Youth-led scoliosis awareness campaign recognized for its storytelling, patient advocacy and community impact
STUDIO CITY, CA — September 29, 2026 – TheMarta Eliza Miller Foundation(MEMF) has been shortlisted in the Awareness Campaign category for the 11th Annual Shorty Impact Awards.MEMF’s entry recognizes its work to increase scoliosis awareness and early detection, support young patients, and fund research and treatment advances.
Marta Eliza Miller and her mother, Corrina Clover Miller, founded MEMF after Marta’s spinal curve progressed to 48 degrees while she was training as a competitive ice dancer. Marta continued to train and compete while wearing a back brace for up to 20 hours a day. By sharing that experience, including the body-image struggles, anxiety and isolation that can accompany scoliosis during adolescence, she has made emotional support a central part of MEMF’s advocacy for young patients.
In under six years, MEMF has raised more than $1 million for scoliosis awareness and research, including more than $475,000 donated to the Spine Center at the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Skating exhibitions, 5K runs and other community events raise more than $50,000 annually. MEMF has also supported the launch of CHLA’sMomentum app, and an orthopedic patient exam room and casting room have been named for the foundation.
In 2026, MEMF launched a $250,000 nationwide grant initiative to support scoliosis awareness and research across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and has created partnerships with Boston Children’s Hospital, Duke Children’s, Phoenix Children’s and Arkansas Children’s Hospitals.The foundation will also serve as a Titanium Sponsor of CHLA’s 125th Anniversary Gala on October 17, where the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center will be honored. For Marta, a CHLA patient since 2019, the occasion brings her advocacy back to the hospital that supported her through her own scoliosis journey.
“This recognition means so much to me because I know what it feels like to be a kid going through scoliosis and to sometimes feel scared or alone,”shares Marta.That’s why this work is so important to me. I hope being recognized by the Shorty Impact Awards helps us reach even more young people and reminds them that scoliosis doesn’t define who they are, and no matter what their diagnosis, they can still stand tall, be strong and dream big.”
“This year’s theme, ‘What Matters?’ puts the focus back on the purpose behind the work: what needs to change, who needs to be reached, and what meaningful action looks like beyond the dashboard,” said Junmian Sun, Managing Director, Shorty Impact Awards.“We’re proud to recognize this year’s finalists and invite the public to weigh in through theAudience Honor Voting,running September 29 through October 13.”
Founded in 2020 by Marta Eliza Miller and her mother, Corrina Clover Miller, the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to scoliosis awareness, education, patient support and research. Inspired by Marta’s experience as a young patient and competitive ice dancer, MEMF works to help young people facing scoliosis to “Stand Tall, Be Strong, and Dream Big.” Learn more at martaelizamillerfoundation.org.
ABOUT THE SHORTY AWARDS
The Shorty Awards (also known as “The Shortys”) honors the most innovative work in digital and social media by brands, agencies and organizations.
Founded in 2008, the Shortys’ notable previous winners include Malala Yousafzai, Trevor Noah, Michelle Obama, Conan O’Brien, Lady Gaga, Lizzo, and brands such as Walt Disney Company, Digitas, HBO, Meta, The Ritz-Carlton, Kraft Heinz, Ford, UNICEF, United Nations and PepsiCo.
The Shortys’ mission is to celebrate, inspire, and push the boundaries of excellence in digital storytelling. Entries are judged on the merits of creativity, strategy, and engagement by the Real Time Academy, a body of hand-selected industry experts and leaders. The public can also weigh in and select their favorite Shorty Awards contenders during Audience Honor Voting.
Currently, the Shortys have two annual competitions: the flagship Shorty Awards and Shorty Impact Awards dedicated to honoring the best work with a positive social impact.
In this episode of Edutainment Learning, we speak with Marta Eliza Miller, a 19-year-old former U.S. figure skating ice dancer and founder of the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation (MEMF).
Marta shares her powerful journey navigating scoliosis, elite athletics, and the mental health challenges that often go unseen behind physical conditions. Through her advocacy work, she is helping bring awareness to the emotional impact of scoliosis while empowering young people to speak openly about resilience, identity, and recovery.
This conversation explores how adversity can become purpose, and how young leaders are reshaping conversations around health, mental wellness, and awareness in powerful ways.
