NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Myeloma Foundation improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure continues to expand its global education and outreach programs with the appointment of myeloma expert Dr. Rafat Abonour as IMF Medical Liaison. Dr. Abonour’s appointment follows the foundation’s recent appointment of French myeloma researcher Prof. Jean-Luc Harousseau, MD. Both men will help accelerate the IMF’s mission to affect positive change around the world.
“I am so pleased that Dr. Abonour is now part of our global team,” said IMF President Susie Novis Durie. “Not only is Dr. Abonour a highly accomplished physician and researcher, he also embraces the IMF’s core belief that knowledge is power. We are excited that Dr. Abonour will be sharing that message with patients, caregivers, and health care professionals.”
“I really look forward to serving on the IMF team as Medical Liaison,” said Dr. Abonour, a professor of medicine, pathology, and laboratory medicine at Indiana University in Indianapolis, IN. “Helping patients navigate this complex disease through the plethora of new drugs while keeping an eye on the ultimate goal of curing myeloma is challenging and rewarding work.”
Dr. Abonour established and currently directs the multiple myeloma and plasma cell program at Indiana University Simon Cancer Center. He is principal or co-investigator of several ongoing clinical trials, and his work has been published in key medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature.
According to Dr. Abonour, several years of serving as an expert panelist at the IMF’s Patent & Family Seminars introduced him to the foundation’s unique method of patient education: “The IMF creates stress-free venues to learn about diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma.” And at the seminars, he noted, the education goes both ways. “I was able to meet with some of the best doctors in myeloma care around the world and learn from them,” he said.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the oldest and largest foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation’s reach extends to more than 400,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. The IMF is dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure by focusing on four key areas: research, education, support, and advocacy. The IMF has conducted more than 250 educational seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned InfoLine, and in 2001, established the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), a collaborative research initiative focused on improving myeloma treatment options for patients. In 2013, the IMF launched the Black Swan Research Initiative®, a groundbreaking research project aimed at curing myeloma. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE (2873). The global website is www.myeloma.org. Follow the IMF on Twitter @IMFmyeloma.
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SOURCE The International Myeloma Foundation
