CGD ASsociation of America
CGD ASsociation of America
  • Home
  • Ways to Give
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Partners and Sponsors
    • Mission & Accomplishments
    • Blog & E-Newsletter
  • Living with CGD
    • What is CGD?
    • Diagnosing CGD
    • Managing CGD
    • Treatments & Providers
    • X-linked CGD Carriers
    • For Clinicians
  • Getting Help & Support
    • CGDAA Zoom Calls
    • Financial Assistance
    • PC's for People
    • CGDAA Events
    • Carrier Connection
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • Ways to Give
    • About Us
      • Who We Are
      • Partners and Sponsors
      • Mission & Accomplishments
      • Blog & E-Newsletter
    • Living with CGD
      • What is CGD?
      • Diagnosing CGD
      • Managing CGD
      • Treatments & Providers
      • X-linked CGD Carriers
      • For Clinicians
    • Getting Help & Support
      • CGDAA Zoom Calls
      • Financial Assistance
      • PC's for People
      • CGDAA Events
      • Carrier Connection
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Ways to Give
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Partners and Sponsors
    • Mission & Accomplishments
    • Blog & E-Newsletter
  • Living with CGD
    • What is CGD?
    • Diagnosing CGD
    • Managing CGD
    • Treatments & Providers
    • X-linked CGD Carriers
    • For Clinicians
  • Getting Help & Support
    • CGDAA Zoom Calls
    • Financial Assistance
    • PC's for People
    • CGDAA Events
    • Carrier Connection
  • Contact

Who We Are

Three people standing at a convention table for CGD

Our History

The CGD Association of America (CGDAA) was founded in 2019 to advocate for patients and X-linked female CGD carriers with Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD). We have the largest community of patients and X-linked female carriers with CGD in the world. Currently, our database has 550 patient contacts and more than 200 CGD physician specialists/influencers worldwide. 


Thanks to the CGDAA’s reputation as a trusted resource, the organization’s database has become the largest in the world; this robust collection of patient and carrier data has enabled important IRB-approved, patient-centered surveys and studies. In addition to funding important research, our organization also publishes a monthly e-newsletter for the community and holds well-attended online events to help connect our rare community and provide education.    


Given the rarity of CGD, the disease can feel isolating. The CGDAA is committed to helping patients and carriers know they’re not alone.


Ongoing projects:• The CGDAA has provided a $25,000 research grant to the Primary Immune Deficiency Consortium to investigate the health issues facing female X-linked carriers of CGD and the long-term post-transplant outcomes for patients with CGD.

About CGD Association of America

Felicia Morton, Rare Disease Advocate, Founder, and Executive Director of the CGD Association of America

About Felicia Morton, Founder and Executive Director


Felicia has been a well-known advocate for the CGD community for more than a decade. As a female carrier of X-linked CGD, the daughter of an affected female carrier, and the mother of a son who was diagnosed with CGD and underwent a successful stem cell transplant for CGD in 2016 - she has experienced the impact of this rare, inherited primary immune deficiency first-hand. 

In 2019, seeing the need for a more focused voice for the CGD community, Felicia formed the CGDAA, a Sec.501c3 non-profit organization with the mission to advocate for the CGD community by providing clear, accurate, and independent news and information about CGD and advancing CGD research. 

Positions and Honors

  • Felicia Morton has been appointed as a Patient Advocacy Group liaison for the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium, representing 47 centers in North America whose shared goal is to improve the outcome of patients with rare, life threatening, inherited disorders of the immune system. 
  • Felicia Morton has been appointed as a Patient Advocacy Group Liaison Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network, an NIH-funded research network of 20 active consortia focused on rare disorders.
  • Felicia Morton has been nominated in 2020 and 2021 as Global Genes “Rare Champion of Hope” for outstanding accomplishments in advocating for patients with rare disease. 

Anissa Reko, Senior Communications Consultant

Anissa began her communications role at the CGDAA in 2020. She is thankful for the opportunity to use her marketing background to help progress the CGDAA's mission and connecting people together.

Medical Advisory Board

Photo of Dr. Harry Malech

Harry Malech, MD

Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD

Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD

National Institutes of Health

Chief, Genetic Immunotherapy Section

Deputy Chief, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health

Photo of Dr. Kathleen Sullivan

Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD

Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD

Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD

Chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Photo of Dr. Jennifer Leiding

Jennifer Leiding, MD

Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD

Jennifer Leiding, MD

Adjunct Associate Professor John's Hopkins University  and Attending Physician, Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

Photo of Dr. Peter Newburger

Peter Newburger, MD

Christopher Chang, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAAAI

Jennifer Leiding, MD

Attending Physician, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center

Photo of Dr. Mary Dinauer

Mary Dinauer, MD, PhD

Christopher Chang, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAAAI

Christopher Chang, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAAAI

Fred M. Saigh Distinguished Chair of Pediatric Research Professor of Pediatrics , Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Photo of Dr. Christopher Chang

Christopher Chang, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAAAI

Christopher Chang, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAAAI

Christopher Chang, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAAAI

FACAAI Chief, Immunology, Allergy and RheumatologyMemorial Healthcare System, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

CGDAA Junior Leadership Council

The Junior Leadership Council represents young leaders in our community who are committed to making a difference in the field of CGD / Primary Immune Deficiencies.

Lydia Sancho

Erynn Hunkapiller

CGDAA Administration & Patient Advisory Board

Executive Board

Female Carriers of X-Linked CGD Advisory Board

Patient Advisory Board

Felicia B. Morton 


Denise Proffitt


Barbara D. Morton

Patient Advisory Board

Female Carriers of X-Linked CGD Advisory Board

Patient Advisory Board

Robert Karp, patient with CGD


Scott Vogel,  former CGD patient after successful transplant 


Carla Dean, autosomal patient with CGD


Female Carriers of X-Linked CGD Advisory Board

Female Carriers of X-Linked CGD Advisory Board

Female Carriers of X-Linked CGD Advisory Board

Maren Chamorro


Gina Continenza


Kiron Dhalilwal


Alia Naffouj


Marianne Rørholt (Norway)


CGD Association of America

2005 Palmer Ave, #197, Larchmont, NY 10538

(917) 309-3489

Copyright © 2018 Chronic Granulomatous Disease Association of America - All Rights Reserved. Sec501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization


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The contents of the CGD Association of America  site, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the CGDAA Site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding CGD or any medical condition.