the obstacles in her path to be a true success story and an inspiration to millions. 

“As a professional athlete living with an autoimmune disease, balancing my health with my drive to perform at the highest level has not always been easy,” said Williams. “It takes personal commitment and immense support from the team around me to ensure I am at my best on the court. That same type of collaboration in the biotech industry drives the innovation that addresses today’s major health challenges and improves patients’ lives.”

Williams’s experience with Sjögren’s syndrome inspired her to launch her plant-based protein company Happy Viking because of the impact a plant-based diet had on mitigating her symptoms. And in April, Williams supported Sjögren’s Awareness Month through a video message that encouraged those living with Sjögren’s to advocate for themselves and face every day with courage, strength, and grace.

“Venus Williams and Erin Andrews bring their unique viewpoint as patients and can speak firsthand about the biotechnology industry’s life-changing work to improve health,” said BIO’s President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath. “Their work for equal pay and representation have broken barriers for the next generation of players, reporters, and businesswomen.”

The BIO International Convention returns in person for the first time in three years and brings together key international industry stakeholders for networking, partnering, and more than 100 informative sessions that cover relevant and timely topics such as narrowing the health equity gap, vaccine innovation, and preparing for the next pandemic.

Registration for the BIO International Convention is open. Complimentary registration is available for qualified media.