🎧 Topics include:
Living with scoliosis and its hidden challenges Mental health in young athletes Building the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation (MEMF) Turning personal struggle into public advocacy Lessons on resilience, identity, and purpose
🌍 Edutainment Learning connects students around the world with inspiring voices in science, education, business, health, and culture through short-form career conversations designed for classrooms.
Marta Eliza Miller Foundation Launches $250,000 Nationwide Grant Initiative During National Scoliosis Awareness Month, Supporting Organizations in All 50 States and Puerto Rico
Foundation Marks Six Years of Impact and More Than $1 Million Raised for Scoliosis Awareness Through Largest Grant Initiative to Date
MEMF Support for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Surpasses $475,000; Marta Eliza Miller Named Ambassador for Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation
June 4, 2026 –In recognition of National Scoliosis Awareness Month and America’s 250th anniversary, the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation(MEMF) today announced a landmark $250,000 nationwide grant initiative supporting scoliosis research, education, awareness, and patient care programs in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
The Foundation’s largest grant program to date will provide funding to pediatric hospitals, healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and community partners working to improve outcomes for children and families affected by scoliosis.
The announcement marks one of the foundation’s most ambitious initiatives to date, expanding its impact nationwide while advancing its mission to support children, adolescents and families navigating scoliosis. Since its founding, MEMF has helped raise more than $1 million for scoliosis awareness and research, and the organization confirmed that additional charitable contributions will be made throughout 2026, with recipient organizations to be announced in the coming months. See HERE for a full list of MEMF’s National Scoliosis Awareness Month Grant Recipients.
“Co-founding the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation with my daughter has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, said Corrina Miller. Together, we have transformed a personal journey with scoliosis into a national effort to support awareness, education, research, and patient care. Every milestone we reach reflects the power of turning adversity into purpose, and we remain committed to creating lasting change for children and families affected by scoliosis.”
Coinciding with the donation, MEMF founder Marta Eliza Miller has been named the newest ambassador for the Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to advance the pioneering research of the Harms Study Group (HSG), an international consortium of leading pediatric and adult spine surgeons whose collaborative research has helped establish many of the standards of care used today to treat scoliosis and other spinal deformities, advancing safer and more effective outcomes for patients worldwide. Through research funding, patient education, and community engagement, the organization works to improve outcomes for individuals living with scoliosis while providing families with trusted, evidence-based resources and support.
“The Marta Eliza Miller Foundation’s nationwide commitment reflects the very heart of what drives the Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation — ensuring that every child, in every community, has access to the best possible care and the most advanced research,”said Michelle Marks, Executive Director. “We are honored to welcome Marta as an ambassador. Her resilience, advocacy, and generosity embody the spirit of this work and will help elevate awareness and support for families navigating scoliosis.”
“When my mom and I founded the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation, I was still a teenager navigating my own scoliosis journey,” said Marta Eliza Miller. “I never imagined our experience would grow into something that could help so many others. Seeing people come together to support awareness, research, and better care for children with scoliosis has been incredibly meaningful. My hope is that every child facing this diagnosis knows they are not alone. I’m honored to deepen that commitment through my new role with the Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation and continue advocating for greater awareness, innovation, and support across the scoliosis community.”
MEMF’s latest contribution builds on its longstanding partnership with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), where the Foundation’s total giving now exceeds $475,000. In recognition of its support for scoliosis research, treatment, and patient care, two rooms within CHLA’s Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center bear the Foundation’s name. Consistently ranked among the nation’s leading pediatric orthopedic programs, the center continues to advance innovative research and specialized care for children with scoliosis and other orthopedic conditions.
Later this year, CHLA will celebrate its 125th Anniversary Gala on October 17, 2026, supporting the hospital’s $1.25 billion Anniversary Campaign to expand pediatric research and access to care. The Marta Eliza Miller Foundation is proud to serve as a Titanium Sponsor the event. Honorary Campaign Chairs include Jamie Lee Curtis, Jimmy Kimmel, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Chuck Lorre. For more information, visit: https://secure1.chla.org/site/SPageNavigator/Gala/gala_homepage.html
Among the recipients of MEMF’s grants is the Boston Children’s Hospital,home to a world-renowned Pediatric Spine Division. The Complex Cervical Spine Programat Boston Children’s Hospital is the nation’s largest and longest-running program dedicated to treating children and young adults with rare and complex cervical spine disorders. Founded in 1998, the program provides highly specialized, individualized care for patients with conditions that affect spinal stability and place the spinal cord at risk, including disorders associated with skeletal dysplasia and multisystem disease. Through initiatives such as the nationally recognized ASPIRE registry, Boston Children’s is helping advance research, surgical innovation, and long-term outcomes for children with scoliosis and other complex spinal conditions. MEMF’s support will help accelerate these efforts and improve patient care.
Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 10 while pursuing a competitive figure skating career, Marta transformed her experience into a mission to support other young people facing similar challenges. Today, she stands out as one of only four known figure skaters with scoliosis. Throughout her skating journey, Marta has trained alongside world-renowned athletes and coaches, including Olympian Ice Dancer Yura Min and Olympian Figure Skater Misha Ge. Her perseverance and advocacy have earned national attention, including a PEOPLE Magazine feature that chronicled how the young athlete turned a life-changing diagnosis into a fundraising effort that has generated more than $1 million for scoliosis awareness and research.
In addition to her philanthropic work, Marta continues to pursue opportunities in the performing arts. She was recently cast in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at The Pocket Theatre in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she also serves as a choreographer and dance captain.
Stay tuned for additional announcements from the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation throughout 2026.
L-R: Corrina Clover Miller, Marta Eliza Miller Photo Credit: Jeremy Jines
June is a special month for us as we celebrate Scoliosis Awareness Month, a time dedicated to education, connection, and empowerment. At Setting Scoliosis Straight, we believe that open communication and shared understanding between patients, families, and healthcare professionals are essential in helping individuals make confident, informed decisions about their scoliosis care.
To honor this mission, we’re hosting a powerful webinar featuring patients from across the country who will share their personal stories and insights on navigating scoliosis. Thress of our renowned surgeons will also provide evidence‑based updates on today’s leading treatment options. This event offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from patients who have experienced a range of treatments—and to learn from experts who are shaping the future of scoliosis care.
Join us as we raise awareness, build community, and remind every patient and family that you are not alone.
Topics Include:
Understanding Scoliosis Surgery: A Quick Guide to the Differences Between Spinal Fusion and Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) – Presented by Salil Upasani, MD
Understanding Bracing: The Latest Updates in Bracing and Non-Operative Treatments, Including Schroth Therapy – Presented by Ben Roye, MD
Spinal Fusion Patient Story: A Personal Journey Through Scoliosis Surgery and Recovery – Presented by June Baker
VBT: An Alternative Path — A Story of Hope Through Vertebral Body Tethering – Presented by Simrena Atwal
Bracing Patient Story: Making a Difference Through Awareness and Community Outreach – Presented by Ashlyn & Amy Cordes with Setting Scoliosis Straight at Manalapan High School
Bracing Patient Story: An Inspiring Journey of Resilience, Advocacy, and Giving Back to the Scoliosis Community -Presented by Marta & Corrina Miller at MEMF
Orthopedic Surgeon from Rady Children’s Hospital, CA
Daniel Hoernschemeye, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon at University of Missouri Health Care
Ben Royes, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon at Columbia University, New York
Guest Patient Speakers
June & Evelyn Baker
Spinal Fusion Patient
June was diagnosed with scoliosis at 12, and what began as a mild curve quickly progressed, leading to major spinal fusion surgery at just 13. Her recovery was long and incredibly painful, but through determination and hard work, she returned to competitive dance only four months later—ultimately winning national and world titles with her team.
Today, she shares her story alongside her mother to remind other patients that even the hardest battles can lead to extraordinary strength.
Simrena Atwal
VBT Patient
Simrena was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 11 years old. Her journey often felt like a rollercoaster she never asked to ride, but despite every challenge, she refused to give up and kept pushing forward. Scoliosis may have knocked her down, but it never kept her there.
Join us to hear Simrena’s full story—how she navigated her scoliosis journey and the meaningful ways she’s now giving back to the community.
Ashlyn & Amy Cordes
Bracing Patient
Ashlyn was diagnosed with scoliosis in 2021 and wore a brace for more than three years. Despite the challenges that came with bracing, she never gave up—and even continued competing in dance. What began as fear and frustration transformed into strength, resilience, and a deep desire to give back to the community.
