ICA Team
Our day-to-day operations are run by two IC patients who once turned to the ICA themselves as their primary resource for information and support. They both have the passion and skills to provide the IC/BPS community with the information and resources they need to support living life with chronic illness.
Meet the Members of the ICA Team
The Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) is managed by two IC patients. Just like the founder of the ICA, these women have experienced the challenges of IC/BPS diagnosis and proper treatment. Both volunteered as board members and served as board chair prior to taking on the day-to-day operations. As IC patients themselves, Claudia and Laura are dedicated to providing the ICA community with evidence-based information, community, support, and the resources that patients, patient supporters, and healthcare providers need and deserve.
Claudia King
Chief Executive Officer
Claudia resides in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Lee, and their Pekingese, Buster. She was diagnosed with IC in 2005, just one month before her wedding, and she has always turned to the ICA for support and reliable information. Claudia believes that all patients can be advocates, and she takes the opportunity to speak with every new doctor she sees about IC, its symptoms, and its effects. Claudia has been involved with the ICA for several years, initially as a creator of a patient advocacy toolkit, then as a board member, and most recently as board chair. Claudia has a degree in Business Management and Finance from Guilford College and a background in fundraising, marketing, and nonprofit management. In addition to her role with ICA, Claudia is a guest legal analyst and domestic violence expert on live TV, where she speaks on current court cases and legal news. She also hosts a podcast called Strong Enough, where guests share inspiring stories of overcoming trauma.
Laura Santurri
Chief Operations Officer
Laura lives in New Franklin, Ohio, with her husband, Harlan, and seven adopted dogs. She was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) in 2000 but started having symptoms about three years prior, when she was 14 years old. Just before her diagnosis, she stumbled upon the ICA, an organization that quickly became her lifeline. Since that time, she has been engaged with the ICA in various ways, including as a volunteer, board member, and board chair. Laura is passionate about patient education and ensuring that all members of the IC/BPS community have the evidence-based information they need to make the best decisions about their care. Laura has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Anthropology, an MPH with a focus on disease prevention and health promotion, and a PhD in health education and promotion. In addition to her role with the ICA, she serves as associate adjunct faculty with the University of Indianapolis.