Sunday, May 22, 2011

In 1998, Kathy Giusti was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. At age 37, she was the young mother of an 18-month old daughter who now faced the tragic loss of a parent afflicted with a possibly-terminal blood cancer. A family disaster was in the offing.

Kathy reacted at first like many another young parent. Afraid that her new daughter would never know or remember her, she began to take steps to preserve her story for her child's future. As many of us would, she wanted to be able to speak to her daughter after her death.

But Kathy Giusti was not just any young mother, cringing in fear. She was, in fact, a high-flying business executive who had served as a powerful business leader, including a stint at drug-maker Searle as head of its arthritis division. As such, she quickly went to work.

Kathy created the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, an organization designed to raise money for research and contribute to efforts to find treatments for this terrible affliction. Using her name and skills, Kathy generated a stunning $165 million in funds. Later, in 2004, she created the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium, an agency designed to encourage researchers to work collectively with business in such a way that would optimize the speedy development of new treatments.

Kathy still lives today. She is in remission, and has made it possible for her children to get to know her. Through her work, she saved herself, and tens of thousands like her, including this writer.

Kathy's efforts have obviously paid off. She is directly responsible for four new drugs. What's more, she has furthered the model for clinical research and development, paving the way for dozens of other similar efforts. Genomics, data management, tissue banking, and clinical trials have all been advanced by her work.

As you can imagine, multiple myeloma sufferers all owe Kathy Giusti, and hold her in the highest regard. And the nation has honored her as well. She has been recognized for her work by the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, Forbes, CNBC, the NBC Nightly News, the CBS Evening News, and Time, being named by that august publication as a member of the Time 100 for 2011. She has received the Harvard Business School Entrepreneurial Award, the Partners in Progress Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Centennial Medal for Distinguished Public Service from the American Association for Cancer Research.

And her work is not done. Today, she serves at the Institute of Medicine on the National Cancer Policy board, having been appointed to that post by President Bush in 2003. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Directors for IMS Health, an international company that supplies the pharmaceutical industry with sales data and consulting services. And she continues to pressure the FDA to optimize the development and approval of effective new medicines.

Thus, in her effort to leave a legacy for her children, she has left one also for cancer sufferers everywhere, including me.

Readers can do their own part to continue the work of Kathy Giusti. Please contribute to the upcoming "Make It A Great Day" Race, a walk and half-marathon to be held in Center Brunswick, NY, starting at Tamarac MS/HS, on Saturday, June 4, 2011, sponsored by www.thedragonflyadventure.com. Your donations benefit the Capital District Cancer Resource Foundation, an organization which helps make it possible for less-advantaged denizens of New York's capital region to take advantage of the advances in cancer treatment. In so doing, you'll help give cancer patients a chance to get to know their own families.

And, in your own way, you'll mirror the efforts of Kathy Giusti, a modern-day miracle worker.