Don’t miss Ashlyn and her mother Amy inspiring story.
Corrina & Marta Miller
Bracing Patient
Marta was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was just 10 years old. After many years of bracing treatment, she overcame countless challenges and continued to pursue her passion for ice dancing and figure skating with U.S. Figure Skating. She also founded her own nonprofit, the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation (MEMF), to help raise funds in support of scoliosis research. Most recently, she became an Ambassador for SSS, continuing her mission to uplift and empower others in the scoliosis community.
“The practice of figure skating every day has definitely helped me in all of my endeavors, both running the foundation with my mom, and also being a student and graduating from college early. I found in college that I was one of few very focused students, and I attribute that to years of athletic training.”
he world of sports is not just about physical prowess or competition; it’s an incubator for leadership qualities such as discipline, teamwork, strategic planning, and resilience. Athletes, from amateur levels to professional arenas, often encounter situations that test their limits and require them to step up in ways that mirror the challenges faced by leaders in various fields.
As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Marta Eliza Miller.
MEMF was founded in 2020 by Marta Eliza Miller and her mother Corrina. At the time, Marta was a 13-year old ice dancer and figure skater for US Figure Skating, and because her scoliosis curve had reached 48 degrees, they were unsure if she would be able to continue skating. Creating the foundation provided a sense of hope and comfort for Marta as she went through various tests, x-rays and MRI’s at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Marta was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 11; she also has a shorter left leg. Because she was athletic, Marta was fit with a velcro flexible brace that she wore for twenty hours a day, during both waking and sleeping hours. Marta worked tirelessly using yoga, acupuncture and various strengthening and stretching techniques to maintain her back strength and was able to continue skating. She’s been monitored bi-annually as a patient of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) since 2019. At age 12, Marta became a Junior Ambassador for CHLA because she wanted to give back to the community that was supportive of her scoliosis journey. Since 2019, Marta has raised over one million dollars for Scoliosis Awareness. In addition, MEMF has provided $475,000 to the Spine Center location in the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center for Scoliosis research and awareness, and recently helped fund CHLA’s launch of the new Momentum app. In 2024, an orthopedic patient exam room was named for the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation. And in 2026, the casting room (where casts are put on), was named the Marta Eliza Miller Foundation Casting Room. This year, the foundation looks forward to expanding their reach nationwide.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career? What athletics did you participate in?
A friend told me about Ice Skating when I was 6. After my 7th birthday, which was at Roller Skating Rink, I told my mom that I wanted to learn to Ice Skate. She did not know anything about the sport, unlike most ice skating moms. And so she and I began to navigate the sport of Figure Skating. I loved it from the moment I started skating. Because I was homeschooled, I was able to skate four hours a day (2 hours in the morning and 2 in the afternoon) for 5 days a week.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
I’m not sure this is the most interesting story, but when my curve reached 48 degrees, my doctor at CHLA was very concerned and recommended surgery, which was frightening for me at the time because I was so athletic. She referred me to the top doctor at CHLA. We did several tests in the motion lab and then three (3) consecutive MRIs. We weren’t sure that I would be able to continue jumping or skating. The night that the MRI’s were scheduled was the Friday before everything shut down for COVID in early March 2020. No one was at the hospital and it was very eerie for my mom and me walking down the hallway to the MRI. And then, we had to wait the entire weekend for results because the MRI was so late in the evening. They had purposely scheduled it late hoping I would fall asleep since the MRI’s were going to take 2.5–3 hours.
It was that weekend while we were awaiting the results and discussion with my doctor, that my mother and I came up with the concept of the Foundation. I think truly, it was a coping mechanism for both of us, to help calm our nerves, and also come up with a plan if our life was going to change drastically (meaning no longer skating 4 hours a day). Since I was homeschooled, skating was a huge part of my physical education component of school.
I always look back to that weekend and think of the hallway and how scary it was walking around the hospital with no one there. It’s a good representation of how we were feeling and what helped drive us to create the foundation.
Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Discipline — In figure skating, you need to have discipline. You can’t just learn something because you want to do it. You need to have the discipline to go through the correct steps to learn the move properly, and the patience to allow your body to learn the muscle memory required to make a particular move possible.
