Bristol Myers Squibb, a global oncology leader, has announced a major evolution of Standing in the Gaap, its long-running initiative tackling disparities in care for people living with multiple myeloma (MM) in underserved communities. 

 

The program, which has been active for over a decade, will now expand its reach, focusing on equitable access to education, resources, and community-driven solutions for patients and care partners.

 

A cornerstone of the initiative is one of the largest multiple myeloma surveys ever conducted in the US, engaging over 1,000 patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. 

 

The survey aims to quantify care gaps often discussed anecdotally, with input from top patient advocacy groups, including the International Myeloma Foundation, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, HealthTree Foundation, Blood Cancer United, and Black Health Matters.

 

“Even the most advanced treatments can fall short if patients aren’t represented in research, can’t access care or struggle to navigate the healthcare system,” said Andrew Whitehead, Vice President and Head of Population Health at Bristol Myers Squibb. 

 

“For people living with multiple myeloma, where you live, your access to information and who you trust can shape your experience as much as treatment itself. Standing in the Gaap was created to confront those realities and has helped drive meaningful progress over the past decade. 

 

"The evolution of this program reflects our commitment to listen more closely and to include more voices, translating insight into strategic activations and community engagement that help strengthen how we support people experiencing gaps in multiple myeloma care and improve how we show up not only for patients, but for their care partners and the clinicians who serve them.”

 

Since its launch in 2016, Standing in the Gaap has reached over 5,000 attendees through 50+ educational programs and cultivated a digital community of nearly 60,000. Originally focused on African American populations, the program is now broadening its scope to address diverse populations across the multiple myeloma care ecosystem, emphasizing culturally responsive, community-informed approaches.

 

“Too often, we talk about multiple myeloma without fully hearing from patients and care partners themselves,” said Joseph Mikhael, Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation. 

 

“Efforts like this, developed alongside advocacy organizations and informed directly by people impacted, create an opportunity to translate lived experience into meaningful action. By listening at scale, we can better identify where support is falling short and where focused engagement can make a real difference for communities affected by multiple myeloma.”