DKI Health

DKI Health sponsored the first-of-its-kind study among 42 US-based patient organizations to measure how they think about health equity, where they have had successes, and what barriers still exist. The results of this study provided insights into initiatives that make a difference. We invite you to read our full report from the study here: https://lnkd.in/ecizFNWN Feel free to comment below and share your reactions to our findings. ? DKI Health would like to thank our Advisors who guided us on the need for this survey, provided input into the survey design, and reviewed the recommendations. Advisors: April Avilés, EdD, MPH, Racial Equity and Public Health Leader Courtney Bugler, CFRE, CEO and President, ZERO Prostate Cancer Philip Gattone, CEO, National Bleeding Disorders Foundation Jen Grand-Lejano, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Mary Kemp, Advocate, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Sue Koob, CEO, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association Alisha Lewis, M.S., ACSM-EP, Founder and CEO, Genèsic Health Joe Nadglowski, President & CEO, Obesity Action Coalition Christian John Lillis, Co-Founder and CEO, Peggy Lillis Foundation Arya Singh, Advocate and Author Sharon Washington, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Bias Consultant We would also like to thank the patient organizations who participated in the survey and interviews. Select Participating Organizations: American Lung Association AXYS Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation CancerCare Colorectal Cancer Alliance Genèsic Health GRIN2B Foundation Hepatitis B Foundation Indo US Organization for Rare Diseases (IndoUSrare) International Pemphigus Pemphigoid Foundation INTERNATIONAL SACRAL AGENESIS CAUDAL REGRESSION ASSOCIATION LOWE SYNDROME ASSOCIATION INC Lung Transplant Foundation Marked By Covid National Health Council National Menopause Foundation Our Odyssey Peggy Lillis Foundation Pheo Para Alliance Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Advocacy Sepsis Alliance Spina Bifida Association of America Superficial Siderosis Research Alliance Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome Research Awareness and Support SYNGAP1 Foundation The Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society VHL Alliance ZERO Prostate Cancer #DKImpact #healthequity #patientadvocacy

Dianna Cohen reflects on an inspiring Obesity Week 2024: #ObesityWeek2024 was an incredible opportunity to connect with experts and advocates who are deeply committed to advancing obesity care and tackling its complex challenges. The conference showcased cutting-edge research, real progress on multifaceted treatment approaches, and valuable perspectives on the challenges faced in equitable healthcare access for obesity management. A few speakers truly stood out: ?? Dr. Angela Golden, DNP, FAANP, FOMA, FTOS delivered a powerful session on the new ICD-10 codes, which will help standardize obesity diagnoses and improve patient care, making it easier to track and address this condition holistically. ?? Dr. James Simon, a leader in women’s health, provided crucial insights into how obesity intersects with women’s health, stressing the importance of gender-specific care in both research and treatment. ?? Sarah Le Brocq’s shared lived experience with obesity brought a powerful, personal dimension to the discussions. Her story reminded attendees of the complexities of obesity beyond the clinical data and highlighted the importance of empathy and understanding in patient care. ?? Dr. Darcy Freedman explored how food systems and health equity are linked, emphasizing the critical need for systemic change to improve access to nutritious food in underserved communities. ?? Dr. Lee Kaplan introduced the “quintuple aim” of obesity treatment— a framework that calls for a focus on quality of life, patient satisfaction, and equitable access, which resonates strongly as we work towards more patient-centered, ethical care. ?? Drs. Robert Siegel and John Lewis offered thought-provoking insights on the economic, ethical, and practical complexities surrounding new anti-obesity medications. Their candor in addressing our questions on compounded GLP-1 medications provided a clearer view of how they help patients make informed choices amid these emerging treatment options. ??Dr. Tina K Thethi shared compelling data on the connection between weight reduction and improved cardiometabolic health, reinforcing the profound impact that effective obesity management can have on overall health.?? We left this conference with a wealth of knowledge, renewed purpose, and a broader network of professionals who share our commitment to advancing the science of obesity care and ensuring equitable, ethical treatment for all. The conversations and shared insights have only fueled our passion for continued innovation and compassionate care in this space. We look forward to collaborating with more experts to drive lasting change! #ObesityCare #HealthEquity #PatientCenteredCare #HealthcareInnovation

Thank you The Moth and Biotechnology Innovation Organization for facilitating an engaging, interactive workshop on Storytelling during last week's #BIOPatientSummit! In healthcare, data is essential, but it's storytelling that moves us. While statistics help us understand the scope of a problem, stories compel us to act. Whether advocating for policy change or designing patient-centered care, weaving stories into our work amplifies impact in ways that data alone cannot achieve. Here’s why stories are important: 1. Humanize Data: Behind every health statistic is a real person, a family, and a community. When we share a patient’s journey through a health condition, we bring a human face to abstract information, making issues resonate on a personal level. 2. Shape Policy: Patient stories have the power to influence policymakers. Stories from lived experiences highlight gaps in the healthcare system and the urgent need for action. Stories inform solutions to genuine needs and provide a form of release and emotional support. 3. Build Trust: When patients feel heard and understood, trust grows. Storytelling strengthens the bond between patients, providers, and healthcare organizations, fostering an environment that feels compassionate and collaborative. 4. Inspire Change: Stories inspire healthcare professionals to deliver better care, researchers to explore new paths, and advocates to push for equitable access to care. They remind us why we do this work and fuel our passion to drive meaningful change. Let’s commit to listening to and sharing… our stories and patient stories. Because when we put patients’ voices at the center, we elevate our collective power to create a healthcare system that is not only innovative but truly human. #DKImpact #Storytelling #PatientAdvocacy #BIOPatientSummit

DKI Health's Dianna Cohen will attend The Obesity Society's Obesity Week conference in San Antonio from November 3 to 6, 2024! Obesity is a chronic disease that affects millions of individuals globally. As an organization that supports equitable care, we are committed to ensuring our clients incorporate patient-focused strategies in the clinical development and commercialization of Obesity drug assets. ?? Dianna Cohen is the Commercial and Brand Strategy Lead at DKI Health. With a stellar track record in driving innovative marketing and strategy consulting within life sciences, she partners with clients to solve complex business problems throughout the drug development and commercialization lifecycle, for products ranging from small molecules and biologics to the latest digital health technologies.? ?? We are excited to connect with you at #OW2024! To learn more about DKI Health, please visit our website: www.dkihealth.com #DKImpact #OW2024 #PatientAdvocacy #Biotech??

