HONORING THE LEGACY OF BRIAN G.M. DURIE, MD
1942 - 2025
WELCOME BACK TO HEATHER COOPER ORTNER!
Incoming President & CEO International Myeloma Foundation
“I am humbled to serve alongside so many who are making a difference every day for patients and families affected by myeloma, and I look forward to building on the IMF’s legacy of impact”
INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA WORKING GROUP
• Under the guidance of the IMF Scientific Advisory Board, the IMWG identifies critical research needs, collaborations, and funding
• Primary Goal: To improve patient outcomes by identifying the most promising research to prevent and treat myeloma and ultimately, find a cure!
355 Doctors 43 Countries
70 Publications
RESEARCH – SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP
IMF Chief Medical Officer
Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP
Winship Cancer Institute, Emory
University
Thomas Martin, MD
UCSF, Helen Diller
Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Joo Chng, MD
National University of Singapore
María-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD University of Salamanca
Sigurður Yngvi Kristinsson, MD, PhD
University of Iceland
Philippe Moreau, MD
University Hospital of Nantes
NIkhil Munshi, MD Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Shaji Kumar, MD Mayo Clinic
Jesús San Miguel, MD, PhD University of Navarra
Saad Zafar Usmani, MD, MBA, FACP, FASCO Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD IMF Board Chair
Wee
Vania Hungria, MD, PhD Santa Casa de São Paulo
Support Groups empower patients & care partners with information, insight & hope The IMF provides educational support to a network of over 155 myeloma specific groups
SUPPORT – LOCAL GROUPS
Western Wake
Meets hybrid on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM
Lake Norman
Meets in-person on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM
Asheville
Meets virtually on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 10:00 AM
Charlotte
Meets hybrid on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM
Triangle Area
Meets hybrid on the 4th Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM
Winston-Salem
Meets hybrid on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 11:30AM
Charlotte West
Meets virtually on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Special interest groups are designed as a supplemental support for specific populations of patients, in addition to their local Support Groups
MM Families
Founded in 2021
For patients & care partners with young children
Las Voces de Mieloma
Founded in 2022
For Spanish speaking patients & care partners
Living Solo & Strong
Founded in 2022
For patients without a care partner
Veterans SIG
Founded in 2025
For those who served our country
Smolder Bolder
Founded in 2023
For smoldering myeloma patients & care partners
Living with High-Risk Multiple Myeloma
Founded in 2023
For high-risk myeloma patients & care partners
Care Partners Only
Founded in 2024
For myeloma care partners only
MYELOMA INFOLINE
Promoting Knowledge, Empowerment, & Hope
Since 1990, InfoLine Coordinators, with medical oversight, connect patients around the world to needed resources and help answer their myeloma questions
Patient-Reported Needs
Include:
• Understanding lab results, terminology and disease state
• Preparing for medical visits
• Access to medical providers, specialty care (ASCT, CAR T)
• Access to specialty medications (Len, Dara, etc.)
• Financial resources
CLINICAL TRIAL MATCHING ENGINE
Powered by SparkCures
EDUCATION- WRITTEN
EDUCATION – LIVE IN THE US
2025 LIVE PATIENT EDUCATION
Patient & Family Seminars
• Boca Raton, FL – March 14 – 15
• Philadelphia, PA – May 2 – 3
• Los Angeles, CA – August 15 – 16
• Chicago, IL – October 3 – 4
Myeloma Community Workshops
• Virtual - March 4 – focused on relapse
• San Mateo, CA - March 29
• Atlanta, GA - April 5
• Edina, MN - April 26
• Denver, CO - June 21
• Virtual – July 29 – focused on newly dx
• Seattle, WA - August 9
• Waltham, MA - September 27
• Raleigh-Durham, NC - November 15
• Virtual – November 17
WHAT DO WE ADVOCATE FOR?
The following policy principles are the foundation on which we prioritize our advocacy work.
1. Ensure Access to Care: We advocate for policies that ensure all myeloma patients have equitable, comprehensive, patientcentered care without insurance barriers that limit options or delay treatment initiation.
2. Eliminate Financial Barriers: We advocate for policies that allow myeloma patients access to treatments and supportive care interventions without facing financial hardships.
3. Advance Myeloma Research: We advocate for annual appropriations funding for myeloma research and the advancement of clinical trial eligibility and research protocols that ensure representation from diverse populations.
