International Myeloma Foundation
NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) partnered with the National Medical Association (NMA), the W. Montague Cobb Institute, and the National Student Medical Association (SNMA) to send a delegation of 12 IMF medical student scholars and their leaders on health equity in myeloma to the 2024 NMA Annual Conference and Scientific Assembly, held August 3-7, 2024 in New York City, New York.
The NMA Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting is recognized as one of the national forums for African American health and medicine.
Twelve pairs of students and mentors presented their research at a poster walk at the Sheraton in Times Square on Monday, August 5th, with the following posters:
Examining Pharmacy Medication Adherence and Treatment Access Disparities in Patients with Multiple Myeloma – Saron Araya (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Philadelphia, PA) and Cesar Rodriguez, MD (Icahn School of Medicine at the Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai – New York, NY)
The Impact of Race on the Incidence of T-Cell Malignancies in Patients with Multiple Myeloma —Bethlehem Gebre (Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane, WA) and Ajay K. Nouka, MD, MPH, FACP (Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA).
Differences in time to CAR T therapy based on race/ethnicity and ADI — Erneisha Brown, BS (Texas Tech University College of Medicine – Lubbock, TX) and Krina K. Patel, MD, MSc (UT MD Anderson Cancer Center – Houston, TX)
Association of cerebral venous access time, disease characteristics, and outcomes with commercially available CAR-T cell therapies in multiple myeloma — Tyra Grischke (Indiana University School of Medicine—Indiana, IN) and Benjamin Derman, MD (University of Chicago—Chicago, IL)
Genetic Marker Screening to Prevent Drug-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Multiple Myeloma — Diandra GB Adu-Kyei (Meharry Medical College—Nashville, TN) and Tondre Buck, MD (Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute—Spartanburg, SC)
First-line treatment outcomes associated with primary cytogenetic subtype in a large cohort of black patients with multiple myeloma at a single institution — Semegne Hiruy (Wake Forest University School of Medicine—Salem, NC) and Manisha Bhutani, MD (Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute—Charlotte, NC)
Real-World Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Safety Outcomes of Black Patients with Multiple Myeloma Treated with Teclistamab: A National Claims Database Study — Brittany Grossi (Howard University School of Medicine—Washington, DC) and Peter M. Voorhees, MD (Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute—Charlotte, NC)
Social determinants of health affecting black and white patients receiving bispecific antibodies for the treatment of multiple myeloma — Ferdinand Anokwuru (Charles R. Drew University School of Medicine – Los Angeles, CA) and Monique Hartley-Brown, MD MMSC (Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – Boston, MA)
Community Perspectives: Seeking Insights into Multiple Myeloma — Ingrid Adaeze Okonta, MS (University of Louisville School of Medicine—Louisville, KY) and Joselle Cook, MD (Mayo Clinic—Rochester, MN)
Factors influencing survival burden and treatment choices for patients with multiple myeloma (MM): Real-world learnings and differences from prospective studies — Jayla Mondy (Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi) and Sikander Ailwadhi, MD (Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida)
Estimating Racial Differences in the Proportion of Myeloma Cases Attributable to Modifiable Risk Factors — Divya Rath (Howard University School of Medicine—Washington, DC) and Urvi Shah, MD (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center—New York, NY)
Outcomes of T-Cell Redirection Therapy for Multiple Myeloma by Race and Ethnicity —Yasmin Griffiths (Howard University School of Medicine, Washington, DC) and Saad Z. Usmani, MD, MBA, FACP (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY)
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Participants will be required to complete a post-program evaluation by September 2024.
For more information, see the Poster Walk booklet or read the full poster here.
Students and mentors also attended a networking reception featuring members of the Student Medical Association of the United States (SNMA), the W. Montague Cobb /NMA Institute, and the NMA.
Some of this year’s IMF Medical Student Scholars shared their thoughts and learnings from the 2024 NMA Annual Meeting and Scientific Conference.
