Share Your MDS Story

My journey with the MDS Foundation began 17 years ago, during a time of uncertainty in my life. I had been working for a major car credit company for 18 years, and when they decided to relocate, all employees who couldn’t move were laid off, myself included.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do next. I filled out countless job applications online, and it felt like they were disappearing into a black hole. Then, one day, I received a call. The person asked me several questions and invited me in for an interview. At that moment, I honestly had no idea which company was calling, I had applied to so many. When they said it was the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation, I remember thinking, what is that and how do you even spell it? I imagine many people have the same reaction when they hear the name for the first time.

At the time the MDS Foundation office was in Crosswicks, NJ, just 10 minutes from where I lived, but I couldn’t picture where it was located. I went in for the interview and was offered a part-time position working five hours a day. My role included packing materials for meetings and conferences and reaching out to doctors around the world to see if they would translate our MDS resources. I also helped with various other tasks.

I quickly found that I really enjoyed working with medical professionals in different countries and learning more about the important work the Foundation was doing. After my trial period, I was hired as a full-time employee, and my responsibilities grew. A few years later, I was given the opportunity to plan and attend our live patient forums.

That’s when I truly fell in love with the work we do.

At the forums, I was able to meet the doctors we collaborate with in person, and most importantly, the patients. It was incredibly heartwarming to meet patients, caregivers, and family members I had previously spoken to only over the phone, and to see them receive the answers and support they so desperately needed. It was also amazing to witness patients meeting one another, making connections, and realizing they weren’t alone.

Today, I serve as the Assistant Director of Patient Care. I have the privilege of interacting with patients even more, through emails, phone calls, webinars, patient recruitment, and live patient forums. I truly enjoy the work I do and deeply value the connections I’ve built with patients, caregivers, and their families over the years.