Myeloma can affect anyone, but not all patient groups have optimal outcomes or receive the same level of care. For example, myeloma is the leading blood cancer in the Black community. Black patients make up 20 percent of the approximately 34,000 people diagnosed with myeloma annually in the United States. Despite the high incidence of myeloma in the Black community, most Black patients are diagnosed later when compared to other patient populations. They are also underrepresented in the research and clinical studies that are driving new treatments. In addition, increases in survival rates for Black patients have not kept pace with improved survival rates seen in other patient populations.
Racial and ethnic health disparities, social and financial disparities, and limited access to quality care are all contributing factors to the outcomes facing Black patients and other underserved populations in the myeloma community. Yet, research has shown that when Black myeloma patients experience a timely diagnosis and receive standard of care treatment, they can achieve the same, or better, disease outcomes as other myeloma patient populations.
Every myeloma patient deserves the best possible outcome. This belief is rooted in the MMRF’s mission to accelerate a cure for each and every patient. It also drives our deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and specifically, our work to address disparities affecting underserved patients in the myeloma community.
Our goals focus on driving proportional patient representation in research and clinical studies, ending disparities affecting patient outcomes and access to standard of care through awareness and education, and building an organization and partner network that reflects the diverse community we serve.
"The MMRF is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as it is critical to achieving our mission of accelerating a cure for each and every myeloma patient. Building an inclusive workplace is a personal priority of mine. Our entire team is dedicated to pursuing more equitable outcomes for the entire myeloma community.”
To truly understand myeloma and accelerate personalized treatments for all patients, researchers need a complete picture of the disease landscape and burden. This can only come from achieving a proportionate and accurate representation of the entire myeloma community in the research and clinical studies that are leading to treatment breakthroughs every day. We drive this by setting clear recruitment goals, lowering barriers to participate in research studies, and working with partners that have successful programs and trusted relationships with underserved communities. If all patients are to benefit from the research we do, all patients need to be represented within it.
With better awareness, education, and access to care across the entire myeloma community, we can optimize outcomes for every patient—everywhere. In addition to direct-to-patient outreach, we are forming partnerships with health systems and community-based organizations to raise awareness of myeloma in underserved communities. Our goal is to empower all patients to be the best possible advocates for their care through awareness and education, and ultimately improve access to standard of care. This will lead to more equitable patient outcomes from the latest treatment advances for the entire myeloma community.
In order to deliver on our mission, we need to ensure that a diverse set of ideas, perspectives, and experiences inform the work we do. To that end, we have launched a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Taskforce to help create an inclusive space for our employees, patients, and partners, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. The Taskforce serves as an open forum for employees across the organization to support our efforts to address disparities affecting underserved patients. We are also building a team that represents the diversity within the myeloma community to help inform our programs and initiatives as we pursue a world without myeloma.
The MMRF's Annual Health Equity Summit is a gathering of health officials, federal and local partners, and stakeholders devoted to the equitable delivery of healthcare, resources, research, and clinical trial participation across patients, employees, and all partners, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. Our work is centered on dialogue to inspire meaningful action to confront health disparities and root out causes to create more equitable healthcare delivery systems.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-203-229-0464