“Participating in the Medical Student Scholars for Health Equity in Myeloma Program was an honor and learning opportunity for me. During lectures, when I heard brief statistics about how Black patients are disproportionately affected in various areas of healthcare, I felt like the numbers were underestimated, as if they were not real people. However, this program gave me the opportunity to dig deeper into the impact of multiple myeloma in our community and motivated me to actively work to learn and eliminate the disparities we face. I plan to take the lessons I learned and the connections I made to a larger platform to make a difference in the lives of my patients and my community.” — Bethlehem Gebre, Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine—Spokane, WA
“I am honored to have been selected for this program. Everyone involved was supportive and encouraging throughout the entire process. My mentor, Dr. Ben Derman, made the experience inspiring and accessible. He not only taught me about multiple myeloma, but also how to be a better researcher. Being surrounded by so many Black and Brown physicians at the NMA conference was so inspiring. Speaking with them made me excited for the future of medicine. I never imagined I would be attending such an important conference this early in my career, but I am grateful and excited to continue researching ways to improve outcomes for underrepresented patients throughout my medical journey!” — Tyra Grischke (Indiana University School of Medicine—Indiana, IN)
“My experience as an IMF Scholar has truly been a 11/10 experience. I have primarily studied basic science and clinical research, but I have never delved deep into health disparities research before. This journey has been incredibly fulfilling, thanks in large part to my mentor, Dr. Jozelle Cook, who pushed me and instilled in me a deep passion for working with health disparities and patient advocacy. This experience strengthened my commitment to becoming a physician advocate and teaching health literacy to my future patients. Being an IMF Scholar reaffirmed my mission to be a physician-leader and surgeon who will drive policies that advance health disparities research and patient care. I am deeply grateful to have had a lifelong mentor and a supportive community that will continue to guide me in my medical career. I am incredibly grateful to the International Myeloma Foundation and the W. Cobb Montague Research Institute for selecting me as a 2024 IMF Scholar.” — Ingrid Adaeze Okonta, MS (University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY)
“The Myeloma Health Equity Med Student Scholars Program is an exemplary combination of community engagement, health disparities research, and research mentorship to advance the cause of health equity. The quality and depth of the disparities projects presented was simply outstanding. Additionally, the camaraderie and synergy between mentors and mentors was wonderful to see. We are confident this program will benefit patients, students, mentors, and the entire myeloma community,” said Dr. Joseph Mikhael, IMF Chief Medical Officer, who spearheads the Myeloma Health Equity Med Student Scholars Program and the M-Power project.
“Today, we not only celebrate the graduation of our scholars, but a major step toward a more equitable health care environment. This program was born out of an urgent need to address the disparities facing minority communities in myeloma treatment. As these research posters demonstrate, African American patients face unique challenges in receiving their care. Through their dedication and research, IMF Medical Student Scholars will continue to close these gaps and pave the way for better outcomes for all,” said Yerak Bill, IMF President and CEO and a myeloma patient for 28 years.
The IMF would like to thank our program sponsor, Randall C. Morgan, Jr., MD, MBA, president and CEO of the Cobb/NMA Health Institute.
The National Medical Association (NMA) is “the collective voice of African American physicians and a leading force promoting equality and equity in health care and the elimination of health disparities.”
This national professional and scientific organization represents the interests of more than 50,000 African American physicians and the patients they serve, and is committed to improving the quality of health for minority and disadvantaged populations through membership, professional development, community health education, advocacy, research, and partnerships with federal and private agencies. For more information, visit the NMA website.
Launched in April 2023, the Medical Student Scholars Mentoring Program for Health Equity in Myeloma is a new mentoring initiative for African American medical students, created by IMF in partnership with the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute’s Cobb Scholars Program.
The IMF Medical Student Scholars Mentoring Program for Health Equity in Myeloma is made possible through financial support from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer.
To learn more about the program, visit https://mpower.myeloma.org/medical-student-scholars-for-health-equity-in-myeloma-mentoring-program/.
About the M-POWER Project
The International Myeloma Foundation's (IMF) M-Power Project partners with cities across the United States to realize the core vision of the IMF Diversity Initiative: improving short- and long-term outcomes for African-American patients with multiple myeloma. By raising awareness of myeloma and empowering medical professionals, community leaders, neighbors and families, the M-Power Project aims to break down barriers for the African-American myeloma community.
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells (antibody-making white blood cells) in the bone marrow. The cancerous or malignant plasma cells are called myeloma cells. Myeloma is called “multiple” because it often grows in multiple spots or areas in the bones. It often causes damage to the bones and kidneys. Multiple myeloma is still incurable, but there have been great improvements in survival rates over the past 20 years. The disease occurs twice as often in African-Americans as white Americans and is diagnosed at a younger age. The most common symptoms are fatigue and bone pain.
About the International Myeloma Foundation
Founded in 1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the world's first and largest foundation dedicated to multiple myeloma. The Foundation's reach reaches more than 525,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. Focusing on four main areas – research, education, support and advocacy – IMF strives to improve the quality of life for people with myeloma while working to prevent and cure the disease. IMF has presented more than 250 educational seminars around the world and operates the world-renowned InfoLine. In 2001, IMF also founded the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), a collaborative research initiative focused on improving treatment options for myeloma patients. In 2012, IMF launched the Black Swan Research Initiative®, a groundbreaking research project aimed at curing myeloma. IMF can be contacted at (800) 452-CURE (2873) or visit our global website at www.myeloma.org.
To follow the IMF:
X (Twitter): @IMFmyeloma
Instagram: @imfmyeloma
Facebook: @myeloma
LinkedIn: International Myeloma Foundation
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