Elizabeth Franklin: Improving The Lives of ITP Patients and Caregivers
Elizabeth Franklin, Head, US Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy, Oncology and Neurology at Sanofi, shared on LinkedIn:
“I’ve spent my career advocating with and on behalf of people living with cancer and I feel like it is my life’s work. I am deeply connected to the mission of working to end the devastating impact that the ’emperor of all maladies’ has on just about everyone—whether you are diagnosed with cancer or helping to care for a loved one as they navigate the disease.
Which is why stretching into another therapeutic area seemed daunting. I work in oncology after all! But stepping outside of my comfort zone has been both humbling and deeply rewarding. I recently took on a stretch assignment in rare blood disorders, specifically focusing on immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) (shout out to Eric Racine, PharmD, MBA for believing I had it in me!).
I have learned so much and am moved by the resilient patients living with ITP—a diagnosis that can be terrifying and confusing, and a condition that can cause a range of life changing impacts like chronic fatigue, brain fog, and concerns about blood loss throughout many of life’s important moments like childbirth or surgery.
This experience has stretched me—professionally and personally—and taught me that while illnesses may differ, the experience of living in the liminal space that chronic disease can create may fill you with confusion, fear, and anxiety but also hope, kindness, and generosity. The ITP community is extraordinary and I am beyond grateful to have been welcomed in to learn more about their world.
The lighthouse of the ITP community is the Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA) and I had the great fortune of attending their conference this weekend where I was welcomed by a vibrant, resilient, and engaged patient and caregiver community. Listening to their experiences and seeing them connect with one another and share their hopes gave me a profound reminder of why we do this work in the first place.
A HUGE shoutout to the mighty PDSA team Caroline Kruse, Jody Shy, Jennifer MacWhirter-DiRaimo, Melissa Hilsabeck, EIT who have created an incredible environment for patients to learn, share, and connect. And a big thank you to the Sanofi ITP team for welcoming me and working to improve the lives of ITP patients and caregivers.”
More posts featuring Elizabeth Franklin.
-
Challenging the Status Quo in Colorectal Cancer 2024
December 6-8, 2024
-
ESMO 2024 Congress
September 13-17, 2024
-
ASCO Annual Meeting
May 30 - June 4, 2024
-
Yvonne Award 2024
May 31, 2024
-
OncoThon 2024, Online
Feb. 15, 2024
-
Global Summit on War & Cancer 2023, Online
Dec. 14-16, 2023