PICS4EOE
Raising awareness & supporting research for EoE
through the natural beauty of this planet.
Our Story
Pics4EoE is a student-founded, student-led 501(c)(3) status nonprofit operating out of the Philadelphia, PA area. The founder is a high school amateur photographer who started the organization in 2023 to support medical research and raise awareness for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), which he was diagnosed with in 2017. EoE (Eosinophilic Esophagitis) is an autoimmune disease that affects around 1 in 2,000 people. It is a lifelong condition that can permanently damage your Esophagus.
Soon after its inception, Pics4EoE launched its website, increasing visibility and opening its online, free digital photo store. In 2024, Pics4EoE has continued its progress, organizing its first official fundraiser partnering with the recycling organization GotSneakers. Also in Spring of 2024, Pics4EoE launched a campaign in partnership with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP, a 501c3 tax-deductible non-profit), Division of Gastroenterology, to raise funds for EoE education & research.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Pics4EoE.org Tax Id Num: 93-3499413
Meet The Team
Founder & President
Joshua Bastean
Joshua Bastean is currently a high school student in Bucks County, PA and Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) patient. Joshua founded Pics4EoE a year ago with the purpose of raising awareness and research funding for EoE. He hopes to take the situation he finds himself in, living with a rare disease, and turn it into something of benefit for others. Joshua is currently working on advocating for his condition and other rare conditions.
Treasurer
Brian Bastean
Dr. Bastean has worked in the healthcare sector for over 35 years as a clinician, in academia, pharmaceutical industry, healthcare startups, and consulting. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and holds an MBA in Pharmaceutical Marketing. Throughout his career and into retirement, he has focused on optimizing patients’ outcomes. He passionately believes success in healthcare is primarily determined through patient expectations and experience. In his free time, Brian enjoys time with family and volunteering for multiple community-
based not for profit organizations.
Board Member
Caryl Harris
Caryl Harris co-founded Avery’s Hope with her husband Eric. Named for their beautiful, and beautifully rare, grandson. Caryl holds an M.A. in English Literature from Rutgers University and has an A.B.A. from the Department of Education. Caryl is a member of the National Organization for Rare Disorders and is a representative for Avery’s Hope with the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, and the Global Genes Rare Patient Alliance. She serves on the Patient Senate for Patients Rising Now. Caryl is also a Founding Member of WRAP – Worldwide Rare Advocacy Partnership. Caryl is an avid cyclist, an artist, a wife, a mom to three amazing young men, and “Ya Ya” to 4 grandsons.
Secretary & Web Developer
Maria Kesisoglou
Maria is a student at New Hope-Solebury High School. She has been committed to service and outreach for years, volunteering with many local groups and leading her school's Key Club. Maria aims to be a research scientist in the future, and has interned in labs at Johns Hopkins and the Pennsylvania BioTech Center. For now, she's dedicated to supporting medical research by putting her leadership, organization, and technology skills to use at Pics4EoE.
Outreach Coordinator
Jeni Bastean
Dr. Bastean has over 25 years of experience communicating drug information to both patients and healthcare providers. At the heart of her inspiration is her youngest son who was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis in 2018. She is passionate about helping other parents/guardians put together the early 'symptom puzzle pieces' to identify and seek EoE support. Dr. Bastean is confident that by increasing symptom awareness, we will help improve the speed to diagnosis and ongoing research for all affected.
Board Member
Renato Cataldo
Dr. Cataldo had been in professional and consumer healthcare profession for over 30 years. He has held positions as a tenured Pharmacy Professor, healthcare agency executive, and CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
Dr. Cataldo has grown four clinical corporations from an entrepreneurial start-up in the last 15 years serving medical organizations and specialty groups on a world-wide basis. During Dr. Cataldo’s career he has pioneered numerous health and medical products for Glaxo, Merck, Pfizer, BMS, Abbott, BD, bioMérieux, AstraZeneca, and Amgen.
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