DKI Health's Casandra Kennedy will attend Biotechnology Innovation Organization's annual Patient & Health Advocacy Summit, an energizing, empowering, and inspiring event dedicated to Patient Advocacy. Casandra is a Strategy Consultant at DKI Health, and she works with our clients to support patient-focused strategies at the brand and above-brand level, spanning the commercial, policy, medical affairs, and market access functions. Casandra has deep expertise in public health, and she's a staunch advocate for health equity. We are excited to connect with you at the Summit! To learn more about DKI Health, please visit our website: www.dkihealth.com #DKImpact #BIO #PatientAdvocacy #HealthEquity

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day is Sunday, October 13th. Unlike patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) often lack awareness and receive less care and support than they need from the breast cancer advocacy community. ?? Facts about mBC: - Approximately 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer will develop metastatic disease - Women under 40 at diagnosis are nearly 40% more likely to die from their breast cancer than women over 40 - De novo mBC affects 6–10% of patients presenting with a new breast cancer diagnosis - Black and Latino women are generally less likely to be diagnosed at an early stage when treatment is usually less intensive and more successful - Only 2-5% of funds raised for breast cancer research fund therapies for patients with breast cancer that has already metastasized Our client, a large global pharmaceutical company, sought to evolve the public’s awareness of breast cancer to include mBC and ensure provisions of required education, care, and support for women with this disease while also empowering patient organizations to inform policies that improve time to diagnosis and access to treatments. Since 2015, DKI Health has supported a program involving over 25+ patient advocacy organizations across 12 Latin American countries to educate patients and families, provide support materials, reduce stigma, and influence cancer policies. These collective efforts have resulted in new cancer policies in Brazil, mandating diagnosis and treatment within 30 days of a doctor's suspicion, and ongoing discussions in other countries, including Chile and Colombia. To view more details, click here: https://lnkd.in/eTbHi5AS At DKI Health, we are encouraged by recent policy initiatives and advances in treatment outcomes for mBC patients, and we continue to work with our industry partners who support individuals and their care partners living with the disease. #DKImpact #BreastCancer #PatientAdvocacy

??"Health Equity is not a PR or ESG exercise. Our industry develops and commercializes life-saving medicines – and equity and access must be built into our strategy to make sure these medicines reach every patient that needs it. That way, we’re also not leaving millions of dollars on the table…” – Deepa This week, DKI Health’s co-founder,?Deepa Dahal,?participated in an expert panel at the HBA Annual Conference in Toronto. In a session titled: “Health Equity by the Numbers: Bridging Data and the Human Experience to Advance Health Equity”, experts Lauren R. Powell, MPA, PhD, Greselda Butler, CHCP, FACEHP, and Casilda Barnes PharmD, RAC), offered tangible recommendations on how healthcare leaders can help bridge the gap. Thanks to Vishal Thakur, MBA for moderating this insightful conversation. ?? Key takeaways: - The definition of health equity varies by stakeholder/geography. In the US, the conversation of health equity cannot happen without discussing systemic barriers, including racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, etc., and how biases play a major role in health outcomes. Ex-US, the conversation tends to focus primarily on access to medicines. - There are limitations to quantitative data, from the inclusion criteria to the framing of the questionnaire. Industry professionals should feel empowered to be critical of data, asking questions to understand who is and who is not included, are the right questions being asked, and does the data simply confirm a hypothesis - versus truly telling the story that needs to be told. - People have intersecting identities that cannot be distinctly categorized by closed-ended questions. Qualitative data, where we allow for nuances to be uncovered, is incredibly powerful to bridge the gap and understand the barriers faced along their unique patient journey. - Involving a diverse group of multi-disciplinary stakeholders (data scientists, KOLs, behavioral health experts, community health workers, caregivers, and patients) will help address the health equity needs of individuals where quantitative data does not tell the full story. - There is a difference between community outreach (which is transactional in nature) and community engagement. Industry leaders should engage with the community beyond the reach of popular, well-known networks, ensuring the community gets more out of the mutual relationship. As an immediate next step, we call on on our life sciences industry partners to educate themselves on health equity and be an agent of change. To that end, DKI Health engaged in a study with 42 US-based patient organizations which offers guidance on how organizations can successfully deliver on equity – going beyond data to building trusted, sustainable engagement that drives lasting change. To read our report, click: https://lnkd.in/ecizFNWN We want to thank Mary Stutts, MHA, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, and our fellow panelists for facilitating this critically important conversation! #HBAAC24

We are excited to announce that DKI Health is partnering with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association to advance the conversation around health equity at this year's Annual Conference in Toronto, taking place from September 23-25. Join our co-founder, Deepa Dahal, for a session titled "Health Equity by the Numbers: Bridging Data and Human Experience." At DKI Health, we are dedicated to closing the gap between data and real-world impact by collaborating with patient and community organizations, as well as life sciences companies, to humanize data and develop effective solutions. #DKImpact #healthequity #patientadvocacy #HBAAC24