Welcome to "Black Blood Heals," the podcast that delves deep into the revolutionary world of blood stem cell therapy. Today's episode, brought to you by NMDP, explores the profound intricacies of donor-recipient matching with a special focus on the unique challenges faced by African American patients. Joining us is the esteemed Dr. Rafeek Yusuf, Director of Health Services Research at NMDP, a man whose life's work is dedicated to ensuring life-saving therapies are within everyone's reach.

In this vital conversation, we'll unveil the patient's complex journey from diagnosis to transplant, unravel the barriers shaped by social determinants of health, and the monumental role of insurance in this life-altering process. Dr. Yusuf, who also co-chairs the Racial and Ethnic Inequities committee, will shed light on how a mere 25-30% of patients find a full match in the registry and discuss why ethnicity and age are crucial in donor matching, with African American patients facing a staggering 71% chance of not finding a match.

The discussion will also touch upon how the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes tied to social determinants. We'll learn why grassroots mobilization, knowledge dissemination, and fostering trust in the medical system can bridge gaps in treatment for conditions like sickle cell disease.

Now, if you've ever considered becoming a donor, stick around. We're about to dive deep into why your decision could mean the world to someone else. And remember, you can arm yourself with more knowledge and find out how to become part of the solution by visiting nmdp.org. Let's join forces to make a lasting impact.

Get Involved

• Join the Donor Registry: https://bit.ly/3UGiU1S
• Visit NMDP for resources: https://bit.ly/48moDxd

Black Blood Heals is produced by Adode Media www.adodemedia.com

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