Focus — Figure skating is very mental. You can be relaxed in your head or stressed in your head. Having good focus puts your mind and body in the right mode to learn.
Desire — Desire means a lot of different things. The Desire to want to skate, or improve. A lot of times you see figure skating moms with the desire and the kids don’t share that desire. If you don’t have the desire, you can’t be successful on the ice.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a pivotal moment in your athletic career that taught you a leadership lesson you’ve applied outside of sports?
Wearing a brace and having scoliosis as a young pre-teen was difficult because kids that age are very judgemental; quite frankly, girls in particular can be cruel and mean. I looked different because I wore a brace. And when they heard that I had a shorter leg or that I had scoliosis, immediately to some, I was “weird.” My coach at the time was really fantastic. She encouraged me to wear the brace and when I was hot and needed to take off my longsleeve, she made me feel like I was a strong athlete and encouraged me to ignore the stares or lack of friendship from the other skaters.
I believe this gave me a strong foundation that has helped me in real world situations. There are always people who will judge or be cruel, or have an opinion about who you are as a person. But knowing that those opinions don’t matter as much as your own integrity and approach to life, is what makes you a unique individual. I feel like having scoliosis has only made me stronger. One of the reasons we have the motto: Stand Tall, Be Strong, Dream Big, is because those three things will help you in all aspects of your life.
How has your experience in team dynamics within athletics influenced your approach to leadership in the workplace?
Absolutely. Just like I mentioned before, seeing the dynamics in a sport like figure skating has helped me navigate incredibly well outside of the sport. I am incredibly disciplined, focused and have a strong desire to be the best that I can be. In fact, I recently just graduated college as the youngest graduate in the history of my school — the American Musical Dramatic Academy College of Performing Arts — having just turned 19, with a 4.0 GPA and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre.
In what ways has facing defeat or challenges in sports prepared you for handling failure and setbacks in your professional life? What role does resilience play in long term career success?
Resilience is vital to long term career success. There are a lot of aspects to figure skating that are not controllable. You can only control what you can control. And so by accepting that winning does not mean failing, or that winning does not mean success, is a great lesson to learn. I’m no longer a competitive figure skater — one of the reasons is that I am an ice dancer and there are not enough boys in the sport to find a good partner. But that doesn’t define how I feel about the ice. I love skating and will always be a figure skater.
Another quick story, in 2022, I had a SafeSport case against two former coaches for emotional and sexual misconduct and abuse. It was a grueling situation where I had to testify to law enforcement and speak with SafeSport in detail about the case. After the lengthy investigation, the coaches were found guilty, though their punishment was only a four month suspension because I was the first person to bring a case against them.
Throughout the process, I wanted to continue skating, but I was forced to move rinks so that I could be assured of a safe skating environment. I could have easily stopped skating altogether because it was emotionally overwhelming. However, the ice was my home. I was so used to spending time on the ice, I didn’t want to give that up. I felt like I had already given up so much personally.
It was that resilience that has also helped me as a young person navigate so many other aspects in life. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone, but I also wouldn’t change what I had to go through because I learned how the system is broken, and I learned how to get up and continue no matter what. And feel like this is just a micro example of what the real world is like. Resilience is key.
How do you apply the discipline and training regimen from your athletic pursuits to your current leadership role?
The practice of figure skating every day has definitely helped me in all of my endeavors, both running the foundation with my mom, and also being a student and graduating from college early. I found in college that I was one of few very focused students, and I attribute that to years of athletic training.
Reflecting on your journey, what specific skills or attributes developed through athletics do you believe are most essential for effective leadership?
Having a daily routine. Making sure that you enjoy what you are doing. And that you are doing it for you.
Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience, can you please share “5 Ways That Athletics Can Help Train Great Leaders?” If you can, please share a story or an example for each.
1. Focus on your craft.
Don’t focus on others, focus on what you are doing.
2. Enjoy your journey.
Have fun with what you are doing. You learn more when you are happy.
3. Have Discipline.
Be mindful and work as hard as you can, and it will pay off.
4. Eat well.
Fueling your body is important. And being healthy helps you stay focused, enjoy your journey, and have discipline.
5. Relax your mind.
Have an outlet to let go. I have done yoga since I was a baby, and my body craves it, especially after a hard week.
