Category: Blog

As her Health Equity Fellowship comes to a close, we’re proud to spotlight Dominique Seo, PhD candidate in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Over the past year, Dominique has brought deep expertise in pharmacoeconomics, with a focus on drug pricing, access, and health disparities, to the IVI. We sat down…

IVI shares the public’s urgency in addressing the affordability of prescription drugs and healthcare in the United States. However, as momentum builds around aggressive policy proposals like the Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing model, we urge policymakers to pause and ask a critical question: What do these policies mean for patients? As we have emphasized in…

Asia Williams, MPH, Program Officer at the National Academy of Medicine’s Leadership Consortium, leads the Trust & Engagement Action Collaborative, where she works to strengthen trust and elevate community voices in healthcare systems. With a background in public health, quality improvement, and patient engagement, she brings both personal and professional insight to the urgent need…

Authors: Dominque Seo, MPH, Gloria Rodriguez, MPH, Michelle Cheng, MHS While any single rare condition affects a relatively small population, collectively, rare diseases impact over 30 million Americans, which represents significant health impacts for individuals and families.1 At the heart of many patients’ health journeys are caregivers, who take on substantial responsibilities. Caregivers offer crucial…

Elizabeth L. Cope, PhD, MPH, sheds light on the profound physical and emotional toll of a misdiagnosed and misunderstood health journey. Her story highlights the urgent need for a healthcare system that offers treatment and compassionate support. Through years of navigating stigma and mistrust, Elizabeth emerges as a fierce advocate for systemic change, fighting for…

By Xanthia Lam, MPH (May 2025), Patient Engagement Intern at IVI IVI (Center) is a non-profit research organization whose mission is to advance the science, use, and practice of Patient-Centered Health Technology Assessment to support decisions that make healthcare more meaningful and equitable. However, as Health Technology Assessment is a niche topic and field, it…

Beth Gore, Executive Director of the Oley Foundation, shares the profound challenges she faces as a caregiver for her six adopted children, each with unique medical needs. Living in Tampa with her family, Beth’s journey highlights the emotional and financial strain that comes with managing complex health issues, especially for her son Manny. Despite her…

Gwen Darien is a three-time cancer survivor whose journey reflects resilience and advocacy. After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer, Gwen navigated significant physical, emotional, and economic challenges. Her experiences of lack of trust from healthcare providers and the high costs of care prompted a shift from the arts to health…

Ushma Patel, Director of Patient Engagement at the IVI, shares her personal experience navigating the economic and emotional impacts of her daughter’s rare disease. She highlights the often-overlooked financial burdens families face beyond direct medical costs and discusses how IVI’s Patient-Centered Economic Impacts Project seeks to address these challenges in healthcare research and decision-making.  During…

Mike Herman’s journey as a cancer survivor is a testament to resilience, advocacy, and the importance of a comprehensive approach to patient care. His story sheds light on the medical, economic, and personal challenges faced by cancer patients and underscores the critical role of support systems and research in overcoming these challenges. Can you share…