Rare Disease Advisory Council fills two executive‑team vacancies; votes unanimous

Summary

The Connecticut Rare Disease Advisory Council voted unanimously to add Sarah Vidya to the executive team as the patient‑group representative and to appoint Michelle Spencer Manzan as health‑care co‑chair. The votes were taken during the meeting’s governance segment and recorded as passed without opposition or abstentions.

At its recent meeting the Rare Disease Advisory Council of Connecticut voted to fill two executive‑team vacancies, naming Sarah Vidya as the patient representative on the executive team and re‑electing (by vote) Michelle Spencer Manzan as the health‑care co‑chair.

Leslie Bennett, the council chair, announced that Sarah Vidya had volunteered to fill the open patient representative seat and called for a motion and a vote. The chair announced the motion carried after members voted in favor. Later the council moved to vote on Michelle Spencer Manzan’s candidacy for the co‑chair position; the council recorded unanimous support and no abstentions were reported.

Why it matters: Executive‑team membership determines committee leadership and who sets priorities and coordinates the RDAC’s subcommittees and legislative work for the coming year. The newly seated members will take on planning responsibilities for advocacy, awareness, and the RDAC’s 2026 priorities.

The meeting transcript does not record an opposed vote or named dissent; the chair said she did not hear any abstentions. No additional executive‑team nominations were made